How accurate are these Hanukkah dates?

The dates come from published Hebrew-calendar conversions for 25 Kislev, which are fixed and not subject to moon-sighting uncertainty like some other lunar holidays. They are accurate for civil calendar planning.

Does Hanukkah really begin at sundown?

Yes. The Hebrew calendar day begins at sundown the evening before. The date shown in this tool is the day most calendars label as the start of Hanukkah, and the first candle is lit at sundown on the evening tied to that date.

Why does Hanukkah fall on a different date every year?

Hanukkah starts on 25 Kislev in the Hebrew lunar calendar, which runs about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. A leap month added roughly every three years occasionally pushes the date later instead of earlier.

How long does Hanukkah last?

Hanukkah is an eight-night festival, ending on 2 Tevet. The countdown here targets the first night, when the first candle is lit.

What time zone does the countdown use?

The countdown uses your device's local date and time, so the days, hours, and minutes shown reflect your own time zone automatically.

Are dates available beyond 2031?

This tool currently covers 2025 through 2031. Dates further out will be added as they are confirmed.

Days Until Hanukkah

See exactly how many days, hours, and minutes remain until the next Hanukkah begins at sundown on the first night.

Time Until Hanukkah

Days

Hours

Minutes

Hanukkah Start Dates (2025-2031)

Year	First Night	Status

Hanukkah begins at sundown on the evening tied to the date shown. Ending dates mark the close of the eight-night festival.

Quick Facts

Next Hanukkah year -
First night falls on -
Total hours left -
Total minutes left -

Summary

See exactly how many days, hours, and minutes remain until the next Hanukkah begins at sundown on the first night.

How it works

Your browser reads the current local date and time.
The tool looks up the nearest upcoming (or current) Hanukkah start date from a Hebrew-calendar reference table.
It calculates the difference between now and that start date at sundown.
The countdown displays days, hours, and minutes remaining, refreshing every second.
A reference table lists Hanukkah start dates through 2031 for quick lookup.

Use cases

Plan menorah lighting and family gatherings ahead of the first night.
Count down to Hanukkah with kids or extended family.
Figure out how many weeks are left for gift shopping or holiday travel.
Check the exact start date for an upcoming year without searching a calendar.
Coordinate school, work, or synagogue schedules around the holiday.
Share the countdown with friends over chat or social media.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-09-19 · Reviewed by Nham Vu