A worshipper rests as others perform the night prayer known as "Tarawih" on the eve of the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Muslims worldwide will begin daily fasting from dawn to sunset as Ramadan starts, marking a period of worship, reflection and charity. The holy month, the ninth in the Islamic lunar calendar, brings families together for meals to break the fast. Ramadan begins Wednesday or Thursday, varying by country due to differing moon sighting practices.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
A worker sets a giant crescent-shaped decoration on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
Worshippers perform the night prayer known as "Tarawih" on the eve of the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at the Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Palestinians sit at a long table amid the rubble of destroyed buildings as they gather for iftar, the fast-breaking meal, on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Displaced Palestinian struggle to receive donated food for iftar, the fast-breaking meal, on the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Displaced members of the Al-Zamli family break their fast on the first day of Ramadan inside their tent in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Indonesian Muslims perform an evening prayer called 'tarawih' marking the first eve of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Balloons released by children float into the sky to mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan in Sarajevo, Bosnia, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
A volunteer prepares food plates which will be distributed among families for pre-dawn meal or 'Sehri' to start their fasting during the Muslim's holy fasting month of Ramadan, at a free meal distribution center run by a charity group, in Karachi, Pakistan, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Raza)
A man tries on a traditional cap which will be used while praying during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, at a shop, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)
Palestinians hang decorations beside the rubble of destroyed homes as they prepare for the holy month of Ramadan in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
A man sings traditional Ramadan chants as residents prepare for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan at the Al-Jazmatiya market in Damascus, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
A worker sets decorations in preparation for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
People buy traditional lanterns in Sayyeda Zeinab market ahead of the upcoming Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Muslim worshippers perform the evening Tarawih prayers during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, next to the Dome of Rock shrine at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A painter gives finish touches to an artwork as workers clean an area of the historic Mahabat Khan mosque in preparation for the upcoming Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)
People gather to sight the Ramadan crescent moon marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan at the foothills of Mount Qasioun near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Damascus, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
People gather to sight the Ramadan crescent moon marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan at the foothills of Mount Qasioun near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Damascus, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Muslim worshippers perform evening Tarawih prayer on the first night of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Great Omari Mosque, which was damaged during the Israel–Hamas war, in Gaza City, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Workers clean carpet at the historic Mahabat Khan mosque in preparation for the upcoming Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)
A worker cleans an area of the historic Mahabat Khan mosque in preparation for the upcoming Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)
People shop for decorations in preparation for the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan at a store in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Muslim worshippers perform evening Tarawih prayer on the first night of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at the Alkanz Mosque, which was damaged during the Israel–Hamas war, in Gaza City, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
A man walks past a neon light decoration with wording 'Ramadan Kareem' placed by local authorities in connection with upcoming Muslims holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
