The winter solstice falls on Monday, December 21, 2026, the shortest day and longest night of the year. From then on, the days get longer. Toronto marks it in several ways.
Kensington Market Winter Solstice Festival
Kensington Market’s festival is one of Toronto’s most beloved alternative holiday events, with a lantern procession, performers, fire and drumming through the market’s streets on the solstice evening. Full guide
Solstice walks
Nature organisations and venues sometimes hold solstice walks. In 2025, Evergreen Brick Works offered a winter solstice walk at its market. See also winter hikes.
How short is the day?
Toronto gets about 9 hours of daylight on the solstice, with sunset around 4:45 p.m.
Why the solstice matters
The winter solstice is the moment when the North Pole is tilted farthest from the sun, giving the Northern Hemisphere its shortest day and longest night. For thousands of years, people have marked it with festivals of light and fire, celebrating the promise that the days will start to lengthen again. Many winter traditions, from Yule logs to evergreen decorations and candles, have roots in solstice celebrations.
Solstice traditions around the world
- Yule in northern Europe, with bonfires, feasts and evergreen decorations.
- Dongzhi in China and other East Asian communities, a family festival with tangyuan (sweet rice balls) or dumplings, celebrated by many Toronto families.
- Yalda Night (Shab-e Yalda) in Iranian culture, when families stay up late eating pomegranates and watermelon and reading poetry. Toronto’s large Iranian community celebrates, especially in North York and Richmond Hill.
- Indigenous ceremonies across North America that honour the return of the light.
Ways to celebrate in Toronto
- Join the Kensington Market lantern festival on the solstice evening. Kensington Market Winter Solstice
- Take a sunset walk to watch the shortest day end, from the Scarborough Bluffs, the Toronto Islands ferry or the waterfront.
- Light a candle or a fire at home to welcome back the light.
- Make tangyuan or share pomegranates with family and friends.
- Watch the next morning’s sunrise from the waterfront.
Sunrise and sunset on the solstice
In Toronto, the sun rises around 7:45 a.m. and sets around 4:45 p.m. on the solstice, giving about nine hours of daylight. From then on, each day gets a little longer.
Winter solstice: FAQ
When is the winter solstice in 2026? Monday, December 21, 2026.
Is the Kensington Market Winter Solstice Festival free? Yes, it’s a free community event.
More: holiday traditions in Toronto
Mark it at home
- Light candles or a fire to welcome back the light.
- Make lanterns with kids.
- Watch the sunrise the next morning from the waterfront or the Scarborough Bluffs.
1 Comment
Pingback: 50 Christmas Things to Do in Toronto (2026)