Longest and shortest day in Rio de Janeiro
In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the longest day of 2026 is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 13h 33m of daylight, and the shortest is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 10h 44m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 05:56 | 18:03 | 12h 7m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 06:32 | 17:16 | 10h 44m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:42 | 17:48 | 12h 7m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 05:04 | 18:37 | 13h 33m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:20 | 18:43 | 13h 23m |
| February | 05:41 | 18:32 | 12h 51m |
| March | 05:54 | 18:08 | 12h 14m |
| April | 06:05 | 17:39 | 11h 34m |
| May | 06:18 | 17:19 | 11h 1m |
| June | 06:31 | 17:15 | 10h 44m |
| July | 06:33 | 17:24 | 10h 51m |
| August | 06:17 | 17:36 | 11h 19m |
| September | 05:49 | 17:46 | 11h 57m |
| October | 05:20 | 17:57 | 12h 37m |
| November | 05:00 | 18:14 | 13h 13m |
| December | 05:01 | 18:33 | 13h 32m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Rio de Janeiro
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Rio de Janeiro 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 Rio de Janeiro sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Rio de Janeiro
When is the longest day in Rio de Janeiro?
The longest day in Rio de Janeiro falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 13h 33m of daylight, sunrise at 05:04 and sunset at 18:37.
When is the shortest day in Rio de Janeiro?
The shortest day in Rio de Janeiro falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 10h 44m of daylight, sunrise at 06:32 and sunset at 17:16.
How much does day length change through the year in Rio de Janeiro?
Between the longest and shortest day, Rio de Janeiro gains and loses about 2h 49m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Rio de Janeiro's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.