Christmas Eve countdown 2026
Christmas Eve 2026 is Thursday, December 24. As of October 19, 2026, there were 66 days to go.
Days until Christmas Eve 2026
It’s Christmas Eve!!
until Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 2026, at midnight in your time zoneTime zone: your device’s time zone
66 days until Christmas Eve (as of October 19, 2026).
Snow is off because your device asks for reduced motion.
Christmas Eve 2026 in every unit
Weekends, weekdays and Mondays count the full days after today and before Christmas Eve. Hours count from right now to midnight at the start of the day.
| Unit | Left |
|---|---|
| Days | 66 |
| Weeks | 9 weeks, 3 days |
| Sleeps (nights) | 66 |
| Weekends | 9 |
| Weekdays (Mon–Fri) | 47 |
| Mondays | 9 |
| Hours | 1,584 |
| Share of the year already gone | … |
Christmas Eve 2026 dates
- Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24, 2026
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25, 2026
- Advent Sunday: Sunday, November 29, 2026
Christmas Eve traditions around the world
- Germany: Heiligabend is the main family evening, and presents are usually given on Christmas Eve.
- Poland: Wigilia, the Christmas Eve supper, traditionally starts when the first star appears and is meat-free.
- Iceland: people give books on Christmas Eve and spend the evening reading, a custom called Jólabókaflóð, the “Christmas book flood”.
- Mexico: Nochebuena is celebrated with a late family dinner, and the Las Posadas processions end on December 24.
- The Philippines: families gather for Noche Buena, a midnight feast, often after the Misa de Gallo mass.
- Italian-American families: many serve the Feast of the Seven Fishes.
- North America: children follow NORAD Tracks Santa through the evening.
Same date worldwide, different midnights
Christmas Eve starts at local midnight, so the first places to reach it are at UTC+14 and the last are in the central Pacific.
| Place | UTC offset that day | Midnight in UTC | Your local time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiritimati, Kiribati | UTC+14 | Dec 23, 10:00 UTC | Dec 23, 10:00 UTC |
| Auckland, New Zealand | UTC+13 | Dec 23, 11:00 UTC | Dec 23, 11:00 UTC |
| Sydney, Australia | UTC+11 | Dec 23, 13:00 UTC | Dec 23, 13:00 UTC |
| Tokyo, Japan | UTC+9 | Dec 23, 15:00 UTC | Dec 23, 15:00 UTC |
| London, United Kingdom | UTC+0 | Dec 24, 00:00 UTC | Dec 24, 00:00 UTC |
| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | UTC−3 | Dec 24, 03:00 UTC | Dec 24, 03:00 UTC |
| New York, USA | UTC−5 | Dec 24, 05:00 UTC | Dec 24, 05:00 UTC |
| Los Angeles, USA | UTC−8 | Dec 24, 08:00 UTC | Dec 24, 08:00 UTC |
| Honolulu, Hawaii | UTC−10 | Dec 24, 10:00 UTC | Dec 24, 10:00 UTC |
| Pago Pago, American Samoa | UTC−11 | Dec 24, 11:00 UTC | Dec 24, 11:00 UTC |
Offsets are worked out for that exact date, including daylight saving time. The last column shows the same moment in your own time zone.
Christmas Eve checklist
- Check opening hours: many shops close early on December 24.
- Wrap the last presents and hide them well.
- Prepare anything for Christmas Day that can be made ahead.
- Set out stockings, and a snack for Santa if that is your tradition.
Next holidays
Frequently asked questions
When is Christmas Eve 2026?
Christmas Eve 2026 is Thursday, December 24, 2026. As of October 19, 2026, it was 66 days away.
Does this countdown end at midnight on December 24 or 25?
It ends at midnight at the start of December 24, when Christmas Eve begins. For the countdown to Christmas Day, use the home page.
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday?
It depends on the country. In some countries it is a full or half holiday, in others a normal working day. Check your local public holiday list.
Which countries open presents on Christmas Eve?
In Germany, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and several other European and Latin American countries, many families open presents on Christmas Eve rather than on Christmas morning.
What is NORAD Tracks Santa?
Every Christmas Eve, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) runs a Santa tracker for children. The tradition began in 1955 after a newspaper advert printed the wrong phone number.
What time does Christmas Eve start around the world?
It starts at local midnight in each place, so it begins first at UTC+14 and last in the central Pacific. The table above shows the moments in several cities.
What is the Feast of the Seven Fishes?
It is an Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition of serving several fish and seafood dishes, linked to the Catholic custom of not eating meat on the eve of a feast day.
What happens after Christmas Eve?
The page celebrates for the whole of Christmas Eve and then counts down to Christmas Eve 2027.
Updated