Solstice & Equinox Dates 2027 & Late 2026
The exact moment of the winter solstice 2026 and every 2027 solstice and equinox — in Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific time and UTC, computed from the Swiss Ephemeris.
✦Reviewed by the CosmyDay Astrology TeamLast reviewed October 2026
♑December Solstice 2026
December 21, 2026
Winter begins in the north · Capricorn season starts
- ET3:50 PM
- CT2:50 PM
- MT1:50 PM
- PT12:50 PM
- UTC20:50
♈March Equinox 2027
March 20, 2027
Spring begins in the north · Aries season starts
- ET4:25 PM
- CT3:25 PM
- MT2:25 PM
- PT1:25 PM
- UTC20:25
♋June Solstice 2027
June 21, 2027
Summer begins in the north · Cancer season starts
- ET10:11 AM
- CT9:11 AM
- MT8:11 AM
- PT7:11 AM
- UTC14:11
♎September Equinox 2027
September 23, 2027
Autumn begins in the north · Libra season starts
- ET2:02 AM
- CT1:02 AM
- MT12:02 AM
- PT11:02 PM · September 22
- UTC06:02
♑December Solstice 2027
December 21, 2027
Winter begins in the north · Capricorn season starts
- ET9:42 PM
- CT8:42 PM
- MT7:42 PM
- PT6:42 PM
- UTC02:42 · December 22
Times are the instant of the solstice or equinox, rounded to the minute and shown in each US time zone. Source: Swiss Ephemeris.
Solstices, equinoxes and the zodiac
A solstice is the moment the Sun reaches its farthest point north or south of the celestial equator; an equinox is the moment it crosses that equator. They are single instants, the same everywhere on Earth, which is why the clock time above changes by zone and can fall on a different date on the West Coast.
Tropical astrology is built on these four points. The March equinox is 0° Aries, the June solstice 0° Cancer, the September equinox 0° Libra and the December solstice 0° Capricorn — so each one is also the start of a zodiac season. The Southern Hemisphere has the same instants with the seasons reversed: the June solstice is midwinter in Sydney.
If one of these points lands near a planet in your own chart, that season tends to be the one you feel. Cast your free natal chart to see where 0° of the cardinal signs falls for you.
That was the sky. This is your sky.
Everything above is true for everyone. These three are true only for you — and all free.
Solstices and equinoxes in your calendar
The zodiac-seasons feed carries the exact moment of every solstice and equinox, alongside each Sun sign change.
Free, no signup. Works in Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and Outlook — the dates update automatically when we extend the calendar to new years.
Related calendars
Frequently asked questions
When is the winter solstice 2026?
The 2026 winter solstice is December 21, 2026 at 3:50 PM ET (12:50 PM PT) — December 21, 2026, 20:50 UTC. It is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of Capricorn season.
When is the summer solstice 2027?
The 2027 summer solstice is June 21, 2027 at 10:11 AM ET, 9:11 AM CT, 8:11 AM MT, 7:11 AM PT — June 21, 2027, 14:11 UTC. It is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the moment Cancer season begins.
When is the winter solstice 2027?
The 2027 winter solstice is December 21, 2027 at 9:42 PM ET, 8:42 PM CT, 7:42 PM MT, 6:42 PM PT — December 22, 2027, 02:42 UTC. It is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of Capricorn season.
When is the spring equinox 2027?
The 2027 March (spring) equinox is March 20, 2027 at 4:25 PM ET, 3:25 PM CT, 2:25 PM MT, 1:25 PM PT — March 20, 2027, 20:25 UTC. In astrology it is 0° Aries, the start of the zodiac year.
When is the fall equinox 2027?
The 2027 September (autumn) equinox is September 23, 2027 at 2:02 AM ET, 1:02 AM CT, 12:02 AM MT, 11:02 PM PT (September 22, 2027) — September 23, 2027, 06:02 UTC. It marks the start of Libra season.
Why does the solstice date change from year to year?
A solstice or equinox is an instant, not a day: the moment the Sun reaches an exact point on the ecliptic. The year is about 365.24 days long, so that instant lands roughly six hours later each year until a leap day pulls it back — which moves it across midnight, and the calendar date with it.
How were these times calculated?
Each moment is computed from the Swiss Ephemeris as the instant the Sun reaches 0°, 90°, 180° or 270° of tropical longitude, then converted to each US time zone and rounded to the minute. The 2027 times are not copied from another calendar.