Abrahamic / Middle Eastern Christianity When Is Ash Wednesday? Find the Date of Ash Wednesday and Links to Ash Wednesday Resources Share Flipboard Email Print Catholics Mark The Start Of Lent With Ash Wednesday Mass. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images Christianity Catholicism Holy Days and Holidays Beliefs and Teachings Prayers Tips Worship Saints Christianity Origins The Bible The New Testament The Old Testament Practical Tools for Christians Christian Life For Teens Christian Prayers Weddings Inspirational Bible Devotions Denominations of Christianity Christian Holidays Christian Entertainment Key Terms in Christianity Latter Day Saints View More By Scott P. Richert Scott P. Richert Catholicism Expert M.A., Political Theory, Catholic University of America B.A., Political Theory, Michigan State University Scott P. Richert is senior content network manager of Our Sunday Visitor. He has written about Catholicism for outlets including Humanitas and Catholic Answers Magazine. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on May 02, 2019 In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. (In the Eastern Catholic Churches, the first day of Lent is Clean Monday.) When is Ash Wednesday? How Is the Date of Ash Wednesday Determined? Ash Wednesday always falls 46 days before Easter. (For more on why Lent is 40 days long but Ash Wednesday falls 46 days before Easter, see How Is the Date of Ash Wednesday Calculated?) Because it is dependent on the date of Easter, and Easter is a moveable feast, the date of Ash Wednesday changes every year, too. And since Ash Wednesday is a day of strict fasting and abstinence (see Can Catholics Eat Meat on Ash Wednesday? for details), check out these meatless Lent recipes for Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent. When Is Ash Wednesday This Year? Here is the date of Ash Wednesday this year: Ash Wednesday 2019: March 6, 2019 When Is Ash Wednesday in Future Years? Here is the date of Ash Wednesday next year and in future years: Ash Wednesday 2020: February 26, 2020Ash Wednesday 2021: February 17, 2021Ash Wednesday 2022: March 2, 2022Ash Wednesday 2023: February 22, 2023Ash Wednesday 2024: February 14, 2024Ash Wednesday 2025: March 5, 2025Ash Wednesday 2026: February 18, 2026Ash Wednesday 2027: February 10, 2027Ash Wednesday 2028: March 1, 2028Ash Wednesday 2029: February 14, 2029Ash Wednesday 2030: March 6, 2030 When Was Ash Wednesday in Previous Years? Here are the dates when Ash Wednesday fell in previous years, going back to 2007: Ash Wednesday 2007: February 21, 2007Ash Wednesday 2008: February 6, 2008Ash Wednesday 2009: February 25, 2009Ash Wednesday 2010: February 17, 2010Ash Wednesday 2011: March 9, 2011Ash Wednesday 2012: February 22, 2012Ash Wednesday 2013: February 13, 2013Ash Wednesday 2014: March 5, 2014Ash Wednesday 2015: February 18, 2015Ash Wednesday 2016: February 10, 2016Ash Wednesday 2017: March 1, 2017Ash Wednesday 2018: February 14, 2018 Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Richert, Scott P. "When Is Ash Wednesday?" Learn Religions, Aug. 28, 2020, learnreligions.com/when-is-ash-wednesday-542443. Richert, Scott P. (2020, August 28). When Is Ash Wednesday? Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-ash-wednesday-542443 Richert, Scott P. "When Is Ash Wednesday?" Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/when-is-ash-wednesday-542443 (accessed March 30, 2023). copy citation Watch Now: How to Celebrate Ash Wednesday