Hajj 2025 Will Be Last Summer Pilgrimage Until 2042

The Islamic pilgrimage will shift to spring and winter starting 2026, offering cooler and safer conditions for millions of pilgrims.

Publish date: since 2 day

Hajj 2025 Will Be Last Summer Pilgrimage Until 2042

Saudi Arabia's National Center for Meteorology (NCM) has confirmed that Hajj 2025 will mark the last time the annual pilgrimage falls during the scorching summer season—for at least the next 16 years.

The shift comes from the Islamic lunar calendar, which moves around 10 days earlier each year. As a result, Hajj will gradually move into spring starting 2026, and then into winter by the 2030s.

End of the Heat for Now

This change brings relief after years of extreme temperatures during Hajj. In 2024, Mecca saw temperatures rise as high as 51°C, leading to over 2,700 cases of heatstroke in just one day, with several deaths reported.

From 2026 to 2033, Hajj will fall during spring months. Then, from 2034 to 2041, it will take place in winter. Pilgrims won't face summer conditions again until 2042, when the cycle repeats.

Saudi Arabia Prepares for Final Hot Season

Knowing the risks that come with the heat, Saudi authorities have been ramping up efforts to protect pilgrims. These include adding shaded zones, water stations, mobile cooling units, and running awareness campaigns about heat safety.

In 2024 alone, 33 new weather stations were launched, and mobile radars were used to track real-time conditions in areas where pilgrims gather.

Hajj 2025: One Last Heat Challenge

An estimated 1.8 million people are expected to join Hajj in 2025. With that number, Saudi officials are gearing up for one last summer pilgrimage before the cooler shift begins. The hope is that future pilgrimages will be not just more comfortable—but safer and more sustainable for all.

This article was previously published on saudimoments. To see the original article, click here

To read the full story for free, please enter your e-mail

Thank you for your subscription, you will receive our Newsletter shortly

Hajj 2025 Will Be Last Summer Pilgrimage Until 2042

End of the Heat for Now

Saudi Arabia Prepares for Final Hot Season

Hajj 2025: One Last Heat Challenge

Related articles