Hanukkah 2026: Dates, the Eight Nights and What Happens Each Evening
Mark your calendar: Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday 4 December and ends at nightfall on Saturday 12 December. That is 25 Kislev 5787 in the Hebrew calendar - and it means the very first candle shares its evening with Shabbat.
Why eight nights?
Hanukkah remembers the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees' victory, around 164 BCE. The story goes that only one small jar of pure oil was found - enough for a single day - yet the menorah burned for eight. That is why we light one more candle each night until all eight are glowing, plus the shamash, the helper candle used to light the others.
The eight nights of Hanukkah 2026
- Night 1 - Friday 4 December: light before the Shabbat candles, as Shabbat begins.
- Night 2 - Saturday 5 December: light after Shabbat ends (after Havdalah).
- Night 3 - Sunday 6 December
- Night 4 - Monday 7 December
- Night 5 - Tuesday 8 December
- Night 6 - Wednesday 9 December
- Night 7 - Thursday 10 December
- Night 8 - Friday 11 December: all eight candles, again before Shabbat.
Hanukkah itself ends on Saturday 12 December at nightfall.
How to light the menorah
Place the candles from right to left, one more each night. Light the shamash first, say the blessings, then light the newest candle first and move from left to right. Many families put the menorah in a window so passers-by can see the light - the whole point is to share it. Our printable dreidel rules are perfect for the time while the candles burn.
Food, games and a gift each night
Oil is the star of the season, so expect latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jam doughnuts). Kids spin the dreidel for chocolate coins, and many families give a small present each night. Looking for ideas? Browse our Hanukkah Gift Guide 2026 or the full Hanukkah gifts collection.
Shop the look
Eight nights, three ways to wear the countdown:
FAQ
+When does Hanukkah start in 2026?
At sundown on Friday 4 December 2026. The last candle is lit on Friday 11 December and the festival ends at nightfall on Saturday 12 December.
+Why is the first night different this year?
Because it falls on a Friday, the Hanukkah candles are lit before the Shabbat candles - once Shabbat has begun, no new flame is kindled.
+How many candles do I need?
44 in total: one per night growing from one to eight (36) plus a shamash each night (8).
