Ascension Day 2027 is on Thursday, May 6, 2027. It marks the day Christians believe Jesus ascended into heaven, forty days after Easter. Here is everything you need to plan for it.
Ascension Day 2027 at a glance
| Event | 2027 date |
|---|---|
| Ascension Day | Thursday, May 6 |
| Ascension Sunday (where moved to Sunday) | May 9 |
Why the date changes every year
Ascension Day depends on Easter. It falls on the fortieth day of the Easter season, counting Easter as day one, so it is always a Thursday, 39 days after Easter Sunday. When Easter moves, Ascension moves with it. The earliest it can fall is April 30 and the latest is June 3. In 2028 it will be Thursday, May 25.
Thursday or Sunday?
Many churches keep the feast on Thursday. Others, including most Catholic dioceses in the United States, move it to the nearest Sunday so more people can attend. In 2027 that Sunday is May 9. Check with your own church to be sure.
Where is it a public holiday?
Ascension Day is a day off in many countries on May 6, 2027, including Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Iceland, Senegal and Namibia. In Colombia the holiday moves to Monday, May 10. Many people in these countries also take the Friday off for a four-day weekend. In most other countries it is a normal working day, so you may need to fit your celebration around work.
What Ascension Day means
According to the Bible, Jesus spent forty days with his disciples after the resurrection, then ascended from the Mount of Olives. For Christians, the day is about hope, about Jesus’ promise to return, and about the disciples’ mission to share the message. It also leads straight into Pentecost, ten days later.
10 ways to celebrate Ascension Day in 2027
1. Go to a church service. Many churches hold a Mass or worship service, often in the evening if the feast falls on a workday.
2. Read the story together. Read Acts 1:1–11 and Luke 24:50–53 aloud. It takes under five minutes.
3. Take a hilltop picnic. Climb a hill or find a high spot and share a meal to remember the Mount of Olives.
4. Eat a “heavenly” meal. In parts of Europe people serve poultry, because Jesus “rose” to heaven. For dessert, try cloud-like treats such as meringue or pavlova.
5. Fly a kite or release balloons. It’s a simple way to help children picture “going up.”
6. Sing an ascension hymn. “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise” is a classic.
7. Pray outdoors. Take a quiet prayer walk and look up at the sky. It suits busy people.
8. Make a craft. Kids can paint skies, make cotton-wool clouds or build a paper-plate ascension scene.
9. Light a candle. Some traditions snuff out the Easter candle on this day to show that Christ has ascended. At home you can do something similar in a simple way.
10. Start a prayer chain for Pentecost. Pray each day from Ascension to Pentecost, as the disciples waited together in prayer.
FAQs
What date is Ascension Day in 2027?
Thursday, May 6, 2027.
Is Ascension Day always on a Thursday?
Yes. It is always 39 days after Easter Sunday.
How many days after Easter is Ascension Day?
Forty days when counting Easter as day one.
Is Ascension Day a holy day of obligation?
For Catholics, yes. In most U.S. dioceses it is observed on the Sunday, May 9.
Also see:
Trinity Sunday 2027: Date, History, and Celebration