Palm Sunday 2026 falls on Sunday, March 29, exactly one week before Easter Sunday, April 5. This year carries a historically rare convergence: Easter Sunday coincides with the 196th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, prompting the First Presidency to designate Palm Sunday as the primary congregational Easter celebration for its global membership.
This guide covers the confirmed date, the biblical account of the Triumphal Entry, the theological significance of Palm Sunday across Christian traditions, the LDS First Presidency announcement and “Greater Love” initiative, the complete Holy Week 2026 timeline, Palm Sunday traditions, scripture references, children’s resources, and frequently asked questions.
Table of Contents
When Is Palm Sunday 2026?
Palm Sunday 2026 is on Sunday, March 29. It marks the beginning of Holy Week and precedes Easter Sunday by exactly seven days.
Holy Week 2026: Complete Date Table
Holy Week runs from Sunday, March 29, 2026, through Sunday, April 5, 2026. Each day of the week commemorates a distinct event in the final days of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry.
| Day | Date | Liturgical Observance |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Sunday | Sunday, March 29, 2026 | Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem |
| Holy Monday | Monday, March 30, 2026 | Cleansing of the Temple; cursing of the fig tree |
| Holy Tuesday | Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | Olivet Discourse; teachings in the Temple |
| Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday) | Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | Judas negotiates betrayal with chief priests |
| Maundy Thursday | Thursday, April 2, 2026 | The Last Supper; washing of the disciples’ feet |
| Good Friday | Friday, April 3, 2026 | Trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus |
| Holy Saturday | Saturday, April 4, 2026 | Day of waiting; Easter Vigil begins at sundown |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday, April 5, 2026 | Resurrection of Jesus Christ |
Palm Sunday falls on a different calendar date each year because Easter is a movable feast, calculated as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the March vernal equinox. In 2026, that calculation places Easter on April 5, making Palm Sunday March 29.
What Is Palm Sunday? Biblical Meaning and Theological Significance
Palm Sunday commemorates the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, an event recorded in all four canonical Gospels: Matthew 21:1–11, Mark 11:1–10, Luke 19:28–44, and John 12:12–16.
It is the first day of Holy Week, and the event that set in motion the sequence of events leading to the crucifixion and resurrection.
The Biblical Account of Palm Sunday
According to Matthew 21:1–3, Jesus sent two disciples ahead to Bethphage, a village on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, with instructions to retrieve a donkey and its colt. The disciples placed their cloaks on the animals, and Jesus rode into Jerusalem.
Crowds gathered along the route, spreading cloaks and branches cut from trees on the road — a form of honor historically reserved for kings and conquering generals.
Mark 11:9–10 records the specific words the crowd cried: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” The word “Hosanna” is derived from the Hebrew hoshia-na, meaning “save now” or “save, we pray.” It appears in Psalm 118:25, the very Psalm the crowd was likely reciting.
Luke’s account (19:41–44) includes a detail the other Gospels omit: as Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace.” This lament introduces a tone of sorrow beneath the celebration and points toward the destruction of Jerusalem that would occur in 70 AD.
John 12:16 adds a retrospective note: the disciples did not understand the significance of these events at the time. Only after the resurrection did they recognize that what had happened fulfilled scripture.
Why Did Jesus Ride a Donkey on Palm Sunday?
Jesus rode a donkey to fulfill the messianic prophecy recorded in Zechariah 9:9. The verse reads: “See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
The choice of animal carried deliberate political and theological meaning. In the ancient Near East, kings rode warhorses when they came to conquer and donkeys when they came in peace. By entering Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus presented himself as a king whose reign was not built on military force.
The crowd, however, expected a political liberator — a Davidic king who would expel the Roman occupiers. This gap between the crowd’s expectations and Jesus’s actual mission is central to understanding the events of Holy Week.
Why Is It Called Palm Sunday?
