Longest and shortest day in Moscow
In Moscow, Russia, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 17h 34m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 7h 0m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:32 | 18:42 | 12h 11m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 03:44 | 21:18 | 17h 34m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:14 | 18:28 | 12h 14m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 08:57 | 15:57 | 7h 0m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:49 | 16:28 | 7h 39m |
| February | 07:54 | 17:33 | 9h 38m |
| March | 06:45 | 18:32 | 11h 46m |
| April | 05:25 | 19:34 | 14h 9m |
| May | 04:18 | 20:34 | 16h 16m |
| June | 03:44 | 21:15 | 17h 31m |
| July | 04:05 | 21:04 | 16h 59m |
| August | 05:01 | 20:05 | 15h 5m |
| September | 06:00 | 18:47 | 12h 46m |
| October | 07:00 | 17:29 | 10h 30m |
| November | 08:04 | 16:22 | 8h 18m |
| December | 08:53 | 15:56 | 7h 3m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Moscow
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Moscow 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 Moscow sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Moscow
When is the longest day in Moscow?
The longest day in Moscow falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 17h 34m of daylight, sunrise at 03:44 and sunset at 21:18.
When is the shortest day in Moscow?
The shortest day in Moscow falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 7h 0m of daylight, sunrise at 08:57 and sunset at 15:57.
How much does day length change through the year in Moscow?
Between the longest and shortest day, Moscow gains and loses about 10h 34m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Moscow's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.