The shortest day of 2026 is Monday, 21 December — the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, when daylight shrinks to its yearly minimum and the Sun sits lowest in the sky. Here's when it happens, why, and what changes afterward.
For exact sunrise and sunset where you live, use our sunrise & sunset tool, or see all four turning points on the seasons page.
When is the shortest day in 2026?
- Northern Hemisphere winter solstice: 21 December 2026 — the shortest day of the year.
- Southern Hemisphere: the same date is their longest day (summer solstice). Their shortest day is the June solstice.
After 21 December, days slowly lengthen again in the north — gaining just a minute or two at first, then faster toward spring.
Why is the December solstice the shortest day?
Earth is tilted about 23.4° on its axis. Around 21 December, the Northern Hemisphere leans furthest away from the Sun. That means:
- The Sun rises low and stays above the horizon for the least time.
- The further north you go, the shorter the day.
At the Arctic Circle and beyond, the Sun doesn't rise at all around the solstice — the polar night. At the equator, day length barely changes all year.
How little daylight do you get?
It depends heavily on latitude:
| Location | Approx. latitude | Daylight on Dec solstice |
|---|---|---|
| Equator (Singapore, Nairobi) | 0° | ~12 hours |
| Cairo, Delhi | ~30°N | ~10 hours |
| New York, Madrid | ~40°N | ~9 hours |
| London, Berlin | ~52°N | ~7.5 hours |
| Reykjavik | ~64°N | ~4 hours |
| Arctic Circle | 66.5°N | 0 hours (polar night) |
For the exact figure where you are, our sunrise/sunset page calculates day length for any city.
Solstice traditions
The winter solstice has been marked for millennia as the "rebirth" of the Sun — the turning point toward longer days:
- Stonehenge in England aligns with the solstice sunset; crowds still gather.
- Yule was the old Norse midwinter festival, the root of many Christmas customs.
- Dongzhi is celebrated in China and East Asia with family gatherings and warming foods.
Many of these midwinter festivals fed into the traditions around Christmas.
Quick answers
When is the shortest day in 2026? 21 December 2026 — the Northern Hemisphere winter solstice.
Why is the December solstice the shortest day? Because the Northern Hemisphere is tilted furthest from the Sun, giving the fewest daylight hours.
Is the shortest day the same everywhere? No. The further from the equator, the shorter it is. Above the Arctic Circle the Sun doesn't rise. South of the equator, 21 December is the longest day.
Do days get longer after the winter solstice? Yes — daylight increases a little each day after 21 December until the June solstice.