It is called Palm Sunday because crowds spread palm branches on the road as Jesus entered Jerusalem (John 12:13). Palm branches carried specific symbolic weight in Jewish culture. They were used during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), the feast that celebrated God’s provision and deliverance (Leviticus 23:40).
The palm also appears on coins of the Hasmonean period as a symbol of Jewish sovereignty. When the crowd waved palms before Jesus, the gesture was a deliberate messianic statement: they were greeting him as a liberating king.
Palm branches were later adopted into Roman triumphal iconography as symbols of victory, which further reinforced the political dimension of the crowd’s action. The tension between the crowd’s nationalistic hopes and Jesus’s identity as a servant-king runs throughout the Palm Sunday narrative.
Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled on Palm Sunday
Three Old Testament texts are directly cited in the Gospel accounts of Palm Sunday:
| Prophecy | Source | Fulfillment |
|---|---|---|
| “See, your king comes to you, lowly and riding on a donkey” | Zechariah 9:9 | Jesus enters Jerusalem on a donkey (Matt. 21:5, John 12:15) |
| “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” | Psalm 118:26 | The crowd’s Hosanna cry (Matt. 21:9, Mark 11:9) |
| “Say to Daughter Zion, See, your Savior comes” | Isaiah 62:11 | Cited in Matthew 21:5 |
Palm Sunday 2026: What Makes This Year Unique
2026 is the first year since 2015 that Easter Sunday falls on the same weekend as the LDS General Conference, creating a historic convergence that has prompted a significant institutional response from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The LDS First Presidency Palm Sunday Service 2026 Announcement
The First Presidency — comprising President Dallin H. Oaks, President Henry B. Eyring, and President D. Todd Christofferson — issued a formal announcement designating Sunday, March 29, 2026, as the primary Easter-themed worship service for the Church’s global membership.
The announcement specifies the following directives for local congregations:
- Meeting format: A one-hour sacrament meeting only. All other Sunday meetings — including Sunday School, Priesthood quorum meetings, and Relief Society — are canceled on March 29.
- Content requirement: All music and spoken messages must center specifically on the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
- Community emphasis: Members are specifically asked to invite friends, family, and neighbors of all faiths to attend the Palm Sunday service.
- Stake Conference override: Wards scheduled for the Stake Conference on March 29 follow their Stake Conference program instead.
This is not the first time the Church has adjusted its Easter observance calendar, but the instruction to compress to a one-hour meeting and to use Palm Sunday as the primary Easter celebration is specific to the 2026 calendar conflict.
The “Greater Love” Initiative
The First Presidency simultaneously launched a campaign called “Greater Love,” anchored in John 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Resources are available at Easter.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and through the Gospel Library application.
The initiative includes the following components:
- “Greater Love for You” video: A visual depiction of the Savior’s final week, released for use in congregations and shared with individuals of all faiths.
- Holy Week Study Guide: A day-by-day interactive devotional experience covering Sunday, March 29, through Sunday, April 5.
- Community invitation templates: Downloadable materials and “Greater Love” banners designed for members to use when inviting neighbors and friends to Palm Sunday services.
- First Presidency Easter message: A formal written and video testimony released in late February 2026 from the new First Presidency.
April 2026 General Conference Schedule
General Conference 2026 runs Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 5 — coinciding precisely with Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. There is no Saturday evening session this year. The conference consists of four two-hour general sessions.
| Session | Date | Time (MDT) | Special Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Morning | Saturday, April 4, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. | Solemn Assembly — sustaining of President Dallin H. Oaks |
| Saturday Afternoon | Saturday, April 4, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. | Sustaining of two new Apostles |
| Easter Sunday Morning | Sunday, April 5, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. | Easter-themed messages on the Resurrection |
| Easter Sunday Afternoon | Sunday, April 5, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. | Concluding testimonies of Jesus Christ |
Viewing platforms: ChurchofJesusChrist.org/broadcasts (available in 80+ languages), Gospel Library, Gospel Stream, BYUtv, KSL-TV, BYU Radio, and the Church’s official YouTube channel.
What Is a Solemn Assembly?
