The box below shows today’s date in the Ethiopian calendar, worked out for Addis Ababa time (UTC+3), so it is right wherever you are. It also shows the time on the Ethiopian clock, the next public holidays, and the whole of the current Ethiopian month next to the Gregorian dates.
Today in Ethiopia
Year 2019 E.C.
2019 ዓ.ም.
The Ethiopian year 2019 runs from 11 September 2026 to 11 September 2027.
Next holidays
Muslim holidays follow the moon, so their dates are expected until the authorities announce them.
What year is it in Ethiopia?
The Ethiopian year 2019 began on Friday 11 September 2026 (Meskerem 1) and ends on Saturday 11 September 2027 (Pagume 6). 2019 is a leap year in the Ethiopian calendar, so Pagume, the short 13th month, has six days, and the year 2020 begins one day later than usual, on Sunday 12 September 2027.
The Ethiopian calendar counts seven or eight years behind the Gregorian one: seven years from September to December, and eight from January to early September. The difference goes back to a different calculation of the year of the Annunciation. For the background, see time and the Ethiopian calendar.
How to read an Ethiopian date
An Ethiopian date is written day, month and year, followed by ዓ.ም. (Amete Mihret, the “year of mercy”), much as “AD” is used in English. For example, 3 November 2026 is written ጥቅምት 24 ቀን 2019 ዓ.ም., which reads “Tikimt, day 24, 2019”. In forms and letters the date is often written in figures, day first, as 24/02/2019, where 02 stands for the second month, Tikimt.
Church calendars and some formal documents use the Ge’ez numerals, which have their own signs for 1 to 9, for the tens, for 100 and for 10,000, and no zero. The year 2019 is written ፳፻፲፱: twenty (፳), hundred (፻), ten (፲) and nine (፱). The box above shows today’s date in both forms. More about the script in the Ethiopian alphabet.
Public holidays in 2019 E.C.
These are Ethiopia’s public holidays in the current Ethiopian year. The Christian holidays follow the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar, and Fasika (Easter) moves each year. The Muslim holidays follow the lunar calendar, so their dates are expected dates until the authorities announce them, and may move by a day.
| Holiday | Ethiopian date | Gregorian date |
|---|---|---|
| Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year) | Meskerem 1, 2019 | Friday 11 September 2026 |
| Meskel | Meskerem 17, 2019 | Sunday 27 September 2026 |
| Genna (Ethiopian Christmas) | Tahsas 29, 2019 | Thursday 7 January 2027 |
| Timkat (Epiphany) | Tir 11, 2019 | Tuesday 19 January 2027 |
| Adwa Victory Day | Yekatit 23, 2019 | Tuesday 2 March 2027 |
| Eid al-Fitr (expected) | Megabit 1, 2019 | Wednesday 10 March 2027 |
| Siklet (Good Friday) | Miyazya 22, 2019 | Friday 30 April 2027 |
| International Labour Day | Miyazya 23, 2019 | Saturday 1 May 2027 |
| Fasika (Ethiopian Easter) | Miyazya 24, 2019 | Sunday 2 May 2027 |
| Patriots’ Victory Day | Miyazya 27, 2019 | Wednesday 5 May 2027 |
| Eid al-Adha (Arefa) (expected) | Ginbot 9, 2019 | Monday 17 May 2027 |
| Downfall of the Derg | Ginbot 20, 2019 | Friday 28 May 2027 |
| Mawlid (expected) | Nehase 9, 2019 | Sunday 15 August 2027 |
To see every day of the year on one page, open the Ethiopian calendar 2019 with all 13 months, which you can also print.
What time is it in Ethiopia?
Ethiopia uses East Africa Time, three hours ahead of UTC, and does not change its clocks in summer. Many Ethiopians also count the hours from sunrise: 6:00 in the morning is 12:00 on the Ethiopian clock, 7:00 is 1:00, and noon is 6:00. The evening hours start again at 12:00 at 6:00 pm. If someone says “meet at 3”, ask whether they mean Ethiopian time, which would be 9:00 am. More in time concept and punctuality.
Convert any other date
To change any date between the two calendars, or a clock time into Ethiopian time, use the Ethiopian calendar converter. For the holidays themselves, read about Meskel, Genna, Timkat and Adwa.
Frequently asked questions
What is today’s date in the Ethiopian calendar?
It is shown at the top of this page, worked out for Addis Ababa time. Ethiopia is three hours ahead of UTC, so the date there can change a few hours before or after midnight where you are.
What year is it in Ethiopia now?
2019 E.C., from 11 September 2026 to 11 September 2027.
When is the Ethiopian New Year 2020?
On Sunday 12 September 2027, one day later than usual, because 2019 is an Ethiopian leap year.
How many months are there in the Ethiopian calendar?
Thirteen: twelve months of 30 days, and Pagume, which has 5 days, or 6 in a leap year.
