Longest and shortest day in Glasgow
In Glasgow, United Kingdom, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 17h 35m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 6h 59m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:19 | 18:30 | 12h 11m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 04:31 | 22:06 | 17h 35m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 07:02 | 19:16 | 12h 14m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 08:45 | 15:44 | 6h 59m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:37 | 16:15 | 7h 38m |
| February | 07:42 | 17:20 | 9h 38m |
| March | 06:33 | 18:19 | 11h 47m |
| April | 06:12 | 20:22 | 14h 10m |
| May | 05:05 | 21:22 | 16h 17m |
| June | 04:31 | 22:04 | 17h 33m |
| July | 04:52 | 21:52 | 17h 0m |
| August | 05:48 | 20:53 | 15h 5m |
| September | 06:48 | 19:34 | 12h 46m |
| October | 07:47 | 18:16 | 10h 29m |
| November | 07:52 | 16:09 | 8h 17m |
| December | 08:41 | 15:42 | 7h 1m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Glasgow
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Glasgow 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 Glasgow sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Glasgow
When is the longest day in Glasgow?
The longest day in Glasgow falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 17h 35m of daylight, sunrise at 04:31 and sunset at 22:06.
When is the shortest day in Glasgow?
The shortest day in Glasgow falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 6h 59m of daylight, sunrise at 08:45 and sunset at 15:44.
How much does day length change through the year in Glasgow?
Between the longest and shortest day, Glasgow gains and loses about 10h 36m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Glasgow's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.