Hanukkah Countdown
Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, which falls on a different Gregorian date each year. This countdown targets the first night.
How many days until Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is on Friday, December 4, 2026, which is 146 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
The festival of lights
Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of one day's oil burning for eight. Each night another candle of the menorah is lit, alongside games of dreidel and foods fried in oil like latkes and sufganiyot.
Eight nights
Because it follows the Hebrew lunar calendar, Hanukkah can begin anywhere from late November to late December. It lasts eight nights, with the menorah growing brighter each evening.
Quick facts
- Begins on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar
- An eight-night festival of lights
- Foods are fried in oil to recall the miracle
- Can start from late November to late December
Eight nights, fully stocked
Menorah lit, dreidels spinning, gelt guarded closely.
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Hanukkah — frequently asked questions
When is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is on Friday, December 4, 2026.
How many days until Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is on Friday, December 4, 2026, which is 146 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
Fact-checked & updated July 2026 · alarm-clock.org