Holiday guide
Hanukkah 2026 begins on the evening of Friday 4 December
The candle-lighting time for your city each night, which candle to light, the blessings, and what changes on Friday and Saturday night.
First candle
Candle lighting in New York
4:10 PM
Friday 4 December · 25 Kislev
Friday: light the Hanukkah candles first, then the Shabbat candles, at Shabbat candle-lighting time.
until the first candle in New York
Sundown December 4, 2026 to nightfall December 12, 2026. Every night in Jerusalem and New York →
What to say when you light the candles
Say the first two blessings every night, and add the third on the first night only.
- Lighting the candles
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who made us holy with His commandments and commanded us to light the Hanukkah candles.
- The miracles
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam, she'asah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim hahem baz'man hazeh.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days, at this time.
- Shehecheyanu, the first night only
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha'olam, shehecheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higi'anu laz'man hazeh.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us and brought us to this season.
How to light them
- Put the candles in the menorah from right to left, one more each night.
- Say the blessings.
- Light the new candle first, then the others from left to right, using the shamash.
- Let them burn for at least half an hour.
What changes on Friday and Saturday night
On Friday, light the Hanukkah candles first and the Shabbat candles right after them, before sunset. That makes Friday the earliest time of the week.
On Saturday night, wait until Shabbat ends. In synagogue the candles come before Havdalah. At home, most families say Havdalah first, and some light the candles first.
Hanukkah school holiday
Sunday 6 December to Saturday 12 December
Classes resume on Sunday 13 December 2026.
Israel or the diaspora?
Eight nights everywhere, on the same dates. No difference.
Hanukkah 2026
The eight candles
Each candle is lit on the evening its day begins. On Friday they go on before the Shabbat candles, and on Saturday only after Shabbat ends.
Times are for New York. Change city
- First candleFriday 4 December25 Kislev4:10 PMbefore the Shabbat candles
- Second candleSaturday 5 December26 Kislev5:14 PMafter Shabbat ends
- Third candleSunday 6 December27 Kislev4:52 PM
- Fourth candleMonday 7 December28 Kislev4:52 PM
- Fifth candleTuesday 8 December29 Kislev4:52 PM
- Sixth candleWednesday 9 December30 Kislev4:52 PM
- Seventh candleThursday 10 December1 Tevet4:52 PM
- Eighth candleFriday 11 December2 Tevet4:10 PMbefore the Shabbat candles
These Hanukkah gifts are drawn from the same calendars as this site.
A city's Shabbat times for 2027, the moon on the night someone was born, a bar or bat mitzvah portion, the Kinneret on a day that matters. Each one is drawn for the person you choose, then printed and shipped free.
Order by November 18 for delivery in the US before the first candle, or by November 11 for Israel.
Shabbat in your city, 2027
From $36
The moon they were born under
From $36
Their Torah portion
From $36
The Kinneret mug
From $29
On the ground
What happens in Israel
Not a public holiday, so work continues, but schools close for the week. Sufganiyot appear in every bakery from late November, and public menorahs are lit in every town square.
Practice
How it is observed
- Lighting the menorah for eight nights, adding one candle each night
- Playing dreidel, the four-letter spinning top
- Chocolate gelt and gift-giving, especially for children
- Placing the menorah in a window to publicize the miracle
"Chag Hanukkah sameach" or simply "Happy Hanukkah"
Foods fried in oil for the oil miracle: latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts).
Year by year
Hanukkah dates, year by year
Every date from 2024 to 2030, computed from the Hebrew calendar. Each year has its own page with candle lighting times.
The rest of the calendar
Other Jewish holidays
8 of the 14 other holidays on the Hebrew calendar, nearest date first. Every card opens a guide with dates from 2024 to 2030.
January 23, 2027
Tu BiShvat
The new year of the trees. Tree planting in Israel and eating the fruits of the land.
March 23, 2027
Purim
Celebrates the rescue of the Jews of Persia as told in the Book of Esther. Megillah readings, costumes, mishloach manot and festive meals.
April 22, 2027
Passover (Pesach)
The festival of freedom, marking the Exodus from Egypt. Seder nights, matzah, and no chametz for eight days (seven in Israel).
May 4, 2027
Yom HaShoah
Holocaust Remembrance Day. In Israel a two-minute siren brings the country to a standstill.
May 11, 2027
Yom HaZikaron
Israel's Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, the day before Independence Day.
May 25, 2027
Lag BaOmer
The 33rd day of the Omer count. Bonfires, weddings and celebrations at Mount Meron.
June 11, 2027
Shavuot
The festival of receiving the Torah at Sinai. All-night learning and dairy foods. Two days in the diaspora, one in Israel.
Frequently asked questions
When is Hanukkah?+
The next Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 4, 2026 and ends at nightfall on December 12, 2026. Because the Hebrew calendar is lunisolar, the Gregorian date shifts each year while the season stays fixed.
When is the first candle of Hanukkah 2026?+
On the evening of Friday 4 December 2026, before the Shabbat candles. The eighth and last candle is lit on the evening of Friday 11 December 2026.
What time do you light the Hanukkah candles?+
From Sunday to Thursday, at dusk, a little after sunset. On Friday the candles go on before the Shabbat candles, and on Saturday night after Shabbat ends. On the first night, Friday 4 December 2026, that is 4:10 PM in New York and 3:54 PM in Jerusalem. Pick your city at the top of the page for every night.
Which candle do you light each night of Hanukkah?+
The first night has one candle, and each night adds one, up to eight on the last night, plus the shamash that lights them. Put them in the menorah from right to left and light the newest one, on the left, first.
Which blessings do you say over the Hanukkah candles?+
Two blessings every night: one for lighting the Hanukkah candles and one for the miracles. On the first night add Shehecheyanu. The words are on this page.
When is the Hanukkah school holiday in Israel in 2026?+
From Sunday 6 December to Saturday 12 December 2026, in kindergartens, primary, middle and high schools. Classes resume on Sunday 13 December 2026. These are the dates the Ministry of Education set for the school year.
What is Hanukkah?+
Hanukkah is eight nights of candle lighting marking the rededication of the Temple after the Maccabean revolt, and the jar of oil that burned eight days instead of one.
Does Israel observe Hanukkah differently?+
Eight nights everywhere, on the same dates. No difference.
What is Hanukkah like in Israel?+
Not a public holiday, so work continues, but schools close for the week. Sufganiyot appear in every bakery from late November, and public menorahs are lit in every town square.
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