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Festival dates · 2026

Buddha Purnima 2026

Also Vesak · Buddha Jayanti

Vaishakha Shukla Purnima. The date in 21 cities, computed for local sunrise, with the tithi times.

Short answer.
  • Sydney and Melbourne: Friday 1 May 2026
  • Kathmandu: Friday 1 May 2026
  • New York: Friday 1 May 2026

Every calendar city keeps it on the same day this year.

Date by city

CityDateTithi (local time)Kathmandu date
Australia and New Zealand
SydneyFriday 1 May 2026Fri, 1 May, 1:45 am → Sat, 2 May, 3:25 amsame day
MelbourneFriday 1 May 2026Fri, 1 May, 1:45 am → Sat, 2 May, 3:25 amsame day
BrisbaneFriday 1 May 2026Fri, 1 May, 1:45 am → Sat, 2 May, 3:25 amsame day
PerthFriday 1 May 2026Thu, 30 Apr, 11:45 pm → Sat, 2 May, 1:25 amsame day
AdelaideFriday 1 May 2026Fri, 1 May, 1:15 am → Sat, 2 May, 2:55 amsame day
CanberraFriday 1 May 2026Fri, 1 May, 1:45 am → Sat, 2 May, 3:25 amsame day
HobartFriday 1 May 2026Fri, 1 May, 1:45 am → Sat, 2 May, 3:25 amsame day
DarwinFriday 1 May 2026Fri, 1 May, 1:15 am → Sat, 2 May, 2:55 amsame day
AucklandFriday 1 May 2026Fri, 1 May, 3:45 am → Sat, 2 May, 5:25 amsame day
Nepal
KathmanduFriday 1 May 2026Thu, 30 Apr, 9:30 pm → Fri, 1 May, 11:10 pm—
United States
New YorkFriday 1 May 2026Thu, 30 Apr, 11:45 am → Fri, 1 May, 1:25 pmsame day
Dallas–Fort WorthFriday 1 May 2026Thu, 30 Apr, 10:45 am → Fri, 1 May, 12:25 pmsame day
HoustonFriday 1 May 2026Thu, 30 Apr, 10:45 am → Fri, 1 May, 12:25 pmsame day
ChicagoFriday 1 May 2026Thu, 30 Apr, 10:45 am → Fri, 1 May, 12:25 pmsame day
Washington DCFriday 1 May 2026Thu, 30 Apr, 11:45 am → Fri, 1 May, 1:25 pmsame day
BostonFriday 1 May 2026Thu, 30 Apr, 11:45 am → Fri, 1 May, 1:25 pmsame day
AtlantaFriday 1 May 2026Thu, 30 Apr, 11:45 am → Fri, 1 May, 1:25 pmsame day
San Francisco Bay AreaFriday 1 May 2026Thu, 30 Apr, 8:45 am → Fri, 1 May, 10:25 amsame day
Los AngelesFriday 1 May 2026Thu, 30 Apr, 8:45 am → Fri, 1 May, 10:25 amsame day
SeattleFriday 1 May 2026Thu, 30 Apr, 8:45 am → Fri, 1 May, 10:25 amsame day

Rule: the day the tithi is current at local sunrise (udaya tithi). Vaishakha Purnima. Theravada countries date Vesak by their own lunar calendars — usually the same day, occasionally a month apart.

What the day observes

The full moon of Vaishakha, on which Buddhists mark the birth, the enlightenment and the final passing of the Buddha. In Nepal it is Buddha Jayanti, kept at Lumbini, his birthplace, and at Swayambhu and Boudha in the Kathmandu valley. Theravada countries call it Vesak and date it by their own lunar calendars, which usually, but not always, give the same day.

How it is kept

Dana (giving), the precepts, lamps and processions; for Hindus it is also a Purnima with its own bathing and fasting customs.

In the glossary: buddha · buddha nature.

Common questions

When is Buddha Purnima 2026 in Sydney?

Friday 1 May 2026. Vaishakha Shukla Purnima; the tithi runs Fri, 1 May, 1:45 am to Sat, 2 May, 3:25 am Sydney time.

When is Buddha Purnima 2026 in Nepal?

Friday 1 May 2026 in Kathmandu. Vaishakha Shukla Purnima; the tithi runs Thu, 30 Apr, 9:30 pm to Fri, 1 May, 11:10 pm Nepal time.

When is Buddha Purnima 2026 in the United States?

Friday 1 May 2026 in New York (the same day across the US cities listed). US sunrises fall ten to fifteen hours behind Kathmandu's, so when the tithi ends in that gap the US keeps the festival a day earlier than Nepal.

Why is Buddha Purnima on a different day in different countries?

Because the day is decided by which civil day the tithi is current at local sunrise, and sunrises differ by up to a day's worth of hours between Sydney, Kathmandu and the US. In 2026 every calendar city keeps Buddha Purnima on the same day, Friday 1 May 2026.

How is the Buddha Purnima date calculated?

Sun and Moon positions from Meeus' algorithms with the Lahiri ayanamsa, amanta lunar months named by the solar ingress inside them, and the day on which the tithi is current at local sunrise (udaya tithi). Tithi boundaries are accurate to a few minutes; a boundary within minutes of sunrise is worth checking against your temple's panchang.

Other years: Buddha Purnima 2027. Nearby: Ram Navami · Guru Purnima · all festivals.

See also: the full-year calendar by city · why festival dates differ between Nepal, India and Australia.

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