Summer Solstice Countdown

The summer solstice, around June 20, 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, is the longest day of the year, when Earth's tilt leans your half of the planet closest to the sun. This countdown is to the summer solstice 2027 on June 21, 2027, ticking down live.

How many days until Summer Solstice?

Summer Solstice is on Monday, June 21, 2027, which is 316 calendar days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.

See where this falls among everything else — the event calendar.

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The story of Summer Solstice

c. 2500 BCStonehenge's massive sarsen stones were erected and precisely positioned so the monument's central axis frames the sun rising over the Heel Stone on the summer solstice.

1859Public solstice gatherings at Stonehenge trace to the opening of the railway to Salisbury, which made the site newly accessible; by the turn of the 20th century, Druid revivalists began holding their own solstice ceremonies there.

Iron AgeScandinavians have marked the summer solstice since the Iron Age with bonfires, dancing and fertility rituals intended to honor the sun and secure a good harvest, well predating any Christian calendar.

1500sAs Christianity spread through Scandinavia, the Church folded the older solstice rites into the feast of St John the Baptist on June 24, and the flower-garlanded maypole became a central part of the Midsummer festivities.

1953Sweden moved Midsummer's Eve off its fixed June 24 date to the nearest Friday so the holiday would reliably fall on a long weekend; it functions as a de facto national public holiday alongside Christmas.

1989Seattle's Fremont Solstice Parade was founded, growing into a signature modern solstice festival.

What actually happens

The solstice is a precise astronomical moment: the sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky. Above the Arctic Circle it doesn't set at all, the midnight sun, while the Southern Hemisphere marks its shortest day.

Midsummer celebrations

Thousands gather at Stonehenge, whose stones align with the solstice sunrise. Sweden's Midsummer is practically a national holiday of maypoles and flower crowns, and bonfires burn across northern Europe, traditions older than written history.

Quick facts

Falls on June 20, 21 or 22 depending on the year
Stonehenge aligns with the solstice sunrise
Above the Arctic Circle the sun never sets that day
“Solstice” means “sun stands still” in Latin

Longest day, best day

Maximum daylight calls for maximum outside.

Sunscreen Oversized beach towel Picnic basket Sunglasses Solar garden lights Insulated cooler backpack

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Summer Solstice — frequently asked questions

When is Summer Solstice?

Summer Solstice is on Monday, June 21, 2027.

How many days until Summer Solstice?

316 calendar days, counting from today: Summer Solstice falls on Monday, June 21, 2027. The clock at the top of the page counts down to the exact second.

Updated August 2026 · time-and-space.science

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