when is first day of hanukkah

The first day of Hanukkah in 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, 2026.

Key details

• Hanukkah starts at sundown , not at midnight, so the holiday’s first candle is lit on the evening of December 4, 2026.

• The festival then continues for eight nights, ending at nightfall on Saturday, December 12, 2026.

Quick calendar view

• First candle / first night: Friday evening, December 4, 2026.

• Last candle / eighth night: Friday evening, December 11, 2026, with the holiday concluding the next night, December 12, 2026.

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