When is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is on Dec 4 – Dec 12, 2026. Here's what it means and how to observe it.
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Dec 4 – Dec 12, 2026
What it is
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is an eight-night Jewish holiday celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean revolt.
Origin
Commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days when only one day's supply remained, around 165 BCE.
How to observe
Light the menorah each night, add one candle per night. Play dreidel, eat fried foods (latkes, sufganiyot), and exchange gelt.
Hanukkah dates 2025–2030
- 2025Dec 14 – Dec 22, 2025
- 2026Dec 4 – Dec 12, 2026
- 2027Dec 24 – Jan 1, 2028
- 2028Dec 12 – Dec 20, 2028
Popular questions about Hanukkah
When is Hanukkah 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 is on Dec 4 – Dec 12, 2026.
Why does the date of Hanukkah change every year?
Commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days when only one day's supply remained, around 165 BCE.
How do people observe Hanukkah?
Light the menorah each night, add one candle per night. Play dreidel, eat fried foods (latkes, sufganiyot), and exchange gelt.
Is Hanukkah a public holiday?
Hanukkah is a major Jewish observance. Whether it is a public holiday depends on your country — in the US it is not federally recognized as a day off, but many Jewish schools and businesses close.