How Many Days Until Winter? Countdown
There are 112 days until Winter solstice on Monday, December 21, 2026. Northern winter begins at the December solstice. The next one is 21 December 2026, 20:50 UTC. The timer uses that instant, not the first freeze and not December 1.
2026–2028 dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, December 21 |
| 2027 | Wednesday, December 22 |
| 2028 | Thursday, December 21 |
Add Winter solstice to your calendar
How this timer counts
Timezone still labels the remaining hours. The solstice itself is one UTC moment. If you wanted meteorological winter on December 1, that is a different page on this site.
Countdown to winter at the December solstice
The solstice is the shortest daylight of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, not the coldest stretch. Meteorological winter is December–February.
| Definition | 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Astronomical winter | 21 Dec solstice | Used by this timer |
| Meteorological winter | 1 Dec | Climate averaging |
| Christmas | 25 Dec | 4 days later |
How many days until winter from today
Christmas is four days after the 2026 solstice. New Year’s Day is eleven days after.
Why this countdown exists
“How many days until winter” is searched for two different meanings: the December solstice and meteorological winter on December 1. This page uses the solstice because that is the astronomical start of northern winter and the answer most science calendars give. The first freeze and the start of meteorological winter are different clocks. Christmas sits a few days later.
When does winter 2026 start?
The December solstice is 21 December 2026, 20:50 UTC.
Why not December 1?
December 1 is meteorological winter. This page counts the solstice.
Is it the coldest day?
No. The coldest stretch is usually January.