A Solemn Assembly is a rare, sacred gathering in which the membership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sustains a newly called Church President. It is one of the most significant events in Latter-day Saint institutional life.
The April 4, 2026, Saturday morning session will include the formal sustaining of President Dallin H. Oaks and the new First Presidency — an event that occurs only when a Church President passes away, and a successor is called.
The last time a Solemn Assembly coincided with General Conference was in 2018, when President Russell M. Nelson was sustained. The 2026 Solemn Assembly is historically distinctive because it takes place on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday, during a General Conference that falls entirely within the Holy Week calendar.
The last time Easter Sunday coincided with General Conference was 2015. The 2026 alignment is therefore a once-in-a-generation convergence of LDS institutional history and the universal Christian calendar.
Palm Sunday Across Christian Traditions
Palm Sunday is observed across nearly all branches of Christianity, though the name, liturgical emphasis, and practices vary by tradition.
Palm Sunday in the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church officially designates Palm Sunday as “Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord,” a title that reflects the dual focus of the day: the triumph of the Triumphal Entry and the beginning of the Passion narrative.
Key liturgical elements:
- Vestment color: Red, symbolizing the blood of Christ and the fire of the Holy Spirit. This is one of only two Sundays in the liturgical year where red vestments are worn (the other being Pentecost Sunday).
- Opening rite: Mass begins with a procession and the formal blessing of palms outside or at the rear of the church. The assembly then processes into the sanctuary.
- Passion reading: The Passion narrative — taken from Matthew, Mark, or Luke, depending on the liturgical year — is proclaimed in full. At approximately 2,000 to 3,000 words, this is the longest Gospel reading of the liturgical year.
- Palm Sunday is not a Holy Day of Obligation in Catholic canon law, though regular Sunday Mass attendance applies.
- Disposition of blessed palms: Blessed palms are considered sacramentals. The traditional practice is to retain them until the following Ash Wednesday, when they are returned to the parish to be burned. The ash from those palms is then used to mark the foreheads of the faithful at the following year’s Ash Wednesday liturgy.
Palm Sunday in Protestant and Anglican Traditions
Most Protestant and Anglican denominations observe Palm Sunday as the opening of Holy Week, with services centered on the Triumphal Entry narrative. Common elements include:
- Distribution of palm branches or pre-folded palm crosses to the congregation
- Processional entrance of clergy and choir, sometimes accompanied by the congregation
- Reading of one of the four Gospel accounts of the Triumphal Entry
- In Anglican and some Lutheran traditions, the full Passion narrative is also read, paralleling the Catholic practice
Some evangelical traditions refer to the day as “Passion Sunday” and concentrate the service on the crucifixion rather than the entry into Jerusalem, using the day to begin a meditative arc toward Good Friday.
Palm Sunday in Orthodox Christianity
The Eastern Orthodox Church observes Palm Sunday as the “Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem,” one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the liturgical year. The liturgical observance begins on Lazarus Saturday — the day before Palm Sunday — with the Vesperal Divine Liturgy commemorating the resurrection of Lazarus, which the Gospels place immediately before the Triumphal Entry.
In regions where palm trees do not grow, willow branches are traditionally substituted. This is common in Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, and parts of Greece. Some Orthodox communities follow the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian, which places Palm Sunday on a different date in 2026. Communities using the Julian calendar will observe Palm Sunday on Sunday, April 12, 2026.
