The autumn equinox in 2026 occurs on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 , at 8:05 p.m. EDT (which is 00:05 UTC on Wednesday, September 23, 2026).

What the autumn equinox means

  • In the Northern Hemisphere , this moment marks the astronomical start of autumn and the end of summer.
  • In the Southern Hemisphere , the same equinox marks the start of spring.
  • On the equinox, day and night are roughly equal in length everywhere on Earth, though not exactly 12 hours due to atmospheric refraction and how sunrise/sunset are defined.

Quick date reference (Northern Hemisphere)

Here’s a compact view of the 2026 autumn equinox:

Event Date (local) Time (local) Time (UTC)
Autumn equinox 2026 (Northern Hemisphere) Tuesday, September 22, 2026 8:05 p.m. EDT (New York) 00:05 UTC, Wednesday, September 23, 2026

If you tell me your city or time zone, I can convert the exact moment to your local clock.