Longest and shortest day in Reykjavik
In Reykjavik, Iceland, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 21h 9m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 4h 7m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 07:28 | 19:43 | 12h 15m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 02:55 | 00:04 | 21h 9m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 07:10 | 19:28 | 12h 18m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 11:22 | 15:29 | 4h 7m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10:55 | 16:19 | 5h 24m |
| February | 09:23 | 18:01 | 8h 37m |
| March | 07:47 | 19:27 | 11h 41m |
| April | 05:56 | 21:00 | 15h 4m |
| May | 04:13 | 22:36 | 18h 23m |
| June | 02:57 | 23:59 | 21h 2m |
| July | 03:40 | 23:24 | 19h 43m |
| August | 05:18 | 21:43 | 16h 25m |
| September | 06:50 | 19:53 | 13h 3m |
| October | 08:17 | 18:07 | 9h 50m |
| November | 09:56 | 16:27 | 6h 31m |
| December | 11:16 | 15:29 | 4h 13m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Reykjavik
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Reykjavik
When is the longest day in Reykjavik?
The longest day in Reykjavik falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 21h 9m of daylight, sunrise at 02:55 and sunset at 00:04.
When is the shortest day in Reykjavik?
The shortest day in Reykjavik falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 4h 7m of daylight, sunrise at 11:22 and sunset at 15:29.
How much does day length change through the year in Reykjavik?
Between the longest and shortest day, Reykjavik gains and loses about 17h 2m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Reykjavik's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.