Palm Sunday Around the World
Palm Sunday observances reflect significant regional variation in liturgical and cultural practice.
| Region | Local Tradition |
|---|---|
| Philippines | Among the most elaborate globally — known as Domingo de Ramos; intricate palm weaving (palaspas) in parish forecourts; formal processions often lasting several hours |
| Ghana and West Africa | Vibrant processional traditions in Catholic and Anglican congregations; palm frond weaving, drumming, and community celebration, particularly in major cities including Accra |
| Ethiopia | Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church observes Hosaʽanna with distinctive liturgical chanting and communal gathering |
| Kerala, India | Large-scale processions in both Latin Catholic and Syro-Malabar communities; one of the highest concentrations of Palm Sunday observances in Asia |
| Poland | The Kraków region is known for elaborate decorative “palms” (palmÑ‹ wielkanocne) made of dried flowers, grasses, and ribbons — folk art tradition recognized by UNESCO |
| Mexico and Latin America | Domingo de Ramos processions often reenact the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem with a live donkey |
Palm Sunday Scripture: Key Bible Verses and Readings
The four Gospel accounts of Palm Sunday collectively provide the fullest picture of the Triumphal Entry. Each evangelist contributes distinct details.
The Four Gospel Accounts: Comparative Overview
| Gospel | Reference | Distinctive Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew | 21:1–11 | Explicitly cites Zechariah 9:9; crowd identifies Jesus as “Son of David” and “the prophet from Nazareth” |
| Mark | 11:1–10 | Most straightforward chronological account; records “Hosanna in the highest” |
| Luke | 19:28–44 | Includes Jesus weeping over Jerusalem (verse 41); Pharisees ask Jesus to rebuke the crowd; Jesus responds that the stones would cry out |
| John | 12:12–16 | Notes that disciples did not understand the significance until after the resurrection; mentions that the crowd came also because of Lazarus |
Scripture for Palm Sunday Worship and Reflection
The following verses are commonly used in Palm Sunday bulletins, sermons, and devotional materials:
- Psalm 118:24–26 — “This is the day the Lord has made… Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” — the Psalm the crowd was quoting
- Zechariah 9:9 — The messianic prophecy fulfilled by Jesus’s mode of entry
- John 12:13 — “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel!’
- Philippians 2:5–11 — The kenosis hymn, frequently paired with Palm Sunday as a theological companion on the servant-king paradox
- John 15:13 — “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” — the anchor verse of the LDS “Greater Love” initiative for 2026
Palm Sunday Traditions and Observances
The Blessing and Distribution of Palms
In Catholic, Anglican, and many liturgical Protestant traditions, palm branches or palm crosses are distributed at the beginning of the Palm Sunday service.
In Catholic practice, the palms are formally blessed using a prescribed rite before the opening procession.
Palms used in church services are typically sourced from commercial religious suppliers. Common formats include:
- Whole fronds: Large palm leaves, typically 24 to 48 inches long, used for processional display and altar decoration
- Pre-folded palm crosses: Machine- or hand-folded crosses, typically 6 to 8 inches long, distributed individually to congregants
- Loose-leaf strips: Single, narrow strips suitable for folding into crosses by hand
How to Make a Palm Cross
A palm cross requires one palm leaf strip approximately 18 to 24 inches long and 0.5 inches wide. The process involves the following steps:
- Hold the strip vertically. Fold the bottom quarter up and behind the strip to form a small loop at the base — this becomes the foot of the cross.
- Bring the strip forward at the loop and fold it horizontally to the right, creating the right arm of the cross.
- Wrap the horizontal portion back around the vertical stem, threading it through the loop at the back.
- Bring it forward again to form the left arm, adjusting both arms to equal length.
- Thread the remaining length of the strip up through the loop at the center and pull firmly to secure the joint.
- Trim excess from the top to form the head of the cross.
The intersection should be tight. Fresh palm strips are significantly easier to work with than dried ones. Pre-dampening dried palms in warm water for 10 minutes restores flexibility.
What to Do With Palms After Palm Sunday
In Catholic tradition, blessed palms are not discarded as ordinary waste. Because they have been formally blessed, they are treated as sacramentals. The prescribed practice is to retain them until the following Ash Wednesday, at which point they are returned to the parish church to be burned. The resulting ash is used the following year for the imposition of ashes.
Options for home display include placing palms behind a crucifix or cross mounted on the wall, folding them into a palm cross and keeping it as a devotional reminder, or pressing a small strip flat for preservation.
