Winter Solstice Countdown
The winter solstice in late December is the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere — and the moment the days start growing longer again. This countdown targets the next one.
How many days until Winter Solstice?
Winter Solstice is on Monday, December 21, 2026, which is 163 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
The sun stands still
'Solstice' comes from the Latin for 'sun stands still': the sun's daily path stops sinking lower and reverses. Ancient monuments from Stonehenge to Newgrange are aligned to this exact sunrise or sunset — people have been counting down to this day for 5,000 years.
Shortest day, not coldest
The coldest weeks usually come in January — oceans and land keep releasing stored summer heat for weeks after the light bottoms out, a lag that also explains why the year's hottest days come after the June solstice.
Quick facts
- The shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere
- Winter officially begins at the solstice, December 21–22
- Stonehenge and Newgrange are aligned to solstice sunlight
- Days begin lengthening again immediately after
Winter Solstice — frequently asked questions
When is Winter Solstice?
Winter Solstice is on Monday, December 21, 2026.
How many days until Winter Solstice?
Winter Solstice is on Monday, December 21, 2026, which is 163 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
Fact-checked & updated July 2026 · alarm-clock.org