When Is Hanukkah 2026? Dates, Candle Nights and How to Light the Menorah
By The Trends Incoming team
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12. It is Hebrew year 5787, and the holiday starts on the 25th of Kislev, as it does every year (Hebcal).
Night by night in 2026
| Night | Evening | Candles (plus the shamash) |
|---|---|---|
| Night 1 | Fri Dec 4 | 1 candle (light before Shabbat candles, while it is still light out) |
| Night 2 | Sat Dec 5 | 2 candles (after Shabbat ends) |
| Night 3 | Sun Dec 6 | 3 candles |
| Night 4 | Mon Dec 7 | 4 candles |
| Night 5 | Tue Dec 8 | 5 candles |
| Night 6 | Wed Dec 9 | 6 candles |
| Night 7 | Thu Dec 10 | 7 candles |
| Night 8 | Fri Dec 11 | 8 candles (light before Shabbat candles) |
The last day of Hanukkah is Saturday, December 12, 2026. Candles are lit after sundown, when it is dark, except on Friday nights.
Hanukkah dates for the next three years
| Year | First candle (evening) | Last day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fri Dec 4, 2026 | Sat Dec 12, 2026 |
| 2027 | Fri Dec 24, 2027 | Sat Jan 1, 2028 |
| 2028 | Tue Dec 12, 2028 | Wed Dec 20, 2028 |
Why the date moves
Hanukkah is fixed on the Hebrew calendar, not the regular one. The Hebrew calendar follows the moon and the sun, so the 25th of Kislev can fall anywhere from late November to late December.
What Hanukkah marks
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, remembers the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd century BCE, when the Maccabees retook Jerusalem and rededicated the Second Temple.
How to light the menorah
- On night one, set out two candles: the shamash (helper candle, in its own spot, often the center) and one candle in the right-most spot.
- Add one candle each night. Candles are placed right to left and lit left to right, so the newest candle is lit first.
- Say the blessings before lighting.
- Ashkenazi custom lights the shamash first and uses it to light the rest. Sephardi custom uses an extra candle, lights the shamash last, then blows out the extra candle.
- Many families put the menorah in a window facing the street to share the light.
- You will need 44 candles per menorah for all eight nights.
🕯️ Shabbat note for 2026: Hanukkah starts on a Friday and also includes Friday, Dec 11. On both Fridays, light the menorah before the Shabbat candles while it is still light out. On Saturday, Dec 5, wait until Shabbat ends.
Quick answers
When does Hanukkah start in 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, 2026, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12, 2026, according to Hebcal. That is Hebrew year 5787, starting on the 25th of Kislev.
How many nights is Hanukkah?
Eight nights and eight days. One more candle is lit each night, so the eighth night has all eight candles plus the shamash, the helper candle.
When is Hanukkah in 2027 and 2028?
In 2027, the first candle is lit on the evening of Friday, December 24, and the last day is Saturday, January 1, 2028. In 2028, the first candle is on Tuesday, December 12, and the last day is Wednesday, December 20. Dates are from Hebcal.
Why does Hanukkah move every year?
Hanukkah always starts on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar, which is lunisolar. That date can land anywhere from late November to late December on the regular calendar.
How do you light the menorah?
Candles go into the menorah from right to left but are lit from left to right, newest candle first, using the shamash. The blessings are said before lighting. In Ashkenazi homes the shamash is lit first; Sephardi homes use an extra candle and light the shamash last.
What happens when Hanukkah overlaps with Shabbat?
Lighting a fire on Shabbat is not allowed under Jewish law, so on Friday the menorah is lit before the Shabbat candles while it is still light out. In 2026 that applies on Dec 4 and Dec 11. On Saturday night, Dec 5, lighting waits until Shabbat ends.
How many candles do you need for all eight nights?
44 per menorah, counting the shamash each night.
More holiday guides
- Hallmark Christmas movies 2026 schedule
- Thanksgiving and Black Friday store hours 2026
- All holidays and observances
Sources
- Hebcal: Chanukah 2026 / 5787
- Hebcal: Jewish calendar API, Dec 2026 to Jan 2028
- My Jewish Learning: How to light the Hanukkah candles
By The Trends Incoming team · Fact-checked 2026-10-31. Dates change, so double-check with the official source.