We are on the approach to the ‘longest day’ and ‘shortest night’ of the year
The days have progressively been getting longer over the last couple months and, with the sun now setting pretty late into the evening, we are quickly approaching the longest day of the year.
The longest day of the year – which is commonly referred to as the summer solstice – marks the ‘longest day’ and ‘shortest night’ of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, this day falls in June and marks midsummer.
But while most people consider summer solstice to be a day, it is actually a specific moment which falls on the longest day of the year. For the UK, the summer solstice is the point when the Northern Hemisphere is most tilted towards the sun.
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It is also a moment which is celebrated by many different cultures and societies across the world, with many associating it with themes of renewal, fertility, and the triumph of light over darkness. For example, Midsummer celebrations in Scandinavia and the UK include bonfires, dancing, and feasting.
In the UK, many people gather at Stonehenge to celebrate the summer solstice. It isn’t necessarily clear if marking the summer solstice was the point of Stonehenge, but it is a centre for the celebration as the stones are lined up to frame the rising of the sun on the solstice.
When is the longest day of the year?
This year the summer solstice will fall on Sunday, June 21. In the UK, the summer solstice will occur on this date, specifically at 9.24am BST, according to the Royal Museums Greenwich.
What time is sunrise and sunset on the longest day?
The exact times for sunrise and sunset on the summer solstice depends on your specific location. On June 21, 2026, the approximate times for sunrise and sunset in London, according to the Met Office, are:
- Sunrise: 4.43am
- Sunset: 9.21pm
On June 21, 2026, the approximate times for sunrise and sunset in Manchester, according to the Met Office, are:
- Sunrise: 4.40am
- Sunset: 9.41pm

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