Longest and shortest day in Helsinki
In Helsinki, Finland, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 18h 56m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 5h 49m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:22 | 18:34 | 12h 12m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 03:54 | 22:50 | 18h 56m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 07:04 | 19:20 | 12h 16m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 09:23 | 15:12 | 5h 49m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 09:09 | 15:49 | 6h 40m |
| February | 07:59 | 17:09 | 9h 10m |
| March | 06:38 | 18:21 | 11h 43m |
| April | 06:04 | 20:38 | 14h 34m |
| May | 04:42 | 21:52 | 17h 11m |
| June | 03:54 | 22:47 | 18h 53m |
| July | 04:22 | 22:29 | 18h 7m |
| August | 05:33 | 21:14 | 15h 41m |
| September | 06:47 | 19:41 | 12h 54m |
| October | 07:59 | 18:11 | 10h 12m |
| November | 08:18 | 15:49 | 7h 31m |
| December | 09:18 | 15:11 | 5h 53m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Helsinki
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Helsinki 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 Helsinki sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Helsinki
When is the longest day in Helsinki?
The longest day in Helsinki falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 18h 56m of daylight, sunrise at 03:54 and sunset at 22:50.
When is the shortest day in Helsinki?
The shortest day in Helsinki falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 5h 49m of daylight, sunrise at 09:23 and sunset at 15:12.
How much does day length change through the year in Helsinki?
Between the longest and shortest day, Helsinki gains and loses about 13h 7m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Helsinki's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.