The winter solstice 2026 occurs on Monday, December 21, 2026, at 3:50 p.m. EST (20:50 UTC). The 2027 winter solstice occurs on Tuesday, December 21, 2027, at 9:42 p.m. EST, which is Wednesday, December 22, in the UK.
The earliest sunset of the year comes about two weeks before the winter solstice, and the latest sunrise about two weeks after it.
In New York City, the earliest sunset falls on Tuesday, December 8, 2026, at 4:28 p.m., and the latest sunrise on Monday, January 4, 2027, at 7:20 a.m.
The solstice itself only marks the shortest total day: 9 hours 14 minutes in New York City on December 21, 2026.
The winter solstice 2027 falls on different dates on either side of the Atlantic, December 21 in the United States and December 22 in the United Kingdom and Europe, because it occurs at 02:42 UTC.
Table of Contents
When is the winter solstice 2026?
The December solstice 2026 occurs at 20:50 UTC on Monday, December 21, 2026, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. It is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.
The table converts the moment to local time for both 2026 and 2027.
| Time zone or city | Winter solstice 2026 | Winter solstice 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (New York) | Monday, December 21, 2026, 3:50 p.m. | Tuesday, December 21, 2027, 9:42 p.m. |
| Central (Chicago) | Monday, December 21, 2026, 2:50 p.m. | Tuesday, December 21, 2027, 8:42 p.m. |
| Mountain (Denver) | Monday, December 21, 2026, 1:50 p.m. | Tuesday, December 21, 2027, 7:42 p.m. |
| Pacific (Los Angeles) | Monday, December 21, 2026, 12:50 p.m. | Tuesday, December 21, 2027, 6:42 p.m. |
| Alaska (Anchorage) | Monday, December 21, 2026, 11:50 a.m. | Tuesday, December 21, 2027, 5:42 p.m. |
| Hawaii (Honolulu) | Monday, December 21, 2026, 10:50 a.m. | Tuesday, December 21, 2027, 4:42 p.m. |
| London | Monday, December 21, 2026, 8:50 p.m. | Wednesday, December 22, 2027, 2:42 a.m. |
| Paris and Berlin | Monday, December 21, 2026, 9:50 p.m. | Wednesday, December 22, 2027, 3:42 a.m. |
| New Delhi | Tuesday, December 22, 2026, 2:20 a.m. | Wednesday, December 22, 2027, 8:12 a.m. |
| Beijing | Tuesday, December 22, 2026, 4:50 a.m. | Wednesday, December 22, 2027, 10:42 a.m. |
| Sydney (summer solstice) | Tuesday, December 22, 2026, 7:50 a.m. | Wednesday, December 22, 2027, 1:42 p.m. |
| Auckland (summer solstice) | Tuesday, December 22, 2026, 9:50 a.m. | Wednesday, December 22, 2027, 3:42 p.m. |
Why the winter solstice 2027 is December 21 in the U.S. and December 22 in Europe
The solstice is a single instant, and its calendar date depends on the local time zone. In 2027, the instant falls at 02:42 UTC on December 22.
That is still the evening of December 21 anywhere west of the prime meridian by more than 2 hours 42 minutes, including all of the continental United States.
In London the date is already December 22. In 2026, the solstice falls at 20:50 UTC, so the United States and Europe share December 21, and Asia and Australia see December 22.
The shortest day of 2026 in U.S. cities
Day length on the winter solstice 2026 ranges from 10 hours 31 minutes in Miami to 5 hours 25 minutes in Anchorage.
The farther north a city lies, the shorter its solstice day.
The table gives sunrise, sunset and day length on Monday, December 21, 2026, with the June 2027 solstice day for contrast.
| City | Sunrise, December 21, 2026 | Sunset, December 21, 2026 | Day length, December 21, 2026 | Day length, June 21, 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 7:03 a.m. | 5:35 p.m. | 10 h 31 min | 13 h 44 min |
| Houston | 7:13 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 10 h 13 min | 14 h 3 min |
| Los Angeles | 6:55 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 9 h 52 min | 14 h 25 min |
| New York City | 7:17 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 9 h 14 min | 15 h 5 min |
| Chicago | 7:15 a.m. | 4:22 p.m. | 9 h 7 min | 15 h 13 min |
| Seattle | 7:55 a.m. | 4:20 p.m. | 8 h 24 min | 15 h 58 min |
| Anchorage | 10:15 a.m. | 3:41 p.m. | 5 h 25 min | 19 h 21 min |
Earliest sunset and latest sunrise 2026–2027
No U.S. city has its earliest sunset or its latest sunrise on the winter solstice itself.
Earth’s elliptical orbit and axial tilt make solar noon drift later through December, so sunsets begin to get later before the days begin to lengthen.
