Vegetarian Festival 2026

When is the 2026 Vegetarian Festival? Check the calendar and get ready to nourish your merit, mind, and health! The annual vegetarian festival (Jay Festival) is coming around again! If you're looking to plan ahead — whether to prepare your body, do a cleanse, or schedule your vegan meals — here's everything you need to know. **2026 Vegetarian Festival Calendar** This year's festival runs from **October 10–18, 2026** — a full 9 days and 9 nights — following the Chinese lunar calendar (9th month), with the key dates as follows: - **Cleanse Day:** Friday, October 9, 2026 *(begin detoxing and avoid meat at dinner to prepare your body)* - **First day of observance:** Saturday, October 10, 2026 - **Last day of the festival:** Sunday, October 18, 2026 **How to prepare for both merit and good health** Beyond abstaining from taking animal lives and accumulating great merit, the festival is also a great opportunity to reset your digestive system through vegetables and plant-based proteins. **Avoid:** All types of meat, animal products (milk, butter, eggs, fish sauce), and the 5 pungent vegetables (garlic, shallots/onions/spring onions, Chinese chives, asafoetida, and tobacco leaves) **Eat balanced:** Make sure your Jay meals cover all 5 food groups, and choose dishes that aren't overly sweet, oily, or salty **Practice mindfulness in body, speech, and mind:** Chant, keep your mind pure and calm alongside your dietary abstinence Start preparing from Cleanse Day, and join in 9 days and 9 nights of merit, peace, and great health together!