Longest and shortest day in Lyon
In Lyon, France, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 15h 43m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 8h 40m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:44 | 18:53 | 12h 9m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:50 | 21:34 | 15h 43m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 07:27 | 19:38 | 12h 11m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 08:18 | 16:58 | 8h 40m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:18 | 17:22 | 9h 4m |
| February | 07:43 | 18:06 | 10h 23m |
| March | 06:54 | 18:46 | 11h 52m |
| April | 06:55 | 20:26 | 13h 31m |
| May | 06:09 | 21:05 | 14h 55m |
| June | 05:50 | 21:32 | 15h 42m |
| July | 06:05 | 21:27 | 15h 22m |
| August | 06:40 | 20:48 | 14h 8m |
| September | 07:18 | 19:52 | 12h 33m |
| October | 07:57 | 18:55 | 10h 58m |
| November | 07:40 | 17:09 | 9h 29m |
| December | 08:14 | 16:56 | 8h 42m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Lyon
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Lyon 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 Lyon sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Lyon
When is the longest day in Lyon?
The longest day in Lyon falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 15h 43m of daylight, sunrise at 05:50 and sunset at 21:34.
When is the shortest day in Lyon?
The shortest day in Lyon falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 8h 40m of daylight, sunrise at 08:18 and sunset at 16:58.
How much does day length change through the year in Lyon?
Between the longest and shortest day, Lyon gains and loses about 7h 3m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Lyon's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.