Catholic Church Days of Obligation
In the Catholic Church, Holy Days of Obligation are the days on which the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass. They have also abstain from unnecessary works, "which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body." (Canon 1247 of the Code of Canon Law).
The list of Days of Obligation includes all Sundays in all countries. Some feasts, e.g. Easter, are always celebrated on Sundays, so they are always obligatory. The number of additional Days of Obligation varies between countries, from 1 in Hong-Kong to 10 in Vatican.
Holy Days of Obligation in the 2026 Year
All the Days of Obligation observed in the United States are listed below.
| Date | Holiday name | Is obligatory in 2026? | Time left |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Sundays are obligatory for the faithful to participate in the Mass | |||
| Thursday, January 1, 2026 | Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God | Yes | ~ 12 months & 2 weeks (376 days) |
| Thursday, May 14, 2026 | Ascension of Jesus | Yes | ~ 16 months & 3 weeks (509 days) |
| Saturday, August 15, 2026 | Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | No | ~ 19 months & 3 weeks (602 days) |
| Sunday, November 1, 2026 | All Saints' Day | Yes | ~ 22 months & 2 weeks (680 days) |
| Tuesday, December 8, 2026 | The Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Virgin Mary | Yes | ~ 23 months & 2 weeks (717 days) |
| Friday, December 25, 2026 | Christmas | Yes | ~ 24 months & 1 week (734 days) |
Using the links below, you can easily check the dates of Catholic Days of Obligation in the next 10 years.
2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034
Notes
The number of Days of Obligation vary from year to year, because the precept to attend Mass is lifted (dispensed) if any of the following days:
- 1 January (Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God),
- 15 August (Feast of the Assumption),
- 1 November (Solemnity of All Saints)
falls on a Saturday or on a Monday. The faithful, however, are encouraged to attend Mass on those days. This was decided by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops of the United States of America on December 13, 1991 (Canon 1246) and is effective as of January 1, 1993.
Ascension Thursday is a Holy Day of Obligation in the entirety of the following States: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska.
In Hawaii since 1992 the only observed Days of Holy Obligation (except Sundays) are Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas.
Special Dates of Prayer
Apart from days of obligation in the Catholic Church there are also often designated additional — Special Days of Prayer, in which the faithful pray for some important intentions chosen by the Church. In those days the faithful are usually not obliged to attend Mass, but they are asked to observe these days in their devotions or private prayer. For example in 2016 there are few Days of Prayer designated for the Archdiocese of San Francisco:
- January 1 — Day of Prayer for World Peace (Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God),
- February 14 — Day of Prayer for the General Needs of Humankind (First Sunday of Lent)
- September 5 — Day of Prayer for Human Rights and Labor (Labor Day)
- November 24 — Day of Prayer for the Fruits of the Earth (Thanksgiving Day)