What Is a Solstice? Meaning, Dates & How It Works
The next solstice is the June solstice on June 21, 2026. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is the summer solstice and the longest day of the year; in the Southern Hemisphere, it is the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year. Want to know exactly when this happens where you live? Check the solstice time and day length for your location in the Sky Tonight app.
Contents
- Next solstices 2026
- Solstice dates: when do solstices occur?
- What is a solstice?
- Winter and summer solstices: longest night and longest day
- Where is the Sun during a solstice?
- Solstice traditions and ancient monuments
Solstices: FAQ
- When is the next solstice 2026?
- Is the summer solstice the first day of summer?
- Is the winter solstice the first day of winter?
- Are solstices the same everywhere on Earth?
- What is the difference between a solstice and an equinox?
- When is the longest day of the year?
- When is the shortest day of the year?
- Why is the longest day not the hottest?
- What are June 21 and December 21 called?
- How many solstices are there?
- What is a solstice: key facts
Next solstices 2026
| Event | Date and time | Northern Hemisphere | Southern Hemisphere |
|---|---|---|---|
| June solstice 2026 | June 21, 08:25 GMT/UTC (04:25 AM EDT) | Summer solstice, longest day | Winter solstice, shortest day |
| December solstice 2026 | December 21, 20:50 GMT/UTC (03:50 PM EST) | Winter solstice, shortest day | Summer solstice, longest day |
Solstice dates: when do solstices occur?
Solstices occur twice a year: once in June and once in December.
The June solstice usually falls on June 20 or 21. More precisely, it can occur between June 19 and 22, but June 19 and June 22 are very rare. In the 21st century, there are 47 June solstices on June 20 and 53 on June 21. The next June 22 solstice will not happen until 2203, and the next June 19 solstice will occur in 2488.
The December solstice usually falls on December 21 or 22. Technically, it can occur between December 20 and 23. In the 21st century, there are five December solstices on December 20, 82 on December 21, and 13 on December 22. The next December 20 solstice will happen in 2080, while the next December 23 solstice will not occur until 2303.
When is the summer solstice 2026?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice will occur on June 21, 2026, at 08:25 GMT/UTC (04:25 AM EDT). In the Southern Hemisphere, it will occur on December 21, 2026, at 20:50 GMT/UTC (03:50 PM EST).
Read more about the summer solstice 2026 in the dedicated article.
When is the winter solstice 2026?
In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice will occur on December 21, 2026, at 20:50 GMT/UTC (03:50 PM EST). In the Southern Hemisphere, it will occur on June 21, 2026, at 08:25 GMT/UTC (04:25 AM EDT).
Read more about the winter solstice 2026 in the dedicated article.
Dates of upcoming solstices (2026-2032)
- June 21, 2026, 08:25 GMT/UTC (04:25 AM EDT)
- December 21, 2026, 20:50 GMT/UTC (03:50 PM EST)
- June 21, 2027, 14:11 GMT/UTC (10:11 AM EDT)
- December 22, 2027, 02:43 GMT/UTC (December 21, 09:43 PM EST)
- June 20, 2028, 20:02 GMT/UTC (04:02 PM EDT)
- December 21, 2028, 08:20 GMT/UTC (03:20 AM EST)
- June 21, 2029, 01:48 GMT/UTC (June 20, 09:48 PM EDT)
- December 21, 2029, 14:14 GMT/UTC (09:14 AM EST)
- June 21, 2030, 07:31 GMT/UTC (03:31 AM EDT)
- December 21, 2030, 20:09 GMT/UTC (03:09 PM EST)
- June 21, 2031, 13:17 GMT/UTC (09:17 AM EDT)
- December 22, 2031, 01:56 GMT/UTC (December 21, 08:56 PM EST)
- June 20, 2032, 19:09 GMT/UTC (03:09 PM EDT)
- December 21, 2032, 07:58 GMT/UTC (02:58 AM EST)
What is a solstice?
Solstices occur because the Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted at about 23.5° relative to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. A solstice is the moment when the Sun appears farthest north or south of the celestial equator. Although a solstice is actually defined as an exact instant on a particular day, it’s still correct to talk about solstices in terms of days.
Winter and summer solstices: longest night and longest day
There are two solstices each year: the winter solstice and the summer solstice. From the winter solstice to the summer one, the Sun gradually climbs higher in the sky at noon, spending a little bit more time above the horizon each day. On the summer solstice, this gradual lengthening of days stops, and from then on, the Sun reaches a slightly lower altitude at solar noon each day, and the days shorten. This continues until the winter solstice, when the Sun starts to climb again.
In the Northern Hemisphere, winter solstices happen in December, and summer solstices in June.
In the Southern Hemisphere, winter solstices happen in June, and summer solstices in December.
What happens on the winter solstice?
When the winter solstice happens in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted about 23.5° away from the Sun. The Sun’s rays are shifted southward from the Equator by the same amount so that the vertical noon rays are directly overhead at the 23.5°S latitude.
Six months later, the South Pole becomes inclined about 23.5° away from the Sun. This day is the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The Sun’s vertical overhead rays reach their northernmost position at the 23.5°N latitude.
