The Saudi National Meteorological Center has shared that the 2025 Hajj season will be the last one held in the intense summer heat for the next 16 years.
Starting in 2026, the annual pilgrimage will shift to cooler months, moving first into spring and later into winter due to the lunar calendar’s yearly 10-day shift.
This transition brings hope for relief to the millions of pilgrims who’ve braved the searing heat in past years.
During the 2024 Hajj, temperatures in Mecca soared to a blistering 46°C to 51°C, causing over 2,760 heatstroke cases and several heat-related deaths in a single day.
According to the Meteorological Center, Hajj will take place in the spring from 2026 to 2033, then move to winter until 2041. By 2042, the pilgrimage will return to the summer for another nine years of high temperatures.
In the face of rising heat risks, Saudi officials have stepped up efforts to safeguard pilgrims.
These efforts include expanded shaded areas, additional water stations, mobile cooling units, and increased public awareness campaigns about heat safety.
In 2024, the Kingdom also rolled out 33 new weather monitoring stations and ramped up the use of mobile radar systems for better real-time tracking in Hajj zones.
With 1.8 million pilgrims expected for Hajj 2025, Saudi authorities are preparing for one final summer test before ushering in a new era of safer and cooler pilgrimage seasons.