At Muslim Ad Network, we work with global brands every day that want to reach Muslim consumers in a way that feels relevant, respectful, and effective. As we look ahead to Ramadan 2026, many advertisers are facing a familiar challenge. How do you maintain momentum around traditional holiday marketing while also planning for one of the most important seasons in the Muslim calendar?
Ramadan is not just another campaign window. It is a period of reflection, generosity, family, and shared experiences. Brands that treat it with the same creative depth as major global holidays consistently see stronger engagement and long-term trust from Muslim audiences.
Why Ramadan Deserves Equal Weight in Holiday Planning
For Muslim consumers, Ramadan and Eid are central cultural moments that influence daily routines, media consumption, and purchasing behaviour. This makes Ramadan comparable in impact to year-end holidays in Western markets, yet it is often underplanned or added too late into marketing calendars.
As brands plan their holiday strategies, Ramadan should be considered alongside Christmas, New Year, and other seasonal moments, not as a secondary activation. The key is balance. Ramadan marketing should feel intentional, not like an afterthought squeezed between other holiday campaigns.
Global Brands Getting Ramadan Right
Several global brands have demonstrated how to balance seasonal marketing with culturally grounded Ramadan storytelling.
IKEA: Designing for Ramadan Gatherings
IKEA has consistently invested in Ramadan-specific collections that focus on home, togetherness, and hospitality. Their Ramadan-ready collections include tableware, textiles, and decor designed for iftar and family gatherings. This approach shows a clear understanding of how Muslim families live and celebrate during the month.
You can view one of their Ramadan collections here:
https://www.ikea.com/jo/en/new/the-gokvaella-collection-ramadan-ready-from-sunrise-to-sunset-pub50eccf20/
By aligning product design with cultural needs, IKEA integrates Ramadan into its broader seasonal retail strategy without diluting authenticity.
Emirates Airlines
Emirates has integrated Ramadan into its travel experience by offering special in-flight services like Ramadan-themed meal boxes with dates, water and traditional foods for passengers fasting during the holy month, and culturally relevant inflight entertainment programming. This approach demonstrates thoughtful service design and audience comfort rather than simple promotion. Learn about their Ramadan experience on the official Emirates seasonal page:
https://www.emirates.com/us/english/experience/seasonal-occasions/ramadan/ Emirates
In a category like travel, where media spend often focuses around end-of-year holidays, creating dedicated Ramadan experiences shows how to balance broader holiday spend with targeted Muslim audience engagement.
How Brands Can Balance Ramadan 2026 With Other Holiday Campaigns
As Ramadan 2026 approaches, brands should begin planning now to avoid overlapping messages or cultural disconnects.
Plan Early and Separately
Ramadan deserves its own creative strategy, timeline, and messaging. Avoid repurposing Christmas or generic holiday assets. Treat Ramadan as a primary seasonal moment.
Segment Audiences Thoughtfully
Muslim consumers often engage more heavily with content during evening hours in Ramadan. Media planning should reflect this shift rather than following standard holiday schedules.
Align Values Across Campaigns
While themes differ, values like family, generosity, and connection can bridge Ramadan and broader holiday messaging when executed respectfully.
Avoid Creative Overlap
If your brand is running global holiday campaigns at the same time, ensure visuals and language do not clash. Cultural clarity builds trust.
Why Ramadan Marketing Is a Long-Term Investment
At Muslim Ad Network, we see firsthand how brands that show up consistently during Ramadan earn loyalty that extends beyond the month itself. Muslim consumers remember who acknowledged their most important cultural moments and who did not.
Ramadan marketing is not about temporary visibility. It is about building relationships with one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer segments in a way that aligns with their values and lived experiences.
As brands prepare their 2026 marketing calendars, the question is no longer whether to include Ramadan, but how thoughtfully it will be integrated alongside other holiday efforts happening now.
The brands that succeed are those that plan early, respect cultural nuance, and understand that meaningful engagement always outperforms generic seasonal noise.
At Muslim Ad Network, we help brands do exactly that. Balancing holiday marketing and Ramadan is not a challenge when you treat Muslim audiences as a priority, not an afterthought. Contact us to plan your marketing campaign today.
Image credit: Esquire Middle East