Quick answer: Enkutatash, the Ethiopian New Year, falls on Friday 11 September 2026, marking the start of Ethiopian year 2019. It celebrates the end of the kiremt rainy season and is observed by Ethiopian and Eritrean communities across the UK with church services, traditional food, coffee ceremonies, and gifts.
Every September, while much of the UK is easing into autumn, thousands of Ethiopians and Eritreans living in cities like London, Birmingham, and Manchester are ringing in a brand-new year. Enkutatash — which translates roughly to “gift of jewels” in Amharic — is one of the most meaningful celebrations in the Ethiopian and Eritrean calendar. It blends spiritual reflection, family reunion, and community joy into a single, vibrant occasion.
This guide covers everything you need to know about Ethiopian New Year 2026 in the UK: when it falls, what it means, how communities celebrate it, and what to keep in mind if you’re planning to send money home to family in Ethiopia or Eritrea around this time.
When Is Ethiopian New Year 2026?
Enkutatash 2026 falls on Friday 11 September 2026. This date marks the first day of Meskerem — the opening month of the Ethiopian calendar — and the beginning of Ethiopian year 2019.
The Ethiopian calendar, known as the Ge’ez calendar, differs significantly from the Gregorian calendar used in the UK. It runs approximately seven to eight years behind, follows a 13-month structure, and aligns the New Year with the end of the long kiremt rainy season in the Horn of Africa. For communities rooted in this tradition, 11 September is not just a date — it is a turning point.
If you follow the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, it is worth noting that some date observances can vary slightly depending on local parish customs, so checking with your local church ahead of time is always a good idea.
What Does Enkutatash Mean and Where Does It Come From?
The word Enkutatash (እንቁጣጣሽ) is Amharic and is often translated as “gift of jewels.” According to Ethiopian tradition, the name traces back to the return of the Queen of Sheba from her famous visit to King Solomon. When she arrived home, her chiefs welcomed her with jewels — enkutat — as a gift. The name has carried through centuries of Ethiopian culture.
Beyond mythology, Enkutatash has deep agricultural roots. It falls at the moment when the long, heavy kiremt rains finally give way to sunshine across the Ethiopian highlands. Fields begin to dry, skies clear, and the landscape bursts into colour — most famously with the yellow adey abeba daisies that blanket hillsides and roadsides. These bright flowers have become one of the most enduring symbols of the holiday.
Spiritually, Enkutatash holds great importance in the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition, which observes the day as the feast of St John the Baptist. In the Ethiopian Catholic and Protestant communities, the New Year also carries religious weight, though celebrations may take different forms.
How Is Ethiopian New Year Celebrated in the UK?
Ethiopian and Eritrean communities across the UK have built rich traditions around Enkutatash, blending practices from home with the realities of diaspora life.
Church Services and Prayer
For many families, Enkutatash begins at church. Ethiopian Orthodox congregations in London — including the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Battersea and the community in Ladbroke Grove — hold special services to mark the occasion. Similar gatherings take place in Birmingham and Manchester, where Ethiopian and Eritrean communities have grown steadily over the past few decades.
Services often begin early in the morning and draw large congregations, with worshippers dressed in traditional white habesha kemis or suits. The atmosphere is solemn, celebratory, and deeply communal.
Traditional Food and Coffee Ceremonies
After church, families gather to eat. Doro wat — a rich, slow-cooked chicken stew seasoned with berbere spice and served with injera flatbread — is the centrepiece of most Enkutatash meals. It takes hours to prepare and is considered one of Ethiopia’s most celebrated dishes.
Alongside food, the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony is a cornerstone of the celebration. Green coffee beans are roasted over hot coals, ground by hand, brewed in a clay jebena pot, and served in small cups with sugar. Sharing coffee is an act of community and respect — and during Enkutatash, it carries extra meaning.
Restaurants and community halls across London, Birmingham, and Manchester often host Enkutatash dinners and events, giving those without family nearby a place to mark the occasion together.
Gifts, Flowers, and Greetings
In Ethiopia, children traditionally pick bunches of adey abeba daisies and deliver them to neighbours, singing New Year songs. In the UK, this practice lives on in adapted forms — families exchange flowers, cards, and gifts, and children often perform for relatives and elders.
The greeting most commonly exchanged is “Enkutatash ametatsh!” (እንቁጣጣሽ አመጣጥሽ) or simply “Melkam Addis Amet!” — which means Happy New Year in Amharic.
Community Events and Gatherings
In recent years, diaspora communities have organised larger public events to celebrate Enkutatash together. Keep an eye on Ethiopian and Eritrean community organisations, cultural associations, and social media groups in your city in the weeks leading up to 11 September 2026 for details on local events, concerts, and dinners.
Sending Money Home for Ethiopian New Year 2026
For many Ethiopians and Eritreans living in the UK, Enkutatash is also a time to support family members back home — sending money to help cover the cost of celebrations, food, new clothes for children, or simply to stay connected across the distance.