For non-Catholic readers who received palms at a Protestant or Anglican service: the palms carry no formal canonical status as sacramentals in those traditions, though many families choose to keep them as a personal devotional reminder through Holy Week and beyond.
Palm Sunday Decorations for Church and Home
Altar arrangements for Palm Sunday typically incorporate large palm fronds flanking the processional cross or altar, alongside any Lenten purple that remains from the preceding weeks. In some traditions, the purple is replaced with red on Palm Sunday.
Home devotional spaces may include palm crosses, palm fronds placed behind a crucifix, and green-and-gold color accents reflecting the triumph of the entry. As the week progresses toward Good Friday, some households transition altar colors to red, then black.
Palm Sunday for Children: Explanation, Lessons, and Activities
How to Explain Palm Sunday to Children
Palm Sunday can be explained to children as the day people gave Jesus a parade, welcoming him as a king. The crowds waved palm branches and spread cloaks on the road — the way people in ancient times honored royalty.
An age-appropriate framework for children aged 4 to 8:
- The people had heard about Jesus healing people and teaching them about God.
- They were excited and wanted to welcome him as a king who would help them.
- They waved palm branches — the way people waved flags at celebrations.
- They shouted “Hosanna!” which means “save us now!” — they were asking Jesus to help them.
- Jesus chose to ride a donkey, not a horse, because he came as a peaceful king.
For children aged 9 to 12, the lesson can add the dimension of fulfillment: Jesus had been described in the Old Testament hundreds of years earlier, and everything about how he entered Jerusalem matched the description exactly.
For teenagers, the central intellectual question of Palm Sunday is useful: the same crowd that shouted “Hosanna” on Sunday called for crucifixion five days later. Examining why that happened — the gap between messianic expectation and Jesus’s actual mission — is theologically formative.
Palm Sunday Activities for Children
The following activities are suitable for home and Sunday school settings:
- Palm branch craft: Cut long leaf shapes from green construction paper, score the center with a pen to create a vein, and wave them during a retelling of the Triumphal Entry
- Donkey craft: Simple cut-and-paste donkey from gray cardstock, with cloaks made from fabric scraps placed on its back
- “Hosanna” banner: Banner-making activity using fabric markers or paint on a strip of craft paper
- Story sequencing cards: Print six to eight images depicting the Triumphal Entry sequence and ask children to arrange them in order
- Memory verse: Psalm 118:26 — “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” — suitable for ages 6 and up
Palm Sunday Sunday School Lesson Frameworks
| Age Group | Primary Focus | Key Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 3–5 | Jesus is a king; the people gave him a parade | Palm leaf waving during story reading |
| Ages 6–10 | Prophecy fulfillment; Zechariah 9:9 and Psalm 118 | Scripture card matching |
| Ages 11–14 | Crowd expectations vs. Jesus’s actual mission | Discussion: Why did the crowd’s response change? |
| Ages 15–18 | Theological depth — servant kingship, Hosanna meaning, John 15:13 | Expository study with application question |
Palm Sunday Sermons, Hymns, and Worship Resources
Palm Sunday Sermon Themes for 2026
The following sermon themes address the central theological tensions of Palm Sunday and are applicable across denominational contexts:
- “The King Who Came to Serve” — the paradox between royal reception and servant mission; anchored in Philippians 2:5–11 and Zechariah 9:9
- “A Lot Can Happen in a Week” — the dramatic shift from “Hosanna” on Sunday to “Crucify him” on Friday, five days later; historically one of the most searched Palm Sunday phrases in the days before Holy Week
- “What Are You Waving For?” — the crowd’s misplaced expectations as a lens for examining contemporary assumptions about what following Jesus means
- “Greater Love” (2026-specific, LDS context) — John 15:13 as the theological center of the Palm Sunday service designated by the First Presidency
Palm Sunday Hymns and Songs
Traditional Hymns
| Hymn | Composer / Era | Thematic Focus |
|---|---|---|
| “All Glory, Laud and Honor” | Theodulph of Orléans, 9th century | Processional praise; “Hosanna” refrain |
| “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” | Jeannette Threlfall, 1873 | Children’s processional; crowd narrative |
| “Ride On, Ride On in Majesty” | Henry Hart Milman, 1827 | Servant-king paradox; transition toward Good Friday |
| “The King of Glory Comes” | Willard Jabusch, 1966 | Triumphal Entry; congregation participation |
Contemporary Worship
- “Hosanna (Praise Is Rising)” — Paul Baloche (Integrity Music, 2006)
- “Hosanna” — Brooke Fraser / Hillsong Worship (2006)
- “King of Kings” — Hillsong Worship (2019)
- “Glorious Day” — Passion / Kristian Stanfill (2017; appropriate for Holy Week arc)
Palm Sunday Greetings, Blessings, and Quotes
Palm Sunday greetings are commonly shared in church bulletins, on social media, and within family and community settings. The following are original blessings suitable for personal use:
Short blessings and greetings:
- “May this Palm Sunday fill your heart with the hope of what is coming. Wishing you a blessed Holy Week.”
