How many days until winter?
The first day of winter in 2026 is on Monday, December 21, 2026, 82 days from today. The countdown below updates live for your time zone.
until Monday, December 21, 2026
82d 00h 00m 00s
Counting from Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in your time zone.
*Business days count Monday–Friday from tomorrow through the target date and skip U.S. federal holidays (observed dates).
Exact moment in your time zone: Mon, 21 Dec 2026 20:50:00 GMT
When is Winter 2026?
The December solstice in 2026 happens on Monday, December 21, 2026 at 3:50 PM EST (20:50 UTC). That moment is the astronomical start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
The December solstice is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the astronomical first day of winter. After the solstice, daylight slowly grows longer again. Meteorological winter starts on December 1, and in the Southern Hemisphere the December solstice is the start of summer.
Winter dates (first day) for the next few years
| Year | Date | Day | Days from today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 21 | Monday | 82 |
| 2027 | December 21 | Tuesday | 447 |
| 2028 | December 21 | Thursday | 813 |
| 2029 | December 21 | Friday | 1,178 |
| 2030 | December 21 | Saturday | 1,543 |
| 2031 | December 21 | Sunday | 1,908 |
Dates are for U.S. Eastern Time. Near midnight, other time zones can land on a different calendar day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the first day of winter 2026?
The first day of winter 2026 is Monday, December 21, 2026, the day of the December solstice.
How many days until Winter?
There are 82 days until Winter (December 21, 2026), counting from Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
What day of the week is Winter 2026?
Winter 2026 falls on a Monday.
How many weeks until Winter?
Winter is 11 weeks and 5 days away (82 days).
How many months until Winter?
Winter is 2 months and 21 days away.
How many business days until Winter?
There are 58 weekdays (Monday–Friday) between tomorrow and December 21, 2026, or 55 business days if you skip U.S. federal holidays.
How many hours until Winter?
About 1,968 hours, counting from midnight today. The live counter above shows the exact hours, minutes and seconds left for your time zone.