The 2026 Hajj draw has been completed in Türkiye, with 1,799,835 registered applicants participating in the selection process to determine who will make the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca next year.

According to the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı), the results will be available to candidates starting at 8:00 p.m. via the e-Government portal (e-Devlet).

The computerized draw was held at the Diyanet Conference Hall in Ankara under the supervision of a notary. The event drew a large crowd of prospective pilgrims and their families, who gathered to witness one of the most anticipated moments of the year for many Muslims across Türkiye.

Before the draw, President of Religious Affairs Safi Arpaguş addressed the attendees, offering prayers for all applicants and highlighting the spiritual significance of Hajj.

“Hajj is a form of worship that instills in believers a consciousness of time and place, and strengthens the sense of monotheism and brotherhood,” he said. “This sacred gathering of millions of Muslims united by the same faith reinforces the awareness of the ummah.”

Arpaguş reminded that Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, emphasizing that it represents a powerful expression of global Muslim unity and equality before God.

Noting that the Diyanet has been organizing Hajj operations with great care for more than 45 years, Arpaguş said all necessary measures are being taken to ensure pilgrims can perform their duties in safety and comfort.

“We are taking all necessary measures to ensure that our citizens can fulfill their religious duties in the best possible way,” he said.

Arpaguş announced that Saudi Arabia has allocated a quota of 84,942 pilgrims for Türkiye this year. Despite the limited number, nearly 1.8 million Muslims across the country entered the draw in hopes of receiving the opportunity to perform the sacred pilgrimage.

The Diyanet’s extensive Hajj program continues to play a key role in coordinating Türkiye’s pilgrims each year, ensuring their travel, accommodation, and spiritual guidance throughout one of the most important acts of worship in Islam. (ILKHA)