The table gives the dates for winter 2026–2027.
| City | Earliest sunset | Latest sunrise |
|---|---|---|
| Miami | Sunday, November 29, 2026 (5:29 p.m.) | Wednesday, January 13, 2027 (7:09 a.m.) |
| Houston | Wednesday, December 2, 2026 (5:21 p.m.) | Sunday, January 10, 2027 (7:18 a.m.) |
| Los Angeles | Friday, December 4, 2026 (4:43 p.m.) | Thursday, January 7, 2027 (6:59 a.m.) |
| New York City | Tuesday, December 8, 2026 (4:28 p.m.) | Monday, January 4, 2027 (7:20 a.m.) |
| Chicago | Tuesday, December 8, 2026 (4:19 p.m.) | Sunday, January 3, 2027 (7:19 a.m.) |
| Seattle | Thursday, December 10, 2026 (4:17 p.m.) | Friday, January 1, 2027 (7:58 a.m.) |
| Anchorage | Wednesday, December 16, 2026 (3:40 p.m.) | Saturday, December 26, 2026 (10:16 a.m.) |
How the winter solstice 2026 shifts sunrise and sunset
The effect is strongest near the equator and weakest near the poles. Miami’s earliest sunset comes 22 days before the solstice; Anchorage’s comes 5 days before.
For practical planning, evening daylight begins to increase in early December, while morning daylight keeps shrinking until early January.
What is the winter solstice?
The winter solstice is the moment Earth’s Northern Hemisphere is tilted farthest from the Sun, when the Sun stands directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.44 degrees south latitude.
After the solstice, the Sun’s noon altitude begins to rise again in the Northern Hemisphere.
The term comes from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because the Sun’s noon height appears to pause before reversing direction.
Astronomical vs. meteorological winter
Astronomical winter 2026–2027 begins at the solstice on December 21, 2026, and ends at the March equinox on Saturday, March 20, 2027. Meteorological winter runs from December 1 to the end of February.
Weather services use meteorological seasons because whole calendar months make climate statistics easier to compare.
| Definition | Winter 2026–2027 begins | Winter 2026–2027 ends | Used by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astronomical | Monday, December 21, 2026 (solstice) | Saturday, March 20, 2027 (equinox) | Calendars, almanacs |
| Meteorological | Tuesday, December 1, 2026 | Sunday, February 28, 2027 | National Weather Service, climate records |
How the winter solstice is observed
Many cultures mark the winter solstice as the turning point of the year. The table lists major observances.
| Observance | Where | 2026 timing |
|---|---|---|
| Dongzhi Festival | China, Taiwan and Chinese communities | Tuesday, December 22, 2026 (solstice date in Beijing time) |
| Yule | Pagan and Heathen traditions | At the solstice, December 21, 2026 |
| Newgrange illumination | County Meath, Ireland | Sunrise light enters the passage tomb on mornings around the solstice |
| Stonehenge solstice sunrise | Wiltshire, England | English Heritage announces managed access each year |
| Soyal | Hopi communities, Arizona | Set by Hopi religious leaders |
Winter solstice dates 2026 to 2031
The December solstice falls on December 21 or 22 in UTC, and on December 21 in every U.S. time zone from 2026 to 2031.
The table gives the UTC time and Eastern time.
| Year | Solstice (UTC) | Eastern time (EST) | Date in London |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 21, 20:50 | Monday, December 21, 2026, 3:50 p.m. | Monday, December 21, 2026 |
| 2027 | December 22, 02:42 | Tuesday, December 21, 2027, 9:42 p.m. | Wednesday, December 22, 2027 |
| 2028 | December 21, 08:19 | Thursday, December 21, 2028, 3:19 a.m. | Thursday, December 21, 2028 |
| 2029 | December 21, 14:14 | Friday, December 21, 2029, 9:14 a.m. | Friday, December 21, 2029 |
| 2030 | December 21, 20:09 | Saturday, December 21, 2030, 3:09 p.m. | Saturday, December 21, 2030 |
| 2031 | December 22, 01:55 | Sunday, December 21, 2031, 8:55 p.m. | Monday, December 22, 2031 |
What the winter solstice is not
The winter solstice is often confused with related events. The points below separate them.
- It is not the coldest day. The coldest average temperatures in most of the U.S. arrive in mid- to late January, because land and oceans continue to lose heat after the solstice.
- It is not the day of the earliest sunset. That comes about two weeks earlier, for example December 8, 2026, in New York City.
- It is not when Earth is farthest from the Sun. Earth reaches perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on Sunday, January 3, 2027, at 02:33 UTC.
- It is not winter everywhere. The December solstice begins summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the winter solstice 2026?
The winter solstice 2026 occurs at 3:50 p.m. EST, 12:50 p.m. PST, on Monday, December 21, 2026 (20:50 UTC). In London it occurs at 8:50 p.m. the same day.
Is December 21 the shortest day of the year?
Yes. Monday, December 21, 2026, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere: 9 hours 14 minutes in New York City and 9 hours 7 minutes in Chicago. The day after is only a few seconds longer.
When is the winter solstice 2027?
The winter solstice 2027 occurs on Tuesday, December 21, 2027, at 9:42 p.m. EST, and Wednesday, December 22, 2027, at 2:42 a.m. in London (02:42 UTC).
