Hanukkah 2026: A Complete Guide to the Festival of Lights

Eight nights, one menorah, a lot of oil - and more latkes than anyone planned for. Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, and in 2026 it falls in early December. This guide covers the dates, the story, how to light the menorah, what to eat, how to play dreidel and what to wear, so you are ready before the first candle.

When is Hanukkah 2026?

Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12. On the Hebrew calendar it always starts on the 25th of Kislev, which is why the secular date moves from year to year.

This year the first night falls on a Friday, which changes the order of the evening: Hanukkah candles are lit before the Shabbat candles, and they should be long enough to keep burning until well after dark. On Saturday night, the second candle is lit only after Shabbat has ended. The eighth and final candle is lit on Friday, December 11 - again before Shabbat.

The story behind the festival

Hanukkah means "dedication". It remembers the Maccabees, a small Jewish rebel group that fought the Seleucid Greek empire in the 2nd century BCE, took back Jerusalem and rededicated the Holy Temple. According to the Talmud, only one small jar of pure oil was found to relight the Temple menorah - enough for a single day - yet it burned for eight. That is why Hanukkah lasts eight nights, and why so much of the food is fried.

How to light the menorah

A Hanukkah menorah (also called a hanukkiah) has eight branches plus a ninth helper candle, the shamash. Each night you add one more candle:

• Place the candles from right to left, one more each night.
• Light the shamash first, then use it to light the candles from left to right - newest candle first.
• Two blessings are said every night; on the first night a third, the Shehecheyanu, is added.
• Put the menorah in a window or near the door, so the light can be seen from outside - that is the point: to publicise the miracle.

Dreidel: the game everyone cheats at

The dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side: nun, gimel, hei and shin - short for nes gadol haya sham, "a great miracle happened there". In Israel the last letter is a pe, for po: "here". Gimel wins the pot, hei takes half, nun does nothing, shin means you pay in. The stakes are usually chocolate coins, which explains the honesty levels. We have two designs for that: the Don't Be Suspicious Dreidel Pullover Hoodie and the I Cheat At Dreidel Classic Tee - pick the one that fits your strategy.

What to eat: the oil tradition

Because the miracle was about oil, Hanukkah food is fried. Latkes - crispy potato pancakes with apple sauce or sour cream - are the classic in many Ashkenazi homes. In Israel, bakeries fill their windows with sufganiyot, jam-filled doughnuts dusted with sugar, for weeks before the holiday. Add gelt, the chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil, and you have the full Hanukkah table.

What to wear to a Hanukkah party

Hanukkah is a joyful, informal holiday - a good time for clothes with a sense of humour. The My Ugly Hanukkah Sweater Sweatshirt is our answer to the ugly holiday sweater party (the whole story is in Ugly Hanukkah Sweater: The Holiday Joke Worth Wearing). For the dreidel crowd there is the I Cheat At Dreidel Pullover Hoodie, and for the family photo the Don't Be Suspicious Dreidel Youth Tee and the I Cheat At Dreidel Baby One Piece. Coordinating a whole family? Read Family Outfits for the Jewish Holidays. All designs: Hanukkah shirts and dreidel apparel.

Hanukkah gifts: one for each night?

Gift-giving is a newer Hanukkah custom, but it is here to stay - often one small gift per night, especially for children. Our Hanukkah Gift Guide 2026 has eight ideas for eight nights, Jewish Gifts Under $30 covers the budget end, and Hanukkah Gifts 2026: Jewish Shirts, Hoodies & Sweatshirts focuses on apparel. A simple classic: the I Cheat At Dreidel Mug filled with gelt.

If you order gifts, plan ahead: standard shipping typically takes 2-7 business days; expedited shipping may take up to 10 business days, and international orders may vary. For arrival before the first candle on December 4, order early.

Hanukkah or Chanukah?

Both. The Hebrew word starts with the letter chet, a throaty sound English does not have, so it is written Hanukkah, Chanukah, Hanukah and several other ways. None of them is wrong. For where the menorah comes from and how it is used in design today, see Jewish Symbols in Modern Design.

FAQ

When does Hanukkah start in 2026?

At sundown on Friday, December 4, 2026. It ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12.

Why does Hanukkah last eight days?

According to tradition, the oil found in the rededicated Temple was enough for one day but burned for eight.

In which order are the candles lit?

Candles are placed from right to left and lit from left to right, newest first, using the shamash.

What happens when Hanukkah starts on a Friday?

The Hanukkah candles are lit before the Shabbat candles on Friday, and on Saturday only after Shabbat has ended.

What do you say to someone on Hanukkah?

"Happy Hanukkah" or, in Hebrew, "Chag Sameach" - a happy holiday. "Chag Urim Sameach" means a happy Festival of Lights.