Christmas 2026 falls on Friday, December 25, 2026. It is always on December 25, and in the United States it is a federal holiday, so most offices, banks and schools close.
Christmas 2026 at a glance
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2026
- Christmas Eve: the day before, December 24
- First Sunday of Advent: the fourth Sunday before Christmas (Sunday, November 29, 2026)
- Boxing Day (UK, Canada, Australia): December 26
- Federal holiday (US): yes. When December 25 falls on a Saturday, the holiday is observed on Friday; when it falls on a Sunday, it is observed on Monday.
How to read this countdown
The big timer shows the exact time left until 12:00 AM on December 25 in the time zone your device is set to. A few extra numbers help with planning:
- Sleeps: the number of nights left, which is the count most kids care about. If Christmas is tomorrow, there is one sleep left.
- Weekends left: the Saturdays remaining before Christmas. That is a realistic count of the free days you have for shopping, decorating and baking.
- Workdays left: Monday–Friday days before the holiday, handy for planning deadlines, office parties and time off.
- Fridays left: a quick way to count paydays before Christmas if you are paid weekly, which helps with gift budgets.
A simple Christmas planning timeline
Most stress around Christmas comes from leaving everything to the last two weeks. Use the countdown as a checklist:
| Time left | What to do |
|---|---|
| 8–10 weeks | Set a gift budget, make a list, book travel and hotels while prices are lower. |
| 6–8 weeks | Order personalized or handmade gifts; Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals land here. |
| 4 weeks | Decorate, send cards overseas, plan the Christmas dinner menu. |
| 2–3 weeks | Check each carrier's holiday shipping deadlines and place your final online orders. |
| 1 week | Wrap gifts, buy fresh groceries, confirm who is coming and when. |
| 1–2 days | Christmas Eve prep: stockings, table setting, and one quiet evening. |
Shipping cut-off dates change every year and differ by carrier and service. Always check the carrier's own holiday schedule.
Why is Christmas on December 25?
The Bible does not give a date for the birth of Jesus. By the fourth century, the church in Rome was celebrating it on December 25. The date is often linked to the winter solstice and to Roman midwinter festivals, though historians still debate exactly why it was chosen. Most Eastern Orthodox churches that follow the Julian calendar celebrate Christmas on January 7 in the Gregorian calendar.
In the United States, Christmas became a federal holiday in 1870. Today it is both a religious holiday and a cultural one, marked by gift giving, family meals, decorated trees and time off work.
Christmas dates for upcoming years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday, December 25, 2026 | Friday |
| 2027 | Saturday, December 25, 2027 | Saturday |
| 2028 | Monday, December 25, 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | Tuesday, December 25, 2029 | Tuesday |
| 2030 | Wednesday, December 25, 2030 | Wednesday |
| 2031 | Thursday, December 25, 2031 | Thursday |
How many days until Christmas from other dates?
Counting from the start of each date to the start of Christmas 2026 (Friday, December 25, 2026):
| From | Date | Days until Christmas |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Eve | Thursday, December 24, 2026 | 1 day |
| First Day of Winter | Monday, December 21, 2026 | 4 days |
| Hanukkah | Friday, December 4, 2026 | 21 days (3 weeks) |
| 1st of December | Tuesday, December 1, 2026 | 24 days (3 weeks, 3 days) |
| Cyber Monday | Monday, November 30, 2026 | 25 days (3 weeks, 4 days) |
| Black Friday | Friday, November 27, 2026 | 28 days (4 weeks) |
| Thanksgiving | Thursday, November 26, 2026 | 29 days (4 weeks, 1 day) |
| New Year's Day 2026 | Thursday, January 1, 2026 | 358 days (51 weeks, 1 day) |
Need a different start date? Count the days from any date to Christmas.
Christmas quick facts
- Christmas Day falls on the same date every year, December 25, but the weekday moves forward by one day each year (two after a leap day).
- The first Sunday of Advent always falls between November 27 and December 3.
- In many Eastern Orthodox countries, Christmas is celebrated on January 7.
- The twelve days of Christmas run from December 25 to January 5, ending on Twelfth Night.
Plan around Christmas
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Frequently asked questions
How many shopping days until Christmas?
Every day is a shopping day online, but for in-store trips the countdown shows the weekends left (most people's main shopping days) and the workdays left. Most stores are also open on weekday evenings and on Christmas Eve, usually with shorter hours.
How many sleeps until Christmas?
The number of sleeps is the number of nights left before Christmas morning. The countdown above shows it live; if today is Christmas Eve, there is one sleep left.
What day of the week is Christmas 2026?
Christmas 2026 is on a Friday (Friday, December 25, 2026).
Is Christmas a federal holiday in the US?
Yes. Christmas Day has been a federal holiday since 1870. If December 25 is a Saturday, federal workers get Friday off; if it is a Sunday, they get Monday off.
How many weeks until Christmas?
Divide the days left by seven. The live counter above shows the weeks and extra days for you, updated every second.
When does the Christmas season start?
For many people it starts after Thanksgiving in the US. In the church calendar, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and the Christmas season lasts until Epiphany on January 6.
How long until Christmas 2026?
Christmas 2026 is on Friday, December 25, 2026. The live countdown at the top of this page shows exactly how much time is left in days, hours, minutes and seconds, updated every second in your local time zone.
When is Christmas 2027?
After 2026, the next Christmas is on Saturday, December 25, 2027. See the table on this page for more upcoming dates.
Does this Christmas countdown use my time zone?
Yes. The countdown runs to 12:00 AM on Christmas in the time zone set on your phone or computer, so the numbers are right wherever you are.
Sources
More countdowns like Christmas
Christmas Eve
December 24, 2026New Year
January 1, 2027Hanukkah
December 4, 2026Black Friday
November 27, 2026First Day of Winter
December 21, 2026Thanksgiving
November 26, 2026Last reviewed: Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The countdown uses your device's clock and time zone. How we get our dates.