Winter solstice 2026
Monday 21 December 2026 at 20:50 GMT
Daylight in London 7h 50mSun at noon 15° up
The shortest day of the year, with under eight hours of daylight in the UK — and the longest night for anyone heading out to observe.
Solstices and equinoxes 2026–27: UK dates and times
The solstices and equinoxes mark the turning points of the Sun's year: the longest and shortest days, and the two days when day and night are nearly equal. Each one happens at a single instant, given here in UK time, with the Sun's path across the sky from London on that day.
Next: the winter solstice In 64 days
Monday 21 December 2026 at 20:50 GMT. 7h 50m of daylight in London, with the Sun 15° up at noon.
The shortest day of the year, with under eight hours of daylight in the UK — and the longest night for anyone heading out to observe.
Coming up
Spring (vernal) equinox 2027
Saturday 20 March 2027 at 20:25 GMT
Daylight in London 12h 11mSun at noon 39° up
The Sun crosses the celestial equator heading north; day and night are nearly equal and astronomical spring begins.
Summer solstice 2027
Monday 21 June 2027 at 15:11 BST
Daylight in London 16h 38mSun at noon 62° up
The longest day of the year: the Sun reaches its northernmost point and astronomical summer begins. Northern Britain gets no true darkness around now.
Autumnal equinox 2027
Thursday 23 September 2027 at 07:02 BST
Daylight in London 12h 11mSun at noon 39° up
The Sun crosses the celestial equator heading south and astronomical autumn begins, the point where dark evenings start returning to the hills.
Winter solstice 2027
Wednesday 22 December 2027 at 02:42 GMT
Daylight in London 7h 50mSun at noon 15° up
The shortest day of the year, with under eight hours of daylight in the UK, and the longest night for anyone heading out to observe.
Earlier · 3
Autumnal equinox 2026
Wednesday 23 September 2026 at 01:06 BST
Daylight in London 12h 11mSun at noon 39° up
The Sun crosses the celestial equator heading south and astronomical autumn begins — the point where dark evenings start returning to the hills.
Summer solstice 2026
Sunday 21 June 2026 at 09:24 BST
Daylight in London 16h 38mSun at noon 62° up
The longest day of the year: the Sun reaches its northernmost point and astronomical summer begins.
Spring (vernal) equinox 2026
Friday 20 March 2026
Daylight in London 12h 11mSun at noon 39° up
The Sun crosses the celestial equator; day and night are nearly equal and astronomical spring begins.
Questions
When is the shortest day 2026?
The winter solstice is on Monday 21 December 2026, at 20:50 GMT UK time. The shortest day of the year, with under eight hours of daylight in the UK — and the longest night for anyone heading out to observe.
When is the longest day 2027?
The summer solstice is on Monday 21 June 2027, at 15:11 BST UK time. The longest day of the year: the Sun reaches its northernmost point and astronomical summer begins. Northern Britain gets no true darkness around now.
When is the next equinox?
The spring (vernal) equinox on Saturday 20 March 2027, at 20:25 GMT UK time.
More in the night sky: Meteor showers · Full moons · Eclipses · Planets and comets. Every event in one list: the UK sky calendar.