When is Christmas 2026?
Friday, December 25, 2026. Christmas Day is on December 25 every year.
Christmas is the most counted-down day of the year: Advent calendars, shopping lists and kids asking every morning how many sleeps are left. The countdown runs to midnight at the start of December 25 in your time zone, the moment the presents are traditionally allowed.
Why Christmas is on December 25
The Bible does not give a date for the birth of Jesus. The earliest record of a celebration on December 25 comes from Rome in the year 336, and the date spread through the Western church from there. Orthodox churches that still follow the old Julian calendar, such as the Russian and Serbian churches, celebrate on what is January 7 on our calendar.
Many familiar customs are younger than people think. The decorated tree comes from Germany and became fashionable in Britain and America after a picture of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert with their tree was published in the 1840s. Santa Claus grew out of Saint Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop known for secret gift-giving, by way of the Dutch Sinterklaas.
Christmas planning timeline
Eight weeks or more ahead
Book flights and train tickets for holiday travel, since the days just before December 25 are among the busiest of the year and fares rise as seats fill. Set a gift budget and start a list.
Four to six weeks ahead
Use the deals around Black Friday and Cyber Monday for the big gifts. Order photo gifts and anything personalized now, because they take longer to make. If you buy a real tree, keep the stand filled with water every day.
Two to three weeks ahead
Check the holiday shipping deadlines that USPS, UPS and FedEx publish each year. For ground shipping they usually fall in mid-December. Send cards and parcels to relatives abroad first, since international mail takes the longest.
The last week
Finish the wrapping, plan the menu and shop for groceries early, before stores get crowded and close early on Christmas Eve. Move a frozen roast or turkey to the fridge in time and prepare side dishes a day ahead. The meal prep timer helps when several dishes are in the oven at once.
Counting down with kids
Small children understand sleeps better than dates, which is why this page shows how many nights are left. Advent calendars do the same job from December 1, and the first Sunday of Advent lights the first candle on the wreath. A countdown on the fridge or a tablet also ends the daily "how long now?" question.
Christmas dates for the coming years
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday, December 25, 2026 |
| 2027 | Saturday, December 25, 2027 |
| 2028 | Monday, December 25, 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, December 25, 2029 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, December 25, 2030 |
| 2031 | Thursday, December 25, 2031 |
Show this countdown on your stream
Add the countdown to OBS Studio or Streamlabs as a browser source: paste the URL below, set the size to 800 × 300 and the background stays transparent. It counts down to December 25, 2026 and shows "Merry Christmas!" at zero. More options in the OBS timer.
Counting down to something else, like a trip, a birthday or a deadline? Use the countdown to any date. For shorter waits there are timers for every duration.
Frequently asked questions
How many days until Christmas 2026?
As of today, Thursday, October 22, 2026, there are 64 days until Christmas 2026. The countdown at the top updates every second and uses the time zone of your device.
How many weeks until Christmas?
There are 9 weeks and 1 day until Christmas. That includes 9 weekends and 46 business days.
How many sleeps until Christmas?
64 sleeps. Every night counts one down, and the morning after the last sleep is Christmas.
What day of the week is Christmas 2026?
Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday.
When is Christmas 2027?
Christmas 2027 is on Saturday, December 25, 2027.
Why is Christmas celebrated on December 25?
The Bible does not name a date. The earliest record of Christmas on December 25 is from Rome in 336, and the Western church kept that date. A common explanation is that it sits close to the winter solstice and older Roman midwinter festivals.
When do Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas?
Orthodox churches that follow the Julian calendar, including the Russian and Serbian churches, celebrate on January 7. Other Orthodox churches, such as the Greek Orthodox Church, celebrate on December 25.
What are the 12 days of Christmas?
In the most common count they run from Christmas Day, December 25, to January 5. The evening of January 5 is Twelfth Night, and January 6 is Epiphany, which ends the Christmas season in many traditions.