Longest and shortest day in Madrid
In Madrid, Spain, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 15h 4m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 9h 17m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 07:18 | 19:26 | 12h 8m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:44 | 21:48 | 15h 4m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 08:02 | 20:12 | 12h 10m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 08:34 | 17:51 | 9h 17m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:36 | 18:12 | 9h 37m |
| February | 08:08 | 18:49 | 10h 41m |
| March | 07:27 | 19:21 | 11h 54m |
| April | 07:37 | 20:53 | 13h 16m |
| May | 06:58 | 21:24 | 14h 25m |
| June | 06:44 | 21:46 | 15h 3m |
| July | 06:57 | 21:43 | 14h 47m |
| August | 07:25 | 21:12 | 13h 47m |
| September | 07:55 | 20:23 | 12h 28m |
| October | 08:25 | 19:35 | 11h 9m |
| November | 08:00 | 17:57 | 9h 57m |
| December | 08:30 | 17:49 | 9h 18m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Madrid
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Madrid 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 Madrid sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Madrid
When is the longest day in Madrid?
The longest day in Madrid falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 15h 4m of daylight, sunrise at 06:44 and sunset at 21:48.
When is the shortest day in Madrid?
The shortest day in Madrid falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 9h 17m of daylight, sunrise at 08:34 and sunset at 17:51.
How much does day length change through the year in Madrid?
Between the longest and shortest day, Madrid gains and loses about 5h 47m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Madrid's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.