Longest and shortest day in Ottawa
In Ottawa, Canada, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 15h 41m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 8h 43m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 07:05 | 19:15 | 12h 10m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:14 | 20:54 | 15h 41m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 06:49 | 19:00 | 12h 10m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 07:39 | 16:22 | 8h 43m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:38 | 16:45 | 9h 7m |
| February | 07:04 | 17:29 | 10h 25m |
| March | 07:15 | 19:08 | 11h 53m |
| April | 06:17 | 19:48 | 13h 31m |
| May | 05:32 | 20:26 | 14h 54m |
| June | 05:13 | 20:53 | 15h 39m |
| July | 05:29 | 20:48 | 15h 19m |
| August | 06:03 | 20:09 | 14h 6m |
| September | 06:41 | 19:13 | 12h 32m |
| October | 07:19 | 18:17 | 10h 58m |
| November | 07:01 | 16:32 | 9h 31m |
| December | 07:35 | 16:20 | 8h 44m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Ottawa
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Ottawa 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 Ottawa sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Ottawa
When is the longest day in Ottawa?
The longest day in Ottawa falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 15h 41m of daylight, sunrise at 05:14 and sunset at 20:54.
When is the shortest day in Ottawa?
The shortest day in Ottawa falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 8h 43m of daylight, sunrise at 07:39 and sunset at 16:22.
How much does day length change through the year in Ottawa?
Between the longest and shortest day, Ottawa gains and loses about 6h 58m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Ottawa's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.