How many days until Winter?
Astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere begins at the December solstice, around December 21.
189 days until Winter
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Days
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Hours
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Minutes
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Seconds
Date
Monday, December 21, 2026
Day of the Week
Monday
Weeks & Days
27w 0d
Months (approx)
6.2
Business Days
135
Total Days
189
When is Winter?
The start of winter is set by the December solstice, an astronomical moment that shifts slightly each year. This page computes it with Jean Meeus’ solstice algorithm rather than using a fixed date.
The December solstice is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, when the Sun reaches its lowest point in the sky.
It marks the start of astronomical winter in the north and astronomical summer in the Southern Hemisphere, and falls just days before Christmas.
The December solstice explained
The December solstice is the moment the Sun reaches its southernmost point, giving the Northern Hemisphere its shortest day and longest night. This countdown tracks that astronomical moment; meteorological winter, used by forecasters, begins on December 1.
After the solstice the days slowly lengthen again. Note that the shortest day is not the coldest — a “seasonal lag” means the coldest weather usually arrives weeks later.
Winter dates by year
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026next | December 21 | Monday |
| 2027 | December 22 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | December 21 | Thursday |
| 2029 | December 21 | Friday |
| 2030 | December 21 | Saturday |
| 2031 | December 22 | Monday |
| 2032 | December 21 | Tuesday |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days until Winter?
Winter is on Monday, December 21, 2026 — that is 189 days away. The live countdown above updates to the exact time remaining in your local time zone.
What day of the week is Winter 2026?
Winter falls on a Monday in 2026.
When does winter officially start?
Astronomical winter begins at the December solstice (around December 21). Meteorological winter, used by forecasters, starts on December 1.
Why is the December solstice the shortest day?
The Sun takes its lowest, southernmost path across the sky, so it stays above the horizon for the least time of any day in the Northern Hemisphere.
Is the winter solstice the coldest day?
No. Because of seasonal lag, the coldest part of winter usually arrives several weeks after the solstice, not on it.
Related Countdowns
Browse every days-until countdown, set your own countdown timer, count the exact days between any two dates with the days calculator, or open the calendar.