When and How to Tie Your Lulav in 2026 Before Sukkot Begins on Shabbos
Sukkot 2026 begins at sunset on Friday, September 25, and the first day is Shabbos. If you plan to bind your lulav with knots, the practical answer is simple: prepare and bind it on Friday before Shabbos begins.
The lulav is not taken on Shabbos this year. The first actual lulav-taking will be Sunday, September 27. But preparing the bundle ahead of time matters—especially outside Israel, where Sunday is the second day of Yom Tov.
Is the lulav required to be tied?
The basic mitzvah uses one lulav, three hadassim (myrtle branches), two aravos (willow branches), and one etrog. The etrog remains separate. The lulav, hadassim and aravos are held together.
Binding those three species together is not an absolute requirement for the mitzvah to be valid. However, Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Orach Chaim 651:2, calls binding them together the choicest way to perform the mitzvah, based on zeh Keili v'anveihu—performing a mitzvah beautifully.
When should you tie the lulav in 2026?
Because Sukkot begins together with Shabbos on Friday night, anyone who uses regular knots should finish the binding before candle-lighting on Friday, September 25.
Shulchan Aruch HaRav 651:6 explains that a lasting double knot may not be made on Yom Tov. When binding must be done on Yom Tov, he discusses permitted alternatives such as a slipknot made with two loops or tucking the end of the binder into the wrap. Individual circumstances can differ, so if the lulav was not prepared before Yom Tov, ask your rav rather than improvising.
Many have the custom to bind the lulav on Erev Sukkot, and some specifically do so in the sukkah and personally rather than having someone else prepare it. Hayom Yom for 14 Tishrei records this practice as a way of performing the mitzvah in an especially beautiful manner.
How are the hadassim and aravos arranged?
There are different accepted customs for arranging and binding the species, so not every kosher lulav bundle will look identical.
Shulchan Aruch HaRav 651:7–10 records customs that include raising the hadassim slightly above the aravos, placing the hadassim and aravos on different sides of the lulav, and another arrangement with one hadas on the right, one on the left and one in the center, with an aravah on each side. He also advises placing the branches deep enough in the binding that, when holding the lulav, one is holding the other species as well.
For those following the custom recorded in Sefer HaMinhagim and Hayom Yom, two rings made from lulav leaves are first placed around the lulav itself. The hadassim and aravos are then bound to the lulav with three additional rings, all within one tefach (a handbreadth). The aravos are kept relatively inconspicuous, and the upper rings are preferably covered by the hadassim and aravos.
Those details are customs, not a universal requirement for every Jewish community. Follow your family or community practice.
Do you need a woven lulav holder?
No. A woven holder is used in many communities, while other communities bind the branches directly to the lulav. Shulchan Aruch HaRav 651:3 permits binding with thread or cord as well; the binding itself is for the beauty of the mitzvah rather than an additional species.
If your community has a particular method, that is the method to follow.
Why Friday preparation matters more this year
In a typical year, forgetting to finish the bundle before Sukkot may leave more room to address the issue on Yom Tov. In 2026 the calendar is unusual:
- Friday, September 25: Erev Sukkot—prepare and bind the lulav before Shabbos.
- Shabbos, September 26: First day of Sukkot—the Four Species are not taken.
- Sunday, September 27: The Four Species are taken for the first time this Sukkot. Outside Israel this is the second day of Yom Tov; in Israel it is Chol Hamoed.
That Israel/Diaspora distinction is important. In Israel, Sunday is Chol Hamoed. Outside Israel, Sunday remains Yom Tov, so the Yom Tov laws of tying still apply. Preparing on Friday avoids the problem altogether.
A simple Friday checklist
- Check that you have one lulav, at least three kosher hadassim, two kosher aravos and one kosher etrog.
- Confirm the species are oriented with their growing direction upward when assembling them.
- Arrange the hadassim and aravos according to your custom.
- Bind the bundle before Shabbos begins.
- Store the Four Species carefully so the hadassim and aravos remain fresh for Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tie my lulav on Shabbos?
No. Do not prepare the lulav bundle on Shabbos.
What if I forgot to tie it before Shabbos?
Do not make a normal lasting knot on Shabbos or Yom Tov. There are halachic alternatives in certain situations, discussed in Shulchan Aruch HaRav 651:6. Because Sunday is Yom Tov outside Israel but Chol Hamoed in Israel, the practical answer can differ. Ask your rav. A separate article in this series will address this situation in detail.
Does everyone use five rings?
No. Five rings are a particular custom recorded in Sefer HaMinhagim and Hayom Yom. Other communities have different binding methods.
Should I bind the lulav in the sukkah?
Many have the custom to prepare the lulav on Erev Sukkot, and some specifically bind it in the sukkah. It is a meaningful and well-established custom, but it should not be presented as a universal requirement.
Sources
Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Orach Chaim 651:1–10
Hayom Yom, 14 Tishrei
Sefer HaMinhagim—Sukkot and the Four Species
This article provides general halachic information. For questions about tying on Shabbos or Yom Tov, a damaged species, or a specific community custom, consult your rav.
Preparing for Sukkot 2026? Explore EasyEtrog's lulav and etrog sets and order early so your Four Species arrive with time to inspect and prepare them before Friday, September 25.