Sukkot 2026 Begins on Shabbos: When Do We Take the Lulav?
Sukkot 2026 begins at sunset on Friday, September 25. The first day of Sukkot is Shabbos, September 26. Since the Four Species are not taken on Shabbos, the first time we take the lulav and esrog this Sukkot is Sunday morning, September 27.
This unusual calendar raises practical questions: When should you bind the lulav? Why is lulav not taken on Shabbos even though the first day is normally a Torah obligation? When do we say Shehecheyanu? And is Sunday different in Israel and the Diaspora?
Friday, September 25: Erev Sukkot
Friday is the day to finish preparing your sukkah and Four Species. Many have the custom to prepare and bind the lulav with the hadassim and aravos in the sukkah on the day before Yom Tov. In 2026, that means doing it on Friday before candle lighting.
Chabad.org's 2026 calendar lists Friday, 14 Tishrei, as the day to prepare the Four Kinds in the sukkah. See the calendar entry here. The laws of binding and taking the lulav are discussed in Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Orach Chaim 651.
Friday evening begins both Shabbos and the first night of Sukkot. Candle lighting is before sunset at the local candle-lighting time.
Shabbos, September 26: First Day of Sukkot
Although this is the first day of Sukkot, we do not take the Four Species on Shabbos. There is no blessing over the lulav and no waving of the Four Species. Full Hallel is still recited and the other observances of Sukkot continue as usual.
The Chabad.org Sukkot 2026 calendar lists Shabbos, September 26 as the first day and notes that the Four Kinds are not shaken because it is Shabbos.
Why Don't We Take Lulav on Shabbos?
The Torah says, “You shall take for yourselves on the first day” the Four Species. Outside the Beis Hamikdash, the first day is the day on which taking the lulav is a Torah obligation.
That makes 2026 especially interesting: the first day is Shabbos, yet today we still do not take the lulav.
The Gemara explains the rabbinic decree behind this practice. The Sages were concerned that someone might carry the lulav four amos in a public domain on Shabbos, for example while bringing it to someone knowledgeable in order to learn how to perform the mitzvah. See Talmud Sukkah 42b and the continuation on 43a.
There is a fascinating history here. The Mishnah describes an earlier practice in which, when the first day fell on Shabbos, people brought their lulavim to the Temple Mount on Friday so they could fulfill the mitzvah the next day. Special care was taken because on the first day a person must fulfill the mitzvah with a lulav that belongs to him. We will explore that history in a separate article.
Sunday, September 27: The First Lulav Taking of Sukkot 2026
Sunday morning is the first time the Four Species are actually taken this Sukkot.
The blessing Al Netilas Lulav is recited. Since this is also the first time performing the mitzvah this Sukkot, Shehecheyanu is recited as well. The Chabad.org Sukkot 2026 Reference Guide notes that Shehecheyanu is said the first time one gets to perform the mitzvah during Sukkot.
Israel and the Diaspora Are Different on Sunday
Outside Israel, Sunday, September 27 is the second day of Yom Tov. In Israel, Sunday is already Chol Hamoed. But in both Israel and the Diaspora, Sunday is the first day in 2026 on which the Four Species are actually taken. The different status of Sunday can affect some of the halachos surrounding the Four Species, so we will address the Israel/Diaspora distinction separately later in this series.
What Happens Saturday Night?
Outside Israel, Saturday night begins the second day of Yom Tov. Preparations for the second day wait until Shabbos has ended. Candles are lit from a pre-existing flame, and Kiddush follows the special order used when Shabbos leads directly into Yom Tov, commonly called Yaknahaz. The lulav is not taken at night; the mitzvah is performed during the daytime on Sunday.
Quick Sukkot 2026 FAQ
Do we take the lulav on Friday, September 25?
No. Friday is Erev Sukkot. It is a day for preparing the Four Species, not yet performing the mitzvah.
Do we take the lulav at home on Shabbos?
No. The Four Species are not taken on Shabbos.
When is the first lulav blessing in 2026?
Sunday, September 27, during the daytime.
Do we say Shehecheyanu over the lulav on Sunday?
Yes, if this is your first time performing the mitzvah this Sukkot.
When should I bind my lulav this year?
Prepare it before Sukkot. Many have the custom to bind the lulav with the hadassim and aravos in the sukkah on Erev Yom Tov, which this year is Friday, September 25, before candle lighting.
Prepare Early This Year
Because Sukkot begins together with Shabbos, Friday will be busy. It is worth having your sukkah ready, your Four Species checked, and your lulav prepared well before candle lighting.
If you still need a set for Sukkot 2026, you can browse EasyEtrog's lulav and esrog sets here.
This article provides general halachic information. Individual questions—especially about the condition of a species, ownership, or what may be done on Yom Tov—should be discussed with your rav.