Winter Solstice Countdown
The winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year. Count down live to the exact moment — and read below what it actually means.
Next winter solstice
21 December 2026
Exact moment shown in your local time
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What is the winter solstice?
The winter solstice happens when one of the Earth poles is tilted farthest away from the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere this falls around 21 or 22 December each year. On that day:
- The sun follows its lowest and shortest path across the sky.
- It is the shortest day and the longest night of the whole year.
- It marks the start of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
- After the solstice, days slowly get longer again until the summer solstice in June.
In the Southern Hemisphere the same moment is the summer solstice — their longest day of the year.
Upcoming solstice moments
| Year | Date | Exact time (UTC) |
|---|
Moments are based on published astronomical data. Your local time may shift the date by one day.
How to use
- The countdown ticks live toward the next winter solstice moment.
- The exact moment is shown in your own local time zone.
- Browse the table for solstice dates in the coming years.
Note: The countdown uses the December solstice, which is winter in the Northern Hemisphere (including Pakistan).
Tips
- On the solstice, note your local sunrise and sunset — the gap is the shortest of the year.
- Many cultures celebrate the solstice as the return of longer days.
- The solstice is a single moment, not a whole day — the countdown targets that moment.