The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year and the start of winter.
What happens on the summer solstice?
When the summer solstice happens in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted about 23.5° toward the Sun. Because the Sun’s rays are shifted northward from the Equator by the same amount, the vertical noon rays are directly overhead at the 23.5°N latitude.
Six months later, the South Pole becomes inclined about 23.5° toward the Sun. This day is the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The Sun’s vertical overhead rays reach their southernmost position at the 23.5°S latitude.
The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year and the start of summer.
How long is the shortest day of the year 2026?
The winter solstice marks the 24-hour period with the fewest daylight hours of the year. The exact day length depends on the location of the observer. The farther the place is from the equator, the more the day length changes.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the shortest day of the year 2026 will occur on December 21, during the winter solstice. In a mid-latitude city like New York, you’ll have roughly 9 hours of sunlight, but in a high-latitude place such as Reykjavík, the Sun stays up for only about 4 hours. Farther north, above the Arctic Circle, daylight disappears entirely, and a polar night sets in.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the shortest day of the year 2026 will occur on June 21, during the winter solstice. Near the tropics, places like Rio de Janeiro will get roughly 11 hours of daylight, while farther south, cities such as Melbourne or Auckland will see days closer to about 9.5 hours long. Inside the Antarctic Circle, the Sun won’t rise at all, and a polar night will set in.
How long is the longest day of the year 2026?
The summer solstice brings the 24-hour period with the most daylight of the year. How long it lasts depends on where you are: the closer you live to the equator, the smaller the change, and the farther north or south you go, the longer (or shorter) solstice days become.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the longest day of the year 2026 will occur on June 21, at the summer solstice. In a mid-latitude city like New York, daylight will last for about 15 hours, while much farther north in Oslo, the Sun will stay above the horizon for nearly 19 hours. In places above the Arctic Circle, the Sun won’t set at all — people experience the midnight Sun.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the longest day of the year 2026 will occur on December 21, during the summer solstice there. Near the tropics, cities such as Rio de Janeiro will get roughly 13 hours of daylight, while farther south, places like Sydney or Melbourne can expect around 14.5 hours of sunlight. Closer to — and within — the Antarctic Circle, daylight stretches toward 24 hours.
You can learn about the day length for your location with the Sky Tonight app. Open the app, tap the calendar icon on the bottom panel, then select the Sky tab.
Where is the Sun during a solstice?
During a solstice, the Sun reaches the farthest north or south point it can appear in Earth’s sky. At the June solstice, the Sun is directly overhead at noon along the Tropic of Cancer, about 23.5° north of the equator; at the December solstice, it is directly overhead along the Tropic of Capricorn, about 23.5° south of the equator. These two tropics are major circles of latitude – imaginary east-to-west circles that connect all places with the same latitude. The Arctic Circle and Antarctic Circle are also major circles of latitude: they mark the boundaries of the regions where, around a solstice, the Sun stays above the horizon for 24 hours in summer or remains below it for 24 hours in winter.
June solstice: the Sun is over the Tropic of Cancer
The Tropic of Cancer (or the Northern Tropic) is the northernmost latitude where the Sun passes directly overhead in its most vertical position at noon. This happens on the summer solstice for the Northern Hemisphere in June. The tropic got its name thousands of years ago when the Sun was in the constellation Cancer at the solstice. Since then, due to the Earth’s axial precession, the Sun passed Gemini and came into Taurus in 1989.
Currently, the Tropic of Cancer is positioned at about 23°26′09″ N of the Equator. The latitude equals the current axial tilt of the Earth.
December solstice: the Sun is over the Tropic of Capricorn
The Tropic of Capricorn (or the Southern Tropic) is the southernmost latitude where the Sun passes directly overhead in its most vertical position at noon. This happens on the summer solstice for the Southern Hemisphere in December. The tropic got its name thousands of years ago when the Sun was in the constellation Capricornus at the solstice. Since then, due to the Earth’s axial precession, the Sun came into Sagittarius in 130 BC and is expected to pass into Ophiuchus in 2269.
Currently, the Tropic of Capricorn is positioned at about 23°26′09″ S of the Equator. The latitude equals the current axial tilt of the Earth.
The Arctic Circle: polar night and polar day for the Northern Hemisphere
The Arctic Circle is the southernmost latitude where the Sun doesn’t rise on the winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere, which happens in December. It is also the southernmost latitude where the Sun doesn’t set on the summer solstice for the Northern Hemisphere in June.
Currently, the Arctic Circle is positioned at about 66°33′51″ N of the Equator. This latitude equals 90° minus the current axial tilt of the Earth.
The Antarctic Circle: polar night and polar day for the Southern Hemisphere
The Antarctic Circle is the northernmost latitude where the Sun doesn’t set on the summer solstice for the Southern Hemisphere, which happens in December. It is also the northernmost latitude where the Sun doesn’t rise on the winter solstice for the Southern Hemisphere in June.
Currently, the Antarctic Circle is positioned at about 66°33′51″ S of the Equator. This latitude equals 90° minus the current axial tilt of the Earth.