- “As we wave our palms and cry Hosanna, may we remember who we are welcoming — and why he came. Blessed Palm Sunday.”
- “The week ahead holds the full weight of the gospel. May you walk through it with open eyes and a grateful heart.”
- “May the joy of Palm Sunday carry you toward the silence of Good Friday and the triumph of Easter morning.”
Scripture-anchored messages suitable for social media:
- “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” — Psalm 118:26 | Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026
- “Hosanna in the highest.” — Mark 11:10 | May your week be a holy one.
- “Greater love hath no man than this.” — John 15:13 | Wishing you a meaningful Holy Week.
Frequently Asked Questions About Palm Sunday 2026
What day is Palm Sunday 2026?
Palm Sunday 2026 is Sunday, March 29, 2026. It is the first day of Holy Week and occurs exactly one week before Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026.
What is the meaning of Palm Sunday?
Palm Sunday commemorates the Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, as recorded in all four Gospels. Crowds spread palm branches and cloaks on the road and cried “Hosanna,” fulfilling the messianic prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. The day opens Holy Week and signals the beginning of the Passion narrative.
What color do you wear on Palm Sunday?
In Catholic and many liturgical traditions, the official vestment color for Palm Sunday is red, representing the blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Congregants in some traditions are encouraged to wear red as well. This is one of only two Sundays in the Catholic liturgical year using red vestments.
Can you eat meat on Palm Sunday?
Palm Sunday is not a day of required abstinence from meat in Catholic teaching. Required abstinence from meat applies to Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday. Palm Sunday falls on a Sunday, and Sundays are technically exempt from Lenten fasting disciplines in Catholic canon law, though many Catholics choose to observe additional voluntary fasting during Holy Week.
Is Palm Sunday a Holy Day of Obligation?
Palm Sunday is not listed among the Catholic Holy Days of Obligation. The regular Sunday Mass obligation applies, but Palm Sunday carries no additional canonical requirement beyond standard Sunday attendance.
What should I do with my palm fronds after Palm Sunday?
In Catholic tradition, blessed palms are returned to the parish church before the following Ash Wednesday to be burned. The resulting ash is used the next year for Ash Wednesday services. Until then, palms may be displayed at home behind a crucifix or folded and kept as a devotional reminder. Discarding blessed palms with ordinary household waste is contrary to traditional Catholic practice, though no canonical penalty is specified.
What is the LDS Palm Sunday 2026 service?
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has instructed local congregations to hold a one-hour sacrament meeting on Sunday, March 29, 2026, centered on the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. All other Sunday meetings are canceled. This designation replaces the usual Easter Sunday congregational service, which in 2026 coincides with General Conference.
What does “a lot can happen in a week” mean in relation to Palm Sunday?
