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Countdown to December solstice 2026
The December solstice 2026 is at 20:50 UTC on 21 December 2026 — one instant for the whole planet.
December solstice
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December solstice 2026
- 01Date
20:50 UTC on 21 December 2026, accurate to about a minute (Meeus, Astronomical Algorithms)
- 02How the date is set
The moment the sun reaches its southernmost point (about 21–22 December): the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest in the Southern.
At the December solstice the sun stands directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. It is the start of astronomical winter in the north and of summer in the south; after it, northern days start to lengthen again.
December solstice
Dates in coming years
| Year | Date | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 21 December 2026 | 20:50 |
| 2027 | 22 December 2027 | 02:42 |
| 2028 | 21 December 2028 | 08:20 |
| 2029 | 21 December 2029 | 14:14 |
| 2030 | 21 December 2030 | 20:10 |
| 2031 | 22 December 2031 | 01:56 |
| 2032 | 21 December 2032 | 07:56 |
The solstice in local time
| Place | Offset | Local time | Your time |
|---|---|---|---|
 Auckland | UTC+13 | Tue 22 Dec, 09:50 | |
 Beijing | UTC+8 | Tue 22 Dec, 04:50 | |
 Chicago | UTC−6 | Mon 21 Dec, 14:50 | |
 Delhi | UTC+5:30 | Tue 22 Dec, 02:20 | |
 Dubai | UTC+4 | Tue 22 Dec, 00:50 | |
| Honolulu | UTC−10 | Mon 21 Dec, 10:50 | |
 London | UTC | Mon 21 Dec, 20:50 | |
| Los Angeles | UTC−8 | Mon 21 Dec, 12:50 | |
 Moscow | UTC+3 | Mon 21 Dec, 23:50 | |
| New York | UTC−5 | Mon 21 Dec, 15:50 | |
 Paris | UTC+1 | Mon 21 Dec, 21:50 | |
 São Paulo | UTC−3 | Mon 21 Dec, 17:50 | |
 Sydney | UTC+11 | Tue 22 Dec, 07:50 | |
 Tokyo | UTC+9 | Tue 22 Dec, 05:50 |
Questions
Good to know
When is December solstice 2026?
The December solstice 2026 is at 20:50 UTC on 21 December 2026; in your time zone that may be a different day.
Is the December solstice the shortest day of the year?
In the Northern Hemisphere, yes. In the Southern Hemisphere it is the longest day of the year.
When is December solstice 2027?
The December solstice 2027 is at 02:42 UTC on 22 December 2027; in your time zone that may be a different day.
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