Hanukkah 2026: December 4–12, the Candle-Lighting Schedule and the Two Fridays

Hanukkah is eight nights of lighting at the right time, and this year the calendar adds a twist. Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, so the first night and the eighth night both fall on a Friday, when the candles are lit before sundown rather than after. Here's the full schedule and a simple way to keep track of it.

Hanukkah 2026 dates

• Begins: at sundown on Friday, December 4, 2026 (25 Kislev 5787)
• Ends: at nightfall on Saturday, December 12, 2026

Jewish days start at sundown, so the first candle is lit on the evening of December 4, and the eighth on the evening of December 11.

Night-by-night candle schedule

Dates and timings below are from Hebcal:

• Night 1: Friday, December 4: 1 candle, before sundown (Shabbat begins)
• Night 2: Saturday, December 5: 2 candles, after nightfall (once Shabbat ends)
• Night 3: Sunday, December 6: 3 candles, at dusk
• Night 4: Monday, December 7: 4 candles, at dusk
• Night 5: Tuesday, December 8: 5 candles, at dusk
• Night 6: Wednesday, December 9: 6 candles, at dusk
• Night 7: Thursday, December 10: 7 candles, at dusk
• Night 8: Friday, December 11: 8 candles, before sundown (Shabbat begins)

Each night you also light the shamash, the helper candle used to light the others. The exact time of dusk and sundown depends on where you live, so check a local calendar such as Hebcal or your synagogue's for your city.

Why the Fridays and the Saturday are different

Candles can't be lit once Shabbat has begun, so on Friday, December 4 and Friday, December 11 the Hanukkah candles are lit before sundown. The common custom is to light them before the Shabbat candles, and to use candles (or enough oil) that will burn until well after nightfall, since the usual small Hanukkah candles may not last that long.

On Saturday, December 5, you wait until Shabbat is over at nightfall. Customs differ on whether Havdalah or the Hanukkah candles come first. If you're not sure what your family or community does, ask your rabbi.

These are the nights when the usual "light when it gets dark" routine catches people out, so they're the ones most worth a reminder.

Other things to plan

• Candles: a standard box has 44 candles, the exact number for eight nights including the shamash. Friday nights may need longer candles.
• Gifts and food: if you're hosting on a weekday night, plan latkes and sufganiyot shopping ahead.
• Family far away: a set time to video-call grandparents or children for the lighting each night helps everyone light together.

Common questions

When is Hanukkah 2026? From sundown on Friday, December 4, 2026 to nightfall on Saturday, December 12, 2026.

When is the first candle lit in 2026? On Friday evening, December 4, before sundown, because Shabbat begins that night.

When is the last candle lit? The eighth candle is lit on Friday, December 11, also before sundown.

What time should I light the Hanukkah candles? Usually at dusk or nightfall. On Fridays, before sundown; on Saturday, after Shabbat ends. Times vary by location, so check a local calendar.

How many candles do I need for Hanukkah? 44 in total: 36 for the eight nights plus one shamash each night.

How ReminderIt helps

ReminderIt can ring your phone at the time you choose, with a natural voice reading your reminder, plus a WhatsApp message with Done and Snooze. If you miss the call, it tries once more about 5 minutes later. That's useful on the two Fridays, when lighting has to happen earlier than usual.

Set it up by messaging on WhatsApp in plain words, for example "Remind me at 3:45pm on December 4 and December 11 to light the Hanukkah candles before Shabbat" or "Remind me at 5pm every day from December 6 to December 10 to light the candles". You can also set the same reminders for a parent or grandparent. There's no app to install, and there's a 7-day free trial with no card. After that it's $7 a month.

Message ReminderIt on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/14786061901 and set your Hanukkah reminders now. Chag sameach.