Seasons Calendar
Track the changing seasons with precise dates for equinoxes and solstices. Discover what causes Earth's seasons and when they begin.
Current Season
Winter
January 15, 2026
Next Season Change
Spring Equinox (Vernal Equinox)
Friday, March 20, 2026
2:46 PM UTC
Upcoming Equinoxes & Solstices
Spring Equinox (Vernal Equinox)
Friday, March 20, 2026
2:46 PM UTC
Summer Solstice
Sunday, June 21, 2026
2:24 AM UTC
Fall Equinox (Autumnal Equinox)
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
12:05 AM UTC
Winter Solstice
Monday, December 21, 2026
8:50 PM UTC
Daylight Hours Comparison
See how daylight hours vary across equinoxes and solstices at different latitudes. The closer to the poles, the more extreme the seasonal variation.
| Location (Latitude) | 🌸Spring Equinox~Mar 20 | ☀️Summer Solstice~Jun 21 | 🍂Fall Equinox~Sep 22 | ❄️Winter Solstice~Dec 21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Quito, Ecuador 0° (Equator) | 12h 00m | 12h 00m | 12h 00m | 12h 00m |
Miami, Florida 26°N | 12h 00m | 13h 45m | 12h 00m | 10h 30m |
Los Angeles, California 34°N | 12h 00m | 14h 26m | 12h 00m | 9h 53m |
New York, New York 41°N | 12h 00m | 15h 06m | 12h 00m | 9h 15m |
Seattle, Washington 48°N | 12h 00m | 16h 00m | 12h 00m | 8h 25m |
Anchorage, Alaska 61°N | 12h 00m | 19h 22m | 12h 00m | 5h 28m |
Reykjavik, Iceland 64°N | 12h 00m | 21h 00m | 12h 00m | 4h 20m |
Key Observations:
- •Equinoxes (Spring & Fall): All locations experience approximately 12 hours of daylight, regardless of latitude.
- •Summer Solstice: Higher latitudes enjoy dramatically longer days. Reykjavik has nearly 21 hours of daylight!
- •Winter Solstice: Higher latitudes suffer much shorter days. Reykjavik has only ~4 hours of daylight.
- •Latitude Effect: The farther from the equator, the more extreme the seasonal daylight variation.
Seasonal Events 2025-2034
| Year | 🌸 Spring Equinox | ☀️ Summer Solstice | 🍂 Fall Equinox | ❄️ Winter Solstice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 20 | Jun 20 | Sep 22 | Dec 21 |
| 2026 | Mar 20 | Jun 21 | Sep 23 | Dec 21 |
| 2027 | Mar 20 | Jun 21 | Sep 23 | Dec 21 |
| 2028 | Mar 20 | Jun 20 | Sep 22 | Dec 21 |
| 2029 | Mar 20 | Jun 21 | Sep 22 | Dec 21 |
| 2030 | Mar 20 | Jun 21 | Sep 22 | Dec 21 |
| 2031 | Mar 20 | Jun 21 | Sep 23 | Dec 21 |
| 2032 | Mar 20 | Jun 20 | Sep 22 | Dec 21 |
| 2033 | Mar 20 | Jun 21 | Sep 22 | Dec 21 |
| 2034 | Mar 20 | Jun 21 | Sep 22 | Dec 21 |
The Four Seasons
Spring
March - June
Spring Equinox (Vernal Equinox)
Around March 20-21
Day and night are nearly equal in length. The sun crosses the celestial equator moving northward.
Characteristics: Warming temperatures, budding plants, longer days, rain showers, flowers blooming, animal activity increases
Summer
June - September
Summer Solstice
Around June 20-21
Longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun reaches its highest point in the sky.
Characteristics: Hot temperatures, longest days, abundant sunshine, peak vegetation growth, vacation season, outdoor activities
Fall (Autumn)
September - December
Fall Equinox (Autumnal Equinox)
Around September 22-23
Day and night are nearly equal. The sun crosses the celestial equator moving southward.
Characteristics: Cooling temperatures, leaves changing colors, shorter days, harvest season, migration of birds, preparation for winter
Winter
December - March
Winter Solstice
Around December 21-22
Shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun reaches its lowest point in the sky.
Characteristics: Cold temperatures, shortest days, snow and ice, dormant vegetation, animals hibernate or migrate, holiday season
What Causes the Seasons?
Earth's Axial Tilt
Seasons are caused by Earth's axial tilt of approximately 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane around the sun. This tilt means that different parts of Earth receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year as our planet orbits the sun.
Common Misconception: Seasons are NOT caused by Earth's distance from the sun. In fact, Earth is closest to the sun in January (Northern Hemisphere winter) and farthest in July (Northern Hemisphere summer).
During summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted toward the sun, resulting in longer days, more direct sunlight, and warmer temperatures. Six months later, the North Pole tilts away from the sun, creating winter with shorter days, less direct sunlight, and colder temperatures.
Equinoxes
During an equinox, the sun is directly above Earth's equator. Day and night are approximately equal in length everywhere on Earth.
The word "equinox" comes from Latin: "equi" (equal) and "nox" (night)
Solstices
During a solstice, the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, marking the longest or shortest day of the year.
The word "solstice" comes from Latin: "sol" (sun) and "sistere" (to stand still)
Opposite Seasons in Different Hemispheres
When it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it's winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa. This is because when one hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, the other is tilted away.
Countries near the equator experience less seasonal variation because they receive fairly consistent amounts of sunlight year-round. The poles experience the most extreme seasonal changes, including periods of 24-hour daylight (midnight sun) and 24-hour darkness (polar night).