Lag BaOmer in 2026 will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 5.

What Is Lag BaOmer?
Lag BaOmer is a Jewish holiday observed on the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer, a period between Passover and Shavuot. The name “Lag” is made up of the Hebrew letters lamed (30) and gimel (3), which together represent the number 33.

Spiritual Significance
The day is associated with the end of a deadly plague that affected Rabbi Akiva’s students in the 2nd century CE. It also commemorates the life and teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a mystic sage believed to have revealed the secrets of the Kabbalah.

Customs and Celebrations
Bonfires are lit to symbolize the “spiritual light” of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s teachings. In Israel, thousands of people gather at his tomb in Meron for music, dancing, and all-night festivities.

Children often play with bows and arrows, symbolizing hope and the rainbow of peace (the Hebrew word keshet means both “bow” and “rainbow”). In some communities, three-year-old boys receive their first haircut in a special ceremony called upsherin.

Public Holiday Status
Lag BaOmer is not a public holiday in most countries, but some Jewish schools and businesses may close for the day.

Hebrew Calendar Date
In 2026, Lag BaOmer falls on the 18th of Iyar in the Hebrew calendar.

Note: As with all Jewish holidays, observance begins at sundown the evening before — so celebrations will begin on Monday night, May 4, 2026.