When is Nowruz?
Nowruz 2027 is on Sunday
Sunday, March 21, 2027
The March equinox, the first day of Farvardin in Iran's calendar, which is March 20 or 21 (the date shown is Iran's; the UN's International Day of Nowruz is always March 21). That's in 168 days.
until Nowruz begins, in your time zone
Nowruz, meaning "new day," is the Persian New Year, celebrated at the spring equinox by millions of people of many faiths from Iran and Afghanistan to Central Asia, the Caucasus and beyond.
About Nowruz
Nowruz starts the year at the March equinox, when the sun crosses the celestial equator heading north and spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere. Its roots reach back more than 3,000 years to ancient Iran and the era of Zoroastrianism, and today it is a family and community celebration shared by people of many religions in Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, the Central Asian republics, Kurdish regions and diaspora communities around the world.
Preparations begin weeks ahead with a thorough spring cleaning. On the evening before the last Wednesday of the old year, people jump over small bonfires in the festival of Chaharshanbe Suri. Homes set out a haft-sin table with seven items whose Persian names begin with "s," such as sprouted wheat or lentils (sabzeh), apples (sib), garlic (sir), vinegar (serkeh) and sumac (somagh), each standing for a wish like growth, beauty or health. The first days of the year are spent visiting relatives, often starting with the eldest, and the holiday ends on the 13th day with Sizdah Bedar, when families spend the day outdoors.
UNESCO first inscribed Nowruz on its intangible heritage list in 2009 and widened the listing to twelve countries in 2016. In February 2010 the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 64/253, proclaiming March 21 the International Day of Nowruz. Iran, however, starts its year at the astronomical equinox: if the equinox comes before noon Tehran time, that day is 1 Farvardin; if after, the year begins the next day. That is why the date moves between March 20 and 21. The date shown is Iran's; Afghanistan and many Central Asian and Caucasus countries hold their own public holidays around March 21.
Sources: United Nations: International Day of Nowruz, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Decision 11.COM 10.B.1 (Nowruz, 2016), Britannica: Nowruz. How we check dates.
How to mark Nowruz
- Set up a simple haft-sin table at home, starting a few days early so sprouted wheat or lentils have time to grow.
- Do a thorough spring clean and donate things you no longer use.
- Cook a traditional New Year meal such as sabzi polo ba mahi, herbed rice with fish.
- Look up the exact moment of the equinox in your time zone and mark it with family or friends.
- Spend the 13th day outdoors with a picnic, as families do for Sizdah Bedar.
Nowruz dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Friday, March 21, 2025 |
| 2026 | Saturday, March 21, 2026 |
| 2027 | Sunday, March 21, 2027 |
| 2028 | Monday, March 20, 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, March 20, 2029 |
| 2030 | Thursday, March 21, 2030 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is Nowruz 2027?
Nowruz 2027 is on Sunday, March 21, 2027. It falls on the March equinox, the first day of Farvardin in Iran's calendar, which is March 20 or 21 (the date shown is Iran's; the UN's International Day of Nowruz is always March 21). In 2028, it is on Monday, March 20, 2028.
What is a haft-sin table?
It is a New Year display of seven symbolic items whose Persian names begin with the letter "s," such as sprouted greens, apples, garlic and vinegar, often set out with a mirror, candles, painted eggs and goldfish.
Why is Nowruz on March 20 some years and March 21 in others?
Nowruz follows the exact moment of the March equinox, which shifts by about six hours each year. In Iran's calendar the year begins on the equinox day if the equinox comes before noon in Tehran, and on the next day if it comes after.
Is Nowruz a public holiday?
No. Nowruz is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.