September 11, 2026 - Ethiopian New Year: Traditions and Interesting Facts
Ethiopia celebrates its New Year, Enkutatash, on September 11, 2026, marking the start of the year 2019 in the Ethiopian calendar. The holiday signifies renewal and the end of the rainy season, celebrated with family gatherings and traditional customs.
Why it matters
Provides cultural context for Ethiopia's unique calendar system and traditional holiday practices.
--> On September 11, 2026, Ethiopia celebrates the New Year—Enkutatash—which, according to the Ethiopian calendar, marks the beginning of the year 2019. This date is unusual for most of the world, since the Ethiopian calendar lags behind the Gregorian calendar by about seven to eight years and has 13 months . The New Year here coincides with the end of the rainy season, when nature comes alive, yellow flowers bloom, and people gather with their families to sing, dance, and wish each other a happy New Year.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in