Are Banks Open on Ethiopian New Year?
In the UK, 11 September 2026 falls on a Friday, which is a regular working day. UK banks will be open as normal. However, if you are sending money to Ethiopia or Eritrea, it is worth knowing that the holiday may affect bank processing times and business hours on the receiving end.
Ethiopian banks and financial institutions may operate on reduced hours or observe the holiday, particularly on 11 September itself. Some local banks and businesses in Ethiopia close or operate with skeleton staff during Enkutatash. If your recipient needs funds available by the start of the holiday, consider sending a few days early — by Tuesday or Wednesday 8–9 September at the latest — to avoid any delays.
Tips for Sending Money Around Enkutatash 2026
- Send early. Do not leave it until the last minute. Transfers initiated midweek before the holiday give more buffer time for processing on both ends.
- Double-check recipient details. During busy holiday periods, small errors in account numbers or names can cause avoidable delays. Review all details before confirming.
- Check delivery method options. Mobile money, bank deposit, and cash pickup availability can vary. Confirming your recipient’s preferred method ahead of time helps avoid surprises.
- Factor in local bank hours. If your recipient plans to collect or use funds during the holiday, make sure they will have access. Mobile wallets like Telebirr in Ethiopia can be more accessible than branch-based banking during public holidays.
The Meaning of Enkutatash for the Diaspora
Distance does not diminish tradition — if anything, it deepens it. For Ethiopian and Eritrean families spread across the UK, Enkutatash is a moment to reconnect with where they came from. It is a chance to pass on language, food, faith, and memory to children born far from the adey abeba fields.
At the same time, it is a celebration of belonging — both to the country left behind and the community built here. The Ethiopian and Eritrean diaspora in the UK has created something enduring: communities that hold both worlds at once.
Whether you are celebrating for the first time, marking another year in the UK, or simply learning more about a colleague’s or neighbour’s traditions, Enkutatash 2026 is worth understanding and acknowledging.
Looking Ahead to Enkutatash 2026
Ethiopian New Year 2026 falls on Friday 11 September, ushering in Ethiopian year 2019. Communities across London, Birmingham, Manchester, and beyond will mark it with prayer, food, flowers, coffee, and the warm exchange of greetings between people who share a history and a hope.
If you have family in Ethiopia or Eritrea, plan your money transfers early to make sure funds arrive in time for the celebration. And if you get the chance to attend an Enkutatash gathering near you — go. The welcome will be warm, the coffee will be strong, and the doro wat will be worth every moment of the slow cook.
Melkam Addis Amet — Happy New Year.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ethiopian New Year 2026
When is Ethiopian New Year 2026?
Ethiopian New Year 2026, known as Enkutatash, falls on Friday 11 September 2026. It marks the first day of the Ethiopian month of Meskerem and the beginning of Ethiopian year 2019.
Why does Ethiopia celebrate New Year in September?
The Ethiopian calendar is based on the ancient Coptic calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar used in the UK. Ethiopia’s New Year falls in September to align with the end of the kiremt rainy season and the start of a new agricultural and spiritual cycle.
What year is it in the Ethiopian calendar in 2026?
When Enkutatash arrives on 11 September 2026, it will mark the beginning of Ethiopian year 2019. The Ethiopian calendar runs approximately seven years behind the Gregorian calendar.
How do people say Happy New Year in Amharic?
The most common greeting is “Melkam Addis Amet!” (መልካም አዲስ አመት), which means Happy New Year in Amharic. You may also hear “Enkutatash ametatsh!” used as a seasonal greeting.
What is the significance of the adey abeba flower at Enkutatash?
The adey abeba (yellow Meskel daisy) blooms across Ethiopia at the end of the rainy season, right around the time of the New Year. The flowers have become a national symbol of Enkutatash, representing renewal and celebration. In Ethiopia, children traditionally pick them to give to neighbours as part of the holiday.
Are Ethiopian banks open on Enkutatash?
Ethiopian banks and businesses may observe reduced hours or close on 11 September in recognition of the public holiday. If you are sending money to Ethiopia from the UK around this time, it is advisable to transfer funds a few days before the holiday to ensure they are available when needed.
What food is traditionally eaten at Enkutatash?
Doro wat — a spiced chicken stew served with injera flatbread — is the most traditional Enkutatash dish. It is typically prepared at home and shared with family. Coffee ceremonies are also central to the celebration, with freshly roasted and brewed coffee served to guests as a sign of hospitality and community.
Where can I celebrate Ethiopian New Year 2026 in the UK?
Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in London, Birmingham, and Manchester host church services, communal meals, and cultural events around Enkutatash. Check with local Ethiopian Orthodox churches, cultural associations, and community groups in your city for details on public events closer to September 2026.
