Equinox & Solstice Dates
Exact dates and times of the equinoxes and solstices for any year, and the current season.
Current season (northern)
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- March Equinox· Start of spring
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- June Solstice· Start of summer
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- September Equinox· Start of autumn
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- December Solstice· Start of winter
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Local times use your device's time zone. Astronomical instants are computed with Meeus' algorithm (accurate to about a minute).
Quick answer
As of November 4, 2026, the next December solstice is on Monday, December 21, 2026 at 8:50 PM UTC. In 2026 the dates are March 20, June 21, September 23 and December 21 (UTC).
Reviewed by the TimerHub team · Last reviewed November 4, 2026 · Data sources
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How to use it
- 1
Pick a year
Step forward or back to any year.
- 2
Choose a hemisphere
Season names flip between northern and southern.
- 3
Read the dates
See each equinox and solstice in your local time and UTC.
Perfect for every need
Planning around seasons
Know exactly when a season officially begins.
- First day of spring
- Longest day of the year
- Winter start
Photography & nature
The solstices mark the longest and shortest days.
- Golden-hour planning
- Daylight length
Education
See why seasons are opposite in each hemisphere.
- Astronomy lessons
- Geography
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an equinox and a solstice?
An equinox is when day and night are nearly equal, marking the start of spring or autumn. A solstice is the longest or shortest day, marking the start of summer or winter.
Why do the dates shift by a day each year?
A tropical year is about 365.24 days, so the exact instant drifts by roughly a quarter-day each year and jumps back at leap years — which nudges the calendar date.
Why are the seasons swapped in the southern hemisphere?
The same astronomical event starts opposite seasons north and south of the equator. The March equinox begins spring in the north but autumn in the south, and so on.