Overview
- Ramadan 2026 began on the evening of February 18 and in Germany is set to conclude on March 19, with Eid festivities following.
- North Rhine–Westphalia’s State Chancellery held a communal fast‑breaking led by ministers Nathanael Liminski and Verena Schäffer; invitees included church figures, Antisemitism Commissioner Sylvia Löhrmann and Solingen survivor Durmus Genc, while Premier Hendrik Wüst canceled at short notice.
- German retailers have expanded Ramadan assortments, with Ikea offering a recurring collection since 2023 and brands such as McDonald’s and Katjes running greetings or campaigns despite periodic online backlash.
- The Zentralrat der Muslime highlights “Ramadan Karim” as a broadly understood greeting during the month and “Eid Mubarak” at its close, noting simple German well‑wishes are also appropriate.
- Core observance includes fasting from dawn to sunset with abstention from food, drink, smoking and sexual relations, alongside nightly prayers, charitable giving and exemptions for those for whom fasting poses a health risk.