Longest and shortest day in Riga
In Riga, Latvia, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 17h 53m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 6h 43m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:26 | 18:37 | 12h 11m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 04:29 | 22:21 | 17h 53m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 07:08 | 19:23 | 12h 15m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 08:59 | 15:43 | 6h 43m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:50 | 16:15 | 7h 25m |
| February | 07:52 | 17:23 | 9h 31m |
| March | 06:40 | 18:26 | 11h 46m |
| April | 06:16 | 20:32 | 14h 15m |
| May | 05:06 | 21:35 | 16h 29m |
| June | 04:29 | 22:19 | 17h 50m |
| July | 04:51 | 22:06 | 17h 15m |
| August | 05:50 | 21:04 | 15h 13m |
| September | 06:54 | 19:42 | 12h 48m |
| October | 07:56 | 18:21 | 10h 25m |
| November | 08:04 | 16:11 | 8h 7m |
| December | 08:55 | 15:41 | 6h 46m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Riga
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Riga 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 Riga sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Riga
When is the longest day in Riga?
The longest day in Riga falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 17h 53m of daylight, sunrise at 04:29 and sunset at 22:21.
When is the shortest day in Riga?
The shortest day in Riga falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 6h 43m of daylight, sunrise at 08:59 and sunset at 15:43.
How much does day length change through the year in Riga?
Between the longest and shortest day, Riga gains and loses about 11h 10m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Riga's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.