It refers to the five-day span between Palm Sunday’s celebration and Good Friday’s crucifixion. The crowd that shouted “Hosanna!” on Sunday called for Jesus’s crucifixion by Friday. The phrase has become a widely used sermon theme and social media phrase during Holy Week, underscoring the dramatic reversal at the center of the Passion narrative. It functions as an entry point for discussing the crowd’s political expectations versus Jesus’s redemptive mission.
Holy Week 2026: What Follows Palm Sunday
Monday, March 30, 2026 — Holy Monday
Holy Monday records two events: the cursing of the fig tree and the Cleansing of the Temple. Mark 11:12–17 places the Temple cleansing on Monday, the day after the Triumphal Entry. Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and those selling doves, citing Isaiah 56:7: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” The fig tree, cursed on the way into Jerusalem, is found withered the following morning (Mark 11:20–21).
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 — Holy Tuesday
Holy Tuesday is the most intensive single day of public teaching in the Gospel accounts. Jesus taught in the Temple, engaging the chief priests, scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law in a series of debates recorded across Matthew 21:23 through chapter 25. The day culminates in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24–25), in which Jesus describes the destruction of the Temple and signs associated with the end of the age.
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 — Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday)
No public ministry of Jesus is recorded on this day in the Gospels. Holy Wednesday is sometimes called Spy Wednesday because it is the day on which Judas Iscariot negotiated his betrayal with the chief priests, agreeing to hand Jesus over for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14–16). Many scholars place this event on Wednesday, though the Synoptic Gospels do not explicitly specify a day.
Thursday, April 2, 2026 — Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, the institution of the Eucharist (or Lord’s Supper), and the arrest of Jesus. The name derives from the Latin mandatum (“commandment”), referencing Jesus’s words in John 13:34: “A new command I give you: love one another.” During the meal, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet (John 13:1–17) and instituted the breaking of bread and sharing of the cup as a memorial of his body and blood (Luke 22:19–20). After the meal, Jesus and the disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he was arrested.
Friday, April 3, 2026 — Good Friday
Good Friday marks the trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. The sequence recorded across the four Gospels includes: Peter’s denial; trial before Pilate; sentencing; the walk to Golgotha; crucifixion at approximately 9:00 a.m.; three hours of darkness from noon to 3:00 p.m.; Jesus’s death at approximately 3:00 p.m.; and his burial in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea before sundown. Good Friday is observed as the most solemn day of the Christian liturgical year.
Saturday, April 4, 2026 — Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday — also General Conference Saturday for LDS members in 2026 — is the day of waiting. The Gospels record no events between the burial of Jesus and the resurrection. The disciples were in a state of grief and confusion (Luke 24:21; John 20:19). Easter Vigil services begin after sundown on Holy Saturday in Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and some Anglican and Lutheran traditions, anticipating the resurrection with fire, readings, and the singing of the Exsultet.
Sunday, April 5, 2026 — Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the central affirmation of Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:14). The empty tomb was discovered by Mary Magdalene and other women early in the morning (John 20:1). The resurrection appearances of Jesus are recorded in all four Gospels and in 1 Corinthians 15:3–8, where Paul lists over 500 eyewitnesses. For LDS members in 2026, Easter Sunday coincides with the Easter Sunday Morning and Afternoon sessions of General Conference, both of which are thematically centered on the Resurrection.
Conclusion
Palm Sunday 2026 falls on Sunday, March 29, 2026, and opens a Holy Week of particular historical and ecclesiastical significance. The convergence of Easter Sunday with the 196th Annual General Conference — including the sustaining of a new Church President in a Solemn Assembly on Holy Saturday — makes 2026 one of the most structurally distinctive Holy Weeks in recent LDS institutional history.
For the broader Christian world, the week from March 29 through April 5 traces the complete arc of the Passion: from the Hosanna of the Triumphal Entry to the silence of the tomb to the announcement of the resurrection.
The Holy Week 2026 timeline above can serve as a daily guide through each day’s commemorated events. The First Presidency’s “Greater Love” resources are available at Easter.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and through the Gospel Library application.
