Hanukkah 2026 Dates: When Is the First Night? Full Guide

If you have ever found yourself in early December asking "wait, when is Hanukkah this year?", you are in good company. Because Hanukkah follows the Hebrew calendar, it lands on a different date every year, sometimes right after Thanksgiving and sometimes on Christmas Eve. This guide gives you the exact 2026 dates, tells you what to do on the first night, and walks you through all eight nights so you can plan ahead.

When is Hanukkah 2026? Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, when the first candle is lit, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12. Because the first night falls on a Friday, the menorah is lit before the Shabbat candles that evening.

When Is Hanukkah 2026? The Dates at a Glance

Here are all eight nights of Hanukkah 2026. Every Jewish day begins at sundown, so each candle is lit on the evening listed.

The last day of Hanukkah is Saturday, December 12, and the holiday ends at nightfall. Over the whole festival you light 36 candles, or 44 if you count the shamash, the helper candle, each night.

When Is the First Night of Hanukkah, and When Do You Light?

The first night of Hanukkah 2026 is Friday, December 4. That makes this year a little special, because Hanukkah and Shabbat begin on the same evening.

Lighting Before Shabbat on Friday Night

On Friday, the Hanukkah candles are lit before the Shabbat candles, because once Shabbat begins, no new flame is kindled. Tradition (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 679) says to light the menorah first, shortly before sunset, and then the Shabbat candles. Use candles that are long enough to burn for at least half an hour after nightfall, since standard thin Hanukkah candles may go out too soon.

Lighting on Saturday Night, After Shabbat Ends

On Saturday night, December 5, you wait until Shabbat ends after nightfall. Many families say Havdalah, the prayer that ends Shabbat, and then light the second night's candles, though some communities reverse the order. Ask your rabbi or follow your family's custom.

The same Friday pattern comes back on the eighth night, Friday, December 11, when all eight candles are lit before Shabbat begins. Our guide to Hanukkah prayers and blessings has the full blessings and lighting steps for every night.

When Does Hanukkah End This Year?

Hanukkah 2026 ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12. The last candles are lit on Friday evening, December 11, and the eighth day is celebrated on Saturday. Some communities call the final day Zot Chanukah, "this is Hanukkah", after the Torah reading for that day, and treat it as a time for extra prayer and giving.

Why Does Hanukkah Fall on Different Dates Every Year?

Hanukkah always begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. The Hebrew calendar follows the moon, with a leap month added about every three years to keep it in step with the seasons. That means the 25th of Kislev falls on a different day of the solar calendar each year, anywhere from late November to late December. To understand where the holiday comes from in the first place, read our guide to what Hanukkah is and why we celebrate it.

A Hanukkah Night-by-Night Guide for 2026

Each night of Hanukkah gets one more candle. Here is a simple way to make every night feel different, with one idea for the table and one idea for giving. Many families give in multiples of 18, the number that stands for life, and our guide to why we give in multiples of 18 explains why.

Night 1: Friday, December 4

Light one candle plus the shamash, say all three blessings, including Shehecheyanu, and then light the Shabbat candles. Make the Shabbat dinner a Hanukkah dinner with latkes on the side. For giving, put a first coin in the family pushke, the charity box, before Shabbat begins.

Night 2: Saturday, December 5

After Shabbat ends, light two candles. This is a great night to bring out the dreidel, since everyone is home and rested. Our guide to how to play dreidel has the rules. Let the children decide where the night's winnings will go.

Night 3: Sunday, December 6

Light three candles. Sunday is a natural night for cooking together. Try a batch of latkes or sufganiyot, and read our guide to Hanukkah foods for the story behind each one. For giving, cook a little extra for a neighbor.

Night 4: Monday, December 7

Light four candles, half the menorah. Use the halfway point to tell the Hanukkah story, the Maccabees and the jar of oil, at the table. Ask each person to share one thing they are grateful for this year.

Night 5: Tuesday, December 8

Light five candles. Many families make this a night for giving instead of receiving. Choose a cause together, such as meals for families in need, and give in a multiple of 18.

Night 6: Wednesday, December 9

Light six candles. The sixth night begins Rosh Chodesh Tevet, the start of a new Hebrew month, which runs through Thursday and Friday, December 10 and 11. Some families mark it with an extra treat. Call or visit someone who might be spending the holiday alone.

Night 7: Thursday, December 10

Light seven candles. Prepare for the double celebration ahead by setting the Shabbat table early. For giving, let each family member choose a cause and add a coin for it.

Night 8: Friday, December 11

Light all eight candles plus the shamash before sunset, then the Shabbat candles. With the menorah full, this is the brightest night of the year in many homes. Count the pushke together and decide where your Hanukkah tzedakah will go.

How to Get Ready Before the First Candle

A little preparation in the week before Hanukkah makes the eight nights much easier, especially in a year like 2026 when the holiday starts on a Friday.

A Simple Hanukkah Checklist for Your Home

- Candles or oil: a standard box holds 44 candles, enough for all eight nights. For Friday nights, buy a few larger candles that will burn for at least 30 minutes after dark. - A menorah for each person, if your family's custom is for everyone to light their own. - A safe spot by a window or door, away from curtains, where the menorah can be seen from outside. - Blessings printed or saved on your phone. Our guide to Hanukkah prayers and blessings has them in transliteration and English. - Ingredients for latkes or sufganiyot, especially if you plan to cook on Sunday. - A dreidel and some gelt for game nights. - A pushke, or charity box, set out by the menorah so the family can add a coin each night.

Planning Your Week Around Shabbat

With two Friday nights this year, plan your Shabbat dinners as Hanukkah dinners. Prepare food before Shabbat, set out candles early, and make sure everyone knows the menorah is lit first. A little planning keeps the evening calm and lets you enjoy both lights together.

Hanukkah Dates for the Next Five Years

If you like to plan ahead, here are the next Hanukkah dates. Each one begins at sundown on the first date.

Dates verified with Hebcal.

Eight Nights, Eight Chances to Give

Every night of Hanukkah adds one more light, and that small habit is the whole lesson of the holiday. You do not have to do everything at once. You just have to show up each night and add a little more than the night before.

Giving can work the same way. At 18.fund, offered in collaboration with the Shabata Demalkata Foundation, donations help provide Shabbat meals and holiday essentials for families in need across the US. Every $18 helps provide a Shabbat meal for one family, so giving $18 on each of the eight nights adds up to a full table for many families. If you want to understand why that kind of steady giving matters so much, read our guide to what tzedakah really means.

Give for Each of the 8 Nights

Frequently Asked Questions