Solstice traditions and ancient monuments
Stonehenge
Scientists believe that Stonehenge was specifically designed to line up with solstices. If you stand at the center of Stonehenge on the summer solstice, you’ll see the Sun rise near the Heel Stone, along the monument’s famous solstitial alignment.
The Great Pyramids of Giza
In Egypt, the Great Pyramids at Giza appear aligned with the Sun. When viewed from the Sphinx, the Sun sets precisely between the pyramids of Khufu and Khafre during the summer solstice. What’s more, this spectacle forms an image that replicates the Egyptian hieroglyph Akhet, meaning “horizon.”
The Temple of the Sun
The Temple of the Sun was a sacred precinct built by the Incas to pay tribute and give offerings to the Sun inside Machu Picchu. During the sunrise on the June solstice, when the very first light rises over the distant mountains, it shines through one of the two windows of the Temple of the Sun and illuminates the ceremonial stone within. The second window was for the Sun’s rays on the winter solstice.
Bonus: The well in Syene and the radius of the Earth
The summer solstice and the well in Syene were all it took for Eratosthenes, the chief librarian of the great library of Alexandria, to calculate the radius of the Earth in 240 BC.
Eratosthenes had heard from travelers about a well in Syene (now Aswan, Egypt) with an interesting property: at noon on the summer solstice, the Sun's rays shone directly down a well, casting no shadow at all. From this, he concluded that the Sun was directly overhead at Syene. Eratosthenes then measured the shadow cast by a stick at noon on the summer solstice in Alexandria and found it made an angle of about 7.2° (1/50 of a complete circle).
Astronomers from 500 BC already knew that the Earth is spherical, so Eratosthenes realized that it was the angle subtended at the center of the Earth by radial lines drawn from both locations. All he had to do was find the distance from Alexandria to Syene and multiply it by 50 to get the Earth's circumference.
Eratosthenes probably hired someone to accomplish the task and found out that the distance between Alexandria and Syene was about 5000 stadia or 805 km (500 miles). Then he used a simple ratio method to calculate the circumference of the Earth: C = 805 * 360 / 7.2 = 40,250 km (25,000 miles).
After that, he calculated the Earth’s radius: r = C / 2π ≈ 6,405 km (3,979 miles). The modern value for the radius of the Earth is 6,371 km (3,958 miles).
Solstices: FAQ
When is the next solstice 2026?
The next solstice takes place on June 21, at 08:25 GMT/UTC (04:25 AM EDT). It will be the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, and the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.
Is the summer solstice the first day of summer?
Astronomically speaking, the summer solstice is the first day of summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice marks the start of summer, while in the Southern Hemisphere, summer begins on the December solstice. However, meteorologically, summer starts on June 1 in the Northern Hemisphere and on December 1 in the Southern Hemisphere. This is why different calendars may list different dates for the first day of summer.
Is the winter solstice the first day of winter?
Astronomically speaking, the winter solstice is the first day of winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, the December solstice marks the start of winter, while in the Southern Hemisphere, winter begins on the June solstice. However, meteorologically, winter starts on December 1 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 1 in the Southern Hemisphere. This is why different calendars may list different dates for the first day of winter.
Are solstices the same everywhere on Earth?
Solstices occur at the same time around the Earth, but depending on the hemisphere, they have opposite consequences. The June solstice marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The opposite is true for the December solstice: it marks winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
What is the difference between a solstice and an equinox?
In short, solstices are the longest and shortest days of the year, while equinoxes are dates when day and night are nearly equally long. You can learn more about equinoxes from our article on this topic.
When is the longest day of the year?
The day with the most hours of sunlight in a year occurs at the summer solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, this occurs around June 21, and in the Southern Hemisphere, around December 21.
When is the shortest day of the year?
The day with the fewest daylight hours in a year occurs at the winter solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere, this occurs around December 21, and in the Southern Hemisphere, around June 21.
Why is the longest day not the hottest?
The Earth’s land and oceans take time to heat up or cool down. Thus, although the summer solstice brings the longest day, the warmest temperature comes a month or two later. In science, this effect is called seasonal lag.
What are June 21 and December 21 called?
Two solstices occur annually, around June 21 and December 21. In the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice is called the summer solstice, and the December solstice is called the winter solstice. And vice versa in the Southern Hemisphere.
How many solstices are there?
There are two solstices every year: one in June and one in December. Each solstice marks the moment when one of Earth’s hemispheres is tilted most strongly toward or away from the Sun, bringing the longest or shortest day of the year to that hemisphere. There are also two equinoxes every year — one in March and one in September — when neither hemisphere is tilted toward or away from the Sun and day and night are nearly equal in length.
What is a solstice: key facts
A solstice is an astronomical event that occurs twice a year when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly point relative to the celestial equator. The next solstice will occur on June 21, 2026, at 08:25 GMT/UTC (04:25 AM EDT). In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the longest day of the year and the start of summer; in the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the shortest day and the start of winter. If you’d like to know the exact time of the solstice for your location, use the Sky Tonight app.
Thanks for reading this article! If you have questions about solstices, please feel free to ask them on our social media. If you want to expand your astronomical knowledge, take our quiz on equinoxes and solstices. Happy solstice to all!
