Longest and shortest day in Canberra
In Canberra, Australia, the longest day of 2026 is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 14h 33m of daylight, and the shortest is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 9h 47m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 07:06 | 19:15 | 12h 9m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 07:11 | 16:58 | 9h 47m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:53 | 17:59 | 12h 6m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 05:45 | 20:17 | 14h 33m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:04 | 20:20 | 14h 17m |
| February | 06:36 | 19:58 | 13h 22m |
| March | 07:01 | 19:22 | 12h 21m |
| April | 06:26 | 17:39 | 11h 13m |
| May | 06:50 | 17:08 | 10h 17m |
| June | 07:10 | 16:57 | 9h 48m |
| July | 07:09 | 17:09 | 9h 59m |
| August | 06:44 | 17:31 | 10h 47m |
| September | 06:03 | 17:54 | 11h 51m |
| October | 06:21 | 19:17 | 12h 57m |
| November | 05:49 | 19:47 | 13h 58m |
| December | 05:42 | 20:14 | 14h 31m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Canberra
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Canberra 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 Canberra sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Canberra
When is the longest day in Canberra?
The longest day in Canberra falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 14h 33m of daylight, sunrise at 05:45 and sunset at 20:17.
When is the shortest day in Canberra?
The shortest day in Canberra falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 9h 47m of daylight, sunrise at 07:11 and sunset at 16:58.
How much does day length change through the year in Canberra?
Between the longest and shortest day, Canberra gains and loses about 4h 46m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Canberra's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.