How Many Days Until the Winter Solstice?
There are 166 days until the Winter Solstice, on Monday, December 21, 2026. The December solstice usually falls on December 21 and is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The counter tracks the days until the longest night and the slow return of daylight.
Countdown to the Winter Solstice
Monday, December 21, 2026About the countdown to the Winter Solstice
The solstice moment moves by a few hours annually and can fall on December 21 or December 22, so the countdown anchors to December 21 for consistency.
After the December solstice the days gradually grow longer in the north, which is why so many midwinter traditions celebrate returning light. In the Southern Hemisphere it is midsummer.
The counter above reads from your device clock and refreshes every second, so the days, hours, minutes and seconds always reflect the time remaining right now. When the Winter Solstice arrives, the page quietly moves its target to the following year so the countdown never runs out of road.
Frequently asked questions
How many days until the Winter Solstice?
There are 166 days until the Winter Solstice, which falls on Monday, December 21, 2026. The live counter above updates every second.
What day of the week is the Winter Solstice this time?
The next the Winter Solstice falls on a Monday (Monday, December 21, 2026). The weekday can change from year to year, which the countdown accounts for automatically.
Does this countdown update every year?
Yes. Once the Winter Solstice passes, the page rolls its target forward to the next occurrence, so the countdown stays accurate without any manual updates.
Is the the Winter Solstice countdown based on my time zone?
The day count uses your device's local date, so the number of days matches your own calendar. The live seconds tick down from your local clock.
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