The Saudi National Meteorological Center has confirmed that Hajj 2025 will be the final pilgrimage to take place during the scorching summer months for the next 16 years, offering long-awaited relief to millions of Muslims who have braved extreme heat in recent years. This shift comes as a result of the Islamic lunar calendar, which moves the annual Hajj about 10 days earlier each year compared to the Gregorian calendar, gradually pushing the pilgrimage into cooler periods.
Starting from 2026, Hajj will begin to fall in the spring and then transition into the winter season. Specifically, the pilgrimage is expected to occur in spring from 2026 to 2033 and in winter from 2034 to 2041. The next summer Hajj will not be until 2042, when the cycle returns to the hottest months of the year.
This development is particularly significant considering the dangerous temperatures recorded during recent pilgrimages. In 2024, Makkah experienced blistering heat between 46°C and 51°C, leading to more than 2,700 cases of heatstroke in a single day and several heat-related fatalities. In response, Saudi authorities have ramped up safety efforts, introducing 33 new weather monitoring stations and expanding mobile radar technology to enhance real-time climate tracking at Hajj sites.
With Hajj 2025 expected to commence on the evening of Friday, June 6, and conclude on Wednesday, June 12—subject to the sighting of the moon—over 1.8 million pilgrims are anticipated to participate in what will be the last summer pilgrimage for more than a decade. Saudi officials are preparing for this final summer challenge before ushering in a new era of safer, cooler, and more comfortable Hajj experiences for the global Muslim community.
