Islamic New Year, also known as Hijri New Year, is observed worldwide on the 1st day of Muharram, marking the beginning of a new Islamic calendar year. In 2026, it will be celebrated on June 17. The Islamic calendar is lunar, consisting of 354 days divided into 12 months, with Muharram recognized as one of the four sacred months during which battles are prohibited. The first year of the Islamic calendar corresponds to 622 AD, the year of the Hijra, when the Islamic prophet Muhammad emigrated from Mecca to Medina. While the Hijri New Year is not an official holiday in Islam and lacks specific customs or traditions, it may be declared a non-working day in several Muslim-majority countries, including Bahrain, Malaysia, and Egypt. Days in the Islamic calendar begin at sunset, leading to variations in the corresponding Gregorian dates based on time zones.