Saudi Arabia Announces Shift of Hajj to Cooler Months from 2026 to 2042
The Saudi National Meteorological Center (NMC) has announced that the annual Hajj pilgrimage will transition away from the summer season starting in 2026, with no summer Hajj expected until 2043, as per SaudiPress reports.
This change aims to protect pilgrims from the extreme heat experienced during summer months, where temperatures often reach between 45°C and 47°C.
Hussein Al-Qahtani, spokesperson for the NMC, stated that the Hajj will occur in the spring for eight consecutive years beginning in 2026, followed by another eight years during which the pilgrimage will take place in the winter season.
These 16 to 17 years without a summer Hajj is intended to provide more favorable conditions for pilgrims, as Hussein Al-Qahtani said:
“The Hajj season will enter a new phase of climate change during the year 2026. We will not witness summer Hajj until after 17 years,”
“We will bid farewell to Hajj in the summer season for a period of 16 years,” he added.
Dr. Mansour Al Mazroui, a member of the Shoura Council and a climate change researcher, confirmed that the Hajj season will coincide with the summer season in 2025.
Subsequently, the pilgrimage will shift to the spring season for eight years, followed by eight years in the winter season.
This adjustment is part of a broader effort to enhance the safety and comfort of pilgrims by aligning the Hajj season with more temperate weather conditions.
