March begins on Sunday for the first time in 6 years

Monday, March 2, 2026

For the first time since March 2020, March 1st fell on a Sunday. As you may remember, March 2020 was a very difficult month, marking the infancy phase of the COVID-19 pandemic when the lives of all 330 million people in the United States, as well as residents of many other countries, were upended and greatly disrupted. Although March 2020 was a terrible month, this month (March 2026) will be so, so, so much better. Same calendar, different times! Just like how 9/11/2007 and 9/12/2007 were infinitely better than 9/11/2001 and 9/12/2001. September 2007 was a regular month in New York City and the rest of the nation, despite having the same calendar as September 2001, six years apart. So was September 2012, which also has the same calendar, starting on a Saturday and ending on Sunday, September 30 after thirty days.

Prior to 2020, the last time March began on a Sunday was in 2015, five years prior. This is the shortest time it can take for a date to fall on the same day of the week again. This happens for March through December of any year congruent to 3 modulo 4, or in other words, the year preceding a leap year. The 5-year gap also applies to January 1 through February 28 of the leap year itself. For example, 1/15/2016 and 1/15/2021 both fell on Fridays.