By John Moses
This year’s Hajj pilgrimage marks the final occurrence during the sweltering summer months for the next quarter-century, Saudi meteorological authorities have announced.
Hussein Al Qahtani, spokesperson for the National Centre for Meteorology (NCM), confirmed that the Islamic pilgrimage will now gradually move into seasons characterised by milder weather, beginning with spring in 2026.
“This shift in seasonal timing is a result of the Islamic lunar calendar, which is approximately 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar,” Al Qahtani explained. “As a result, the date of Hajj moves earlier each year.”
The NCM has published a comprehensive 25-year Hajj climate forecast, aligning pilgrimage dates with the Gregorian calendar to provide pilgrims and planners with long-term expectations for climate conditions during the religious rites.
According to the forecast, the next eight Hajj seasons will take place in spring, followed by another eight in winter and then autumn. Temperatures will begin to rise again towards the end of this cycle, with summer Hajj returning around the year 2050.
“This transition presents a welcomed opportunity for pilgrims to perform their rituals in safer, more temperate conditions,” said Al Qahtani.
The announcement is expected to impact future logistics, health preparedness, and infrastructure planning, as authorities aim to improve the pilgrimage experience for millions of worshippers from around the world.
