It is Friday, January 16, 2026. If you woke up this morning wondering what Sunday of Lent is today, the short answer is: none of them. Not yet.
Lent hasn't started.
For many people, the liturgical calendar is a bit of a maze. We know Easter is coming because the candy aisles at the grocery store start turning pastel, but the actual "countdown" of Sundays is tied to a lunar cycle that shifts every single year. In 2026, Easter falls on April 5. Because Lent is a 40-day period (not counting Sundays) of preparation, it always kicks off with Ash Wednesday. This year, that doesn't happen until February 18.
We are currently in what the Catholic Church and many mainline Protestant denominations call Ordinary Time. Specifically, we are in the second week of Ordinary Time. It’s that breathing room between the chaos of Christmas and the somber reflection of the Lenten season.
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Why the timing of Lent feels so confusing
Lent is "movable." It’s frustrating if you like consistency. Unlike Christmas, which is anchored to December 25, the start of Lent depends entirely on the date of Easter.
The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD decided Easter should be the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. Science meets spirit. Because the moon doesn't follow our Gregorian calendar, the dates jump around like crazy.
If you are looking for what Sunday of Lent is today because you feel like the year is dragging, you aren't alone. January often feels like a long, cold hallway. But liturgically, we are still a month away from the "Alleluia" being locked away and the purple vestments coming out of storage.
The 2026 Lenten Roadmap
Since we aren't in Lent today, you might want to mark your calendar so you aren't caught off guard when the fish fries start. Here is the breakdown for the 2026 season:
Ash Wednesday lands on February 18, 2026. This is the official start. It’s a day of fasting and, for many, a smudge of ash on the forehead to remind us that, honestly, we’re all just dust in the end.
The First Sunday of Lent will be February 22. This is usually when the "desert" theme kicks in. You’ll hear readings about Jesus being tempted. It’s the Sunday where everyone is still feeling strong about their New Year’s-style Lenten resolutions—no chocolate, no social media, less complaining.
The Second Sunday of Lent is March 1. By now, the struggle is real. The Transfiguration is the traditional reading here. It’s a bit of a mountaintop moment before the long haul of March.
March 8 is the Third Sunday. We’re deep in it now. This is the midway point where your resolve might be wavering. In the Catholic tradition, this is often when the "Scrutinies" begin for people joining the church.
The Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 15, is special. It’s called Laetare Sunday. "Laetare" means rejoice. The priest might wear rose-colored vestments (don't call them pink). It’s a brief break from the penance. It’s like a halftime show for your soul.
Fifth Sunday of Lent hits on March 22. The tension in the scripture readings starts to ramp up. We’re moving toward the Passion.
Finally, Palm Sunday is March 29. This marks the start of Holy Week. It’s the "last" Sunday of Lent before the Triduum begins—that intense three-day period of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.
What people get wrong about the "40 Days"
If you do the math on your fingers, you’ll realize there are more than 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. People get tripped up on this every year.
Sundays don't count.
Every Sunday is considered a "Little Easter." Even in the middle of the most somber season of the year, Sunday remains a feast day. This is a massive loophole for people who give up coffee or beer. Technically, you can partake on Sundays. Some people think that's cheating; others call it "liturgical accuracy."
Essentially, Lent is 40 days of fasting spread across 46 calendar days.
Why today matters even if it isn't Lent
While you’re searching for what Sunday of Lent is today, you might be looking for a sense of purpose or a "reset." There is something psychological about a season of discipline.
But right now, on January 16, we are in the green season. Ordinary Time isn't "boring" time—the Latin word ordinalis refers to numbered weeks. It’s a time for growth. Think of it as the pre-game. If you want to have a meaningful Lent in February, now is when you start thinking about the "why" behind it.
Real experts in theology, like those at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) or the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship, emphasize that Lent isn't just a self-help program. It’s a communal journey. If you wait until Ash Wednesday morning to decide what you’re doing, you’ve already missed the point of the preparation.
The cultural impact of the Lenten calendar
It isn't just about church. The timing of Lent shifts entire economies.
The "Lenten Season" is a massive boom for the seafood industry. McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish was literally invented because a franchise owner in Ohio was losing money on Fridays during Lent. When Lent starts late, like it does in 2026, it changes when retailers start pushing spring fashion and when cities schedule their St. Patrick’s Day parades.
In 2026, St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) falls on a Tuesday during the fourth week of Lent. That usually means local bishops have to issue "dispensations" so people can eat corned beef without feeling guilty. It’s a whole thing.
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Preparing for the transition
If you're feeling the urge to start a spiritual or personal discipline today, don't feel like you have to wait for a specific Sunday of Lent.
The "Lent" mentality—fasting, almsgiving, and prayer—is something many people are adopting year-round for mental health and minimalism. Digital fasts are becoming more popular in January than in March.
But for the formal, liturgical answer: you have five weeks of Ordinary Time left.
Enjoy the "Alleluias" while they’re still in the songs. Eat the steak on Friday. The season of purple and ash is coming, but today is just a regular Friday in January.
Actionable Steps for the 2026 Season
If you want to stay ahead of the curve and actually be prepared for when the calendar flips to February, here is how you should handle the next few weeks:
- Verify your local schedule. Since Ash Wednesday isn't a "holy day of obligation" but is the most attended non-obligatory day, service times fill up. Check your local parish or church site around mid-February.
- Audit your habits now. Don't pick a Lenten sacrifice at random on February 18. Use these next few "Ordinary" weeks to see what is actually distracting you or making your life cluttered.
- Budget for Almsgiving. If you plan on donating during Lent, start setting aside those small amounts now so it’s a deliberate act rather than a last-minute impulse.
- Sync your digital calendar. Download a liturgical calendar app or sync a Google Calendar that includes "Movable Feasts" so you never have to search for the date again.
- Mark March 15. If you’re planning a celebration or a break, remember Laetare Sunday. It’s the "refresh" button in the middle of a long season.
Lent 2026 is going to be a late one. It will carry us well into the blooming of spring, which honestly makes the transition from the "death" of Lent to the "life" of Easter feel a lot more real. But for today, January 16, just breathe. The desert is still a month away.