Longest and shortest day in Sofia
In Sofia, Bulgaria, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 15h 20m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 9h 2m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 06:30 | 18:38 | 12h 8m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:48 | 21:08 | 15h 20m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 07:13 | 19:24 | 12h 11m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 07:53 | 16:55 | 9h 2m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:54 | 17:17 | 9h 23m |
| February | 07:24 | 17:57 | 10h 34m |
| March | 06:39 | 18:32 | 11h 53m |
| April | 06:46 | 20:08 | 13h 22m |
| May | 06:04 | 20:41 | 14h 37m |
| June | 05:48 | 21:06 | 15h 18m |
| July | 06:02 | 21:02 | 15h 1m |
| August | 06:33 | 20:28 | 13h 56m |
| September | 07:06 | 19:36 | 12h 31m |
| October | 07:39 | 18:44 | 11h 5m |
| November | 07:18 | 17:04 | 9h 46m |
| December | 07:49 | 16:53 | 9h 4m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Sofia
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Sofia 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 Sofia sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Sofia
When is the longest day in Sofia?
The longest day in Sofia falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 15h 20m of daylight, sunrise at 05:48 and sunset at 21:08.
When is the shortest day in Sofia?
The shortest day in Sofia falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 9h 2m of daylight, sunrise at 07:53 and sunset at 16:55.
How much does day length change through the year in Sofia?
Between the longest and shortest day, Sofia gains and loses about 6h 18m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Sofia's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.