Countdown to Pancake Day
A live countdown to Pancake Day, also called Shrove Tuesday, in UK time.
Good to know
Pancake Day is Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. It falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so it moves between early February and early March.
Traditionally it was the last chance to use up eggs, milk and fat before the Lenten fast, which is why pancakes are eaten in the UK on the day.
The pancake race at Olney in Buckinghamshire has been held since 1445, and women compete while carrying a frying pan and tossing a pancake. Many other towns hold their own races on the day.
Because Easter moves, Pancake Day can fall anywhere between 3 February and 9 March. The countdown targets midnight at the start of the day, and the UK is always on GMT at that time of year. Dates for the next few years are listed below.
Dates for the next few years
- 2026: Tuesday, 17 February 2026
- 2027: Tuesday, 9 February 2027
- 2028: Tuesday, 29 February 2028
- 2029: Tuesday, 13 February 2029
- 2030: Tuesday, 5 March 2030
Frequently asked questions
When is Pancake Day?
It is Shrove Tuesday, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, 47 days before Easter Sunday. The exact dates for the next five years are listed on this page.
Is Pancake Day the same as Shrove Tuesday?
Yes. Pancake Day is the popular name for Shrove Tuesday.
Clock change guides
- What Is Daylight Saving Time (DST)? A Plain-English GuideWhat daylight saving time is, how it works in the UK, Europe and the US, why it exists, its history, who uses it and the argument over scrapping it.
- Why Do the Clocks Go Back in October? The Real ReasonThe clocks go back in autumn to return the UK to GMT, so winter mornings are lighter. The history, the rule, what time it happens and what changes for you.
- When Do the Clocks Go Forward Again After Going Back?When the UK clocks go forward again after the autumn change, how long the UK stays on GMT, when evenings get lighter and how to remember to reset your clocks.