Longest and shortest day in Anchorage
In Anchorage, United States, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 19h 22m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 5h 27m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 07:59 | 20:15 | 12h 15m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 04:20 | 23:42 | 19h 22m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 07:44 | 19:58 | 12h 14m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 10:14 | 15:41 | 5h 27m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 09:56 | 16:21 | 6h 25m |
| February | 08:41 | 17:46 | 9h 5m |
| March | 08:16 | 20:01 | 11h 45m |
| April | 06:38 | 21:22 | 14h 44m |
| May | 05:12 | 22:41 | 17h 29m |
| June | 04:20 | 23:39 | 19h 19m |
| July | 04:51 | 23:17 | 18h 26m |
| August | 06:08 | 21:57 | 15h 49m |
| September | 07:26 | 20:20 | 12h 54m |
| October | 08:42 | 18:46 | 10h 4m |
| November | 09:06 | 16:21 | 7h 15m |
| December | 10:09 | 15:40 | 5h 31m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Anchorage
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Anchorage leans toward the Sun for part of the year and away for the rest. When it leans toward the Sun the days lengthen and the Sun climbs higher; half a year later the opposite happens. The size of the swing depends on how far Anchorage sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Anchorage
When is the longest day in Anchorage?
The longest day in Anchorage falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 19h 22m of daylight, sunrise at 04:20 and sunset at 23:42.
When is the shortest day in Anchorage?
The shortest day in Anchorage falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 5h 27m of daylight, sunrise at 10:14 and sunset at 15:41.
How much does day length change through the year in Anchorage?
Between the longest and shortest day, Anchorage gains and loses about 13h 55m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Anchorage's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.