When Is Hanukkah?
Find out when Hanukkah starts this year. Live countdown, all 8 nights, and Hanukkah dates for the next 10 years.
Next occurrence of Hanukkah
Friday, 4 December 2026
Hanukkah in 2026: Friday, 4 December 2026
What is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It commemorates the Jewish triumph against religious persecution and the miracle of a small amount of sacred oil burning for eight days. Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting the menorah (a nine-branched candelabra) with one additional candle lit each evening, playing games, exchanging gifts, and sharing meals.
Traditions
- •Lighting the menorah (hanukiah) each evening with blessings and songs
- •Spinning the dreidel (traditional spinning top)
- •Playing games with chocolate coins (gelt)
- •Eating foods fried in oil, like latkes (potato pancakes) and jelly doughnuts
- •Exchanging gifts over the eight days
- •Singing Hanukkah songs and carols
- •Displaying menorahs in windows
- •Gathering with family and friends for festive meals
Fun Facts
- ✨Hanukkah lasts for eight days and nights
- ✨The word "Hanukkah" means "dedication" in Hebrew
- ✨The menorah symbolises the miracle of the oil lasting eight days
- ✨Hanukkah falls between late November and late December each year
- ✨Latkes are eaten because they are fried in oil, commemorating the oil miracle
When is Hanukkah each year?
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 December 2026 | Friday |
| 2027 | 23 November 2027 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | 12 December 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | 1 December 2029 | Saturday |
| 2030 | 20 November 2030 | Wednesday |
| 2031 | 9 December 2031 | Tuesday |
| 2032 | 28 November 2032 | Sunday |
| 2033 | 17 November 2033 | Thursday |
| 2034 | 6 December 2034 | Wednesday |
| 2035 | 14 December 2035 | Friday |
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How the Dates of Hanukkah Are Decided
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival that begins on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar. Because the Hebrew calendar is lunisolar (based on both the moon and the sun) and the Gregorian calendar is solar, the exact dates of Hanukkah shift every year.
Typically, Hanukkah starts sometime between late November and late December. The holiday is celebrated by lighting the menorah, eating fried foods like latkes and sufganiyot, and spinning the dreidel.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Hanukkah start this year?
Hanukkah typically begins at sundown on the first day of the festival. You can use this calculator to find the exact start date, end date, and track a live countdown to the first night of the holiday.
What days are Hanukkah?
Hanukkah lasts for exactly eight days and nights. Each night, an additional candle is lit on the menorah until all eight are burning brightly on the final evening.
How is Hanukkah celebrated?
The most critical tradition is lighting the hanukkiah (a nine-branched menorah) each night. Other traditions include playing with a dreidel (a spinning top), exchanging small gifts or gelt (chocolate coins), and eating foods fried in oil to commemorate the miracle of the oil.
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