Hajj 2026 LIVE: Muslims begin the annual pilgrimage to Mecca as Saudi city hits 42C

8 hours ago 1

Muslims are gathering in Mecca

Muslims are gathering in Mecca (Image: Getty)

Hundreds of thousands have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, as temperatures in the Middle Eastern country hit 42C. Every year, millions of worshippers travel to the Saudi holy city of Mecca to take part in one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.

Over several days, pilgrims carry out a series of important rituals, including circling around the holy Kaaba - a cube-shaped stone building draped in a black cloth at the centre of Mecca's Grand Mosque - and gathering at Mount Arafat for prayers and reflection. Hajj comes just days after the starting date of the final month of the Islamic calendar, Dhul Hujjah, was announced.

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12 mins ago15:02 Astha Saxena

Cooling systems installed across Mecca

Saudi authorities have deployed extensive cooling systems across Mecca to limit the impact of the heat.

Giant fans, mist sprayers and cooled flooring have been installed around the Grand Mosque, while trucks distribute free bottles of ice-cold water to worshippers throughout the day.

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Cooling systems installed across Mecca (Image: Getty)

20 mins ago14:54 Astha Saxena

'It's the most difficult thing they will do in their lives'

Youssef Chouhoud, a political scientist at Christopher Newport University in Virginia, said from the tent city of Mina that this Hajj "is, in effect, a hard reset for me".

He told AP: "I pray that I emerge on the other side of this journey with a new sense of purpose and the discipline to see it through.

"It is for many pilgrims the most difficult thing they will ever do in their lives," he added. "But nothing this meaningful is ever going to be easy".

36 mins ago14:38 Astha Saxena

'Feast of sacrifice' at end of Hajj

Most Muslims will celebrate Eid al‑Adha on May 27, marking one of the two major festivals in Islam. Known as the “Feast of Sacrifice,” it takes place after the completion of the Hajj pilgrimage and commemorates the devotion of Prophet Ibrahim.

Following the Eid prayer, Muslims around the world participate in Qurbani, the ritual sacrifice of livestock such as a sheep, goat, cow or camel.

This act honours the moment when Prophet Ibrahim was willing to sacrifice his son Ismail in obedience to Allah’s command. By performing Qurbani, Muslims symbolically reflect Ibrahim’s unwavering faith and strive to embody the same spirit of submission and devotion.

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59 mins ago14:15 Astha Saxena

Scenes from Mecca

Striking images from Mecca show vast crowds of worshippers dressed in white as this year’s Hajj pilgrimage begins in Saudi Arabia.

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Scenes from Mecca (Image: Getty)

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Scenes from Mecca (Image: Getty)

1 hour ago14:00 Astha Saxena

How do Muslims celebrate Hajj?

As Muslims gather in Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, they perform tawāf, the central ritual in which pilgrims walk seven times around the Kaaba—a black, cube‑shaped structure draped in an ornate, gold‑embroidered cloth.

This cloth, known as the kiswah, is ceremonially placed over the Kaaba each year and serves as a symbolic covering for Islam’s holiest site.

1 hour ago13:50 Astha Saxena

How many people attend Hajj?

Hajj is one of the largest religious gatherings on the planet, drawing millions of Muslims to Saudi Arabia each year to perform the pilgrimage.

This year, as many as two million pilgrims are expected to arrive in the holy city of Mecca, reflecting both the scale and the global significance of the event.

2 hours ago13:38 Astha Saxena

What is Hajj?

Hajj is the yearly Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam, making it a mandatory act of worship for all adult Muslims who are physically and financially able to complete it at least once in their lives.

It takes place during Dhul Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and spans several days of sacred rituals.

These include entering the state of ihram, performing tawaf by circling the Kaaba, completing sa’i by walking between Safa and Marwa, standing in prayer at Arafat, and visiting key sites such as Mina and Muzdalifah.

Each step carries deep spiritual significance, reflecting devotion, humility, equality, and the reenactment of events linked to the Prophet Abraham, Hajar, and their son Ishmael.

2 hours ago13:33 Alice Scarsi