The Solar Hijri calendar, official in Iran and Afghanistan, counts years from the Hijra of 622 CE but follows the Sun: the year begins with Nowruz on the day of the March equinox, or the next day if the equinox comes after noon in Iran. The first six months have 31 days, the next five 30, and Esfand 29, or 30 in a leap year.
Because the year starts at the observed equinox, its leap years are not a simple every-fourth-year rule; they follow the Sun, about 8 in every 33 years.
How Hourora checks it
Dates come from your browser's calendar data (Unicode CLDR / ICU). We test every Nowruz from 1925 to 2100 against the astronomical rule, with the equinox from Jean Meeus's Astronomical Algorithms and noon at 52.5° E (Iran Standard Time); they all agree. Afghanistan uses the same years and month lengths, with Dari or Pashto month names (Hamal, Sawr …).
Questions
Good to know
What is today's date in the Persian calendar?
In Tehran it is 26 Mehr 1405 AP (Sunday, 18 October 2026).
When is Nowruz?
Nowruz 1406 is on Sunday, 21 March 2027.
How do I convert a Shamsi date to the Gregorian calendar?
Use the date converter on Hourora: choose Persian, enter the year, month and day, and every other calendar appears, with a link you can share.
Is the Persian calendar the same as the Islamic calendar?
No. Both count from the Hijra, but the Islamic (lunar) Hijri calendar has 354 or 355 days, while the Persian Solar Hijri year follows the Sun and has 365 or 366 days, so their year numbers differ (1405 SH is 1447–1448 AH).