How many days until Hanukkah?
There are 46 days until Hanukkah. The first candle is lit at sundown on Friday, December 4, 2026.
FIRST CANDLE · FRI, DEC 4, 2026
46days until Hanukkah
To the second, until midnight at the start of the first candle day, in your time zone. Candles are lit that evening after sundown.
Hanukkah starts tonight. The first candle is lit after sundown.
Hanukkah is on now. Tonight is night 2 of 8. The countdown shows next year.
- In weeks6 weeks and 4 days
- In sleeps46 sleepsOne sleep for every night left
- Eighth candleFri, Dec 11Ends at nightfall the next day
- The one afterFri, Dec 24, 2027
When is Hanukkah 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, when the first candle is lit, and lasts eight nights. The eighth candle is lit on Friday, December 11, and the holiday ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12. Because the first night falls on a Friday, the Hanukkah candles that evening are lit before the Shabbat candles.
Why the date moves every year
Hanukkah starts on the 25th of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar. That calendar follows the moon, with an extra month added seven times every 19 years to keep it in step with the seasons. On the everyday Gregorian calendar, Hanukkah can begin anywhere from late November to late December.
Jewish days begin at sundown, so each holiday starts on the evening before its first full day. In 2026, 25 Kislev is Saturday, December 5, which is why the first candle is lit on the evening of Friday, December 4.
The countdown above counts to the day of the first candle in your own time zone. Sundown depends on where you are, so check a local candle-lighting time for the exact minute.
Hanukkah dates, 2026 to 2030
| Year | First candle (evening) | Eighth candle | Ends at nightfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fri, Dec 4 | Fri, Dec 11 | Sat, Dec 12 |
| 2027 | Fri, Dec 24 | Fri, Dec 31 | Sat, Jan 1, 2028 |
| 2028 | Tue, Dec 12 | Tue, Dec 19 | Wed, Dec 20 |
| 2029 | Sat, Dec 1 | Sat, Dec 8 | Sun, Dec 9 |
| 2030 | Fri, Dec 20 | Fri, Dec 27 | Sat, Dec 28 |
In 2027 the first candle falls on December 24, Christmas Eve, and Hanukkah runs into the new year.
Quick facts
- Hanukkah remembers the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE.
- The Hanukkah menorah holds nine candles: one for each night plus the shamash, the helper candle used to light the others.
- Counting the shamash each night, a full Hanukkah uses 44 candles.
- Foods fried in oil, like latkes and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), are traditional.
When does Hanukkah start in 2026?
At sundown on Friday, December 4, 2026, with the first candle. It ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12.
How long does Hanukkah last?
Eight nights and eight days. One more candle is lit each night, from one on the first night to eight on the last.
Why is Hanukkah on different dates every year?
It follows the Hebrew calendar and starts on 25 Kislev. The Hebrew calendar is lunisolar, so that date moves around on the Gregorian calendar, between late November and late December.
When is Hanukkah 2027?
Hanukkah 2027 begins at sundown on Friday, December 24, 2027 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, January 1, 2028.
Is it Hanukkah or Chanukah?
Both. They are two English spellings of the same Hebrew word, which means dedication.
HOLIDAY COUNTDOWNS
Every holiday, counted.
- OCT 31 12Halloween
- NOV 26 38Thanksgiving
- DEC 25 67Christmas
- JAN 1 74New Year's Day
- FEB 14 118Valentine's Day
Numbers show the days left until each holiday.
Put this countdown on your Lock Screen.
Countfie keeps a Hanukkah countdown on your iPhone Lock Screen and Home Screen, with the right date every year. It is coming soon to the App Store, free to download.
Coming soon to theApp Store