First Day of Fall Countdown
Fall officially begins at the autumnal equinox in late September, the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator heading south. Day and night are nearly equal, and every day after is a little shorter until the winter solstice.
How many days until First Day of Fall?
First Day of Fall is on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, which is 74 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
What an equinox actually is
Twice a year the sun sits directly above the equator, and Earth's tilt points neither hemisphere toward it. 'Equinox' is Latin for equal night — on this day nearly every place on the planet gets about 12 hours of daylight.
The harvest connection
The full moon nearest the fall equinox is the Harvest Moon, which rises soon after sunset for several evenings in a row — the extra light traditionally let farmers keep bringing in crops after dark.
Quick facts
- Fall begins at the autumnal equinox, September 22–23
- Day and night are nearly equal everywhere on Earth
- The full moon nearest this equinox is the Harvest Moon
- Each day now shortens until the winter solstice
First Day of Fall — frequently asked questions
When is First Day of Fall?
First Day of Fall is on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
How many days until First Day of Fall?
First Day of Fall is on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, which is 74 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
Fact-checked & updated July 2026 · alarm-clock.org