How Many Days Until Christmas 2026?
Today is Monday, October 19, 2026. Christmas is 67 days away, on Friday, December 25, 2026. You have 9 weeks and 4 days left, with 9 weekends to get ready.
- 9 weeks
- 67 sleeps
- 48 weekdays
- 9 weekends
Christmas Eve: 66 days away
Today's tip: Start a list of gift ideas on your phone as you hear them.
Last updated: · Counted in US Eastern Time, then adjusted to your time zone.
Christmas 2026 Countdown at a Glance
Christmas 2026 is 67 days away. That is 9 weeks and 4 days, or about 2 months and 6 days. Pick the unit you like best. Kids often count sleeps, while planners count weeks and weekends.
Fun stat: You could watch a two-hour Christmas movie 796 times back to back before Christmas.
Christmas fact of the day: Christmas moves one weekday later each year, and two days later after a leap day.
Hours, minutes and seconds tick down live on this page. Right now there are about 1,593 hours or 95,632 minutes until Christmas. A fortnight is two weeks, so you have 4 fortnights and 11 days left.
How Many Weekdays Are Left Until Christmas?
There are 48 weekdays (Monday to Friday) and 9 weekends left until Christmas. We count the full days between today and Christmas Day, not counting the day itself. That means today and December 25 are left out.
Working days left matter if you need to finish projects or take time off. You have 9 Mondays and 9 Fridays to go. Public holidays such as Thanksgiving are still counted here, so check your own work calendar.
When Is Christmas 2026?
Christmas 2026 is on Friday, December 25, 2026. Christmas Day is always on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar, the calendar most of the world uses. The day of the week changes every year.
What Day of the Week Is Christmas 2026?
Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday. Christmas Eve is on Thursday, December 24, and Boxing Day is on Saturday, December 26. In 2027, Christmas moves to a Saturday.
Christmas on a Friday: Do You Get a Long Weekend?
Yes. A Friday Christmas gives most people in the US a three-day weekend, from Friday to Sunday. In the UK, Boxing Day lands on a Saturday, so the bank holiday moves to Monday, December 28. That makes a four-day weekend for many UK workers.
New Year’s Day 2027 is also a Friday, so you get a second long weekend one week later. This is a good year to book travel early. Check school dates and store opening hours before you plan, as they vary by area.
Christmas Dates 2024–2030
Christmas moves one weekday later each year. After a leap year, it jumps two days. Here is the day of the week for each year:
| Year | Christmas Eve (Dec 24) | Christmas Day (Dec 25) | Boxing Day (Dec 26) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
| 2025 | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 2026 | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 2027 | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| 2028 | Sunday | Monday | Tuesday |
| 2029 | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday |
| 2030 | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
Some Orthodox churches still use the older Julian calendar. For them, Christmas falls on January 7 in the Gregorian calendar.
Christmas 2026 Key Dates
The Christmas season starts with Thanksgiving on November 26 and Advent on November 29, 2026. It ends with Epiphany on January 6, 2027. Each date below shows how many days are left.
- Thanksgiving (US)Many families start Christmas shopping and decorating the next day.38 days
- First Sunday of AdventAdvent starts four Sundays before Christmas. Light the first Advent candle.41 days
- Advent calendars startMost Advent calendars have 24 doors, from December 1 to December 24.43 days
- Hanukkah begins (evening)The Jewish Festival of Lights lasts eight nights.46 days
- Saint Nicholas EveIn parts of Europe, children leave shoes out for small treats.47 days
- Saint Nicholas DayA feast day for the saint who inspired Santa Claus.48 days
- National Cocoa Day (US)A good excuse for hot chocolate.55 days
- December solsticeThe shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.63 days
- Christmas EveNORAD Tracks Santa goes live. Many families open one gift tonight.66 days
- Christmas DayThe big day. The first of the Twelve Days of Christmas.67 days
- Boxing Day (UK, Canada, Australia)A public holiday in many Commonwealth countries.68 days
- New Year's EveThe last night of the year.73 days
- New Year's DayA public holiday almost everywhere.74 days
- Twelfth NightMany people take Christmas decorations down tonight or tomorrow.78 days
- Epiphany (Three Kings Day)Celebrated with gifts and king cake in Spain and Latin America.79 days
- Orthodox ChristmasChurches using the Julian calendar celebrate Christmas on January 7.80 days
Add key dates to your calendar (.ics)
The Twelve Days of Christmas run from December 25 to January 5. Many people take their decorations down on Twelfth Night or on Epiphany. Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, and lasts eight nights.
Christmas Shipping Deadlines 2026 (US)
The last day to ship with USPS Ground Advantage for Christmas 2026 is Thursday, December 17. USPS Priority Mail Express is the last USPS choice, on Saturday, December 19. FedEx Overnight runs until Wednesday, December 23.
USPS US
- USPS Ground Advantage 59 days
- USPS First-Class Mail 59 days
- USPS Priority Mail 60 days
- USPS Priority Mail Express 61 days
FedEx US
- FedEx Ground Economy 57 days
- FedEx Ground / Home Delivery (5-day lane) 59 days
- FedEx Express Saver 63 days
- FedEx 2Day 64 days
- FedEx Overnight 65 days
UPS US
- UPS Ground est. 58 days
- UPS 3 Day Select est. 63 days
- UPS 2nd Day Air est. 64 days
- UPS Next Day Air est. 65 days
UPS has not posted its 2026 ship-by list yet. These are our estimates from past years.
Amazon US
- Amazon standard and Prime shippingNot announced yet
Amazon shows a delivery date on each item. Order early: last-minute Prime dates differ by item and ZIP code.
UK Last Posting Dates for Christmas 2026
Royal Mail 2nd Class closes on Friday, December 18, and 1st Class on Monday, December 21. Special Delivery Guaranteed is the last option, on Wednesday, December 23.
Royal Mail UK
- Royal Mail 2nd Class 60 days
- Royal Mail Tracked 48 61 days
- Royal Mail 1st Class 63 days
- Royal Mail Tracked 24 63 days
- Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed 65 days
Parcelforce UK
- Parcelforce express24 and express48Not announced yet
Parcelforce usually posts dates in November. Check parcelforce.com before you send.
These are the carriers’ recommended send-by dates for delivery before Christmas, checked on October 19, 2026. Dates marked “est.” are our estimates. Carriers can change dates, so always confirm on the official page. Ship a few days early to be safe.
How Many Days Until Christmas Eve?
Christmas Eve 2026 is 66 days away, on Thursday, December 24. Here is the live Christmas Eve countdown to midnight on December 24:
On Christmas Eve, NORAD Tracks Santa goes live. NORAD has followed Santa’s journey every year since 1955. The Google Santa Tracker also shows his route around the world.
Christmas Eve vs. Christmas Day
Christmas Eve is the night before Christmas, on December 24. In Germany it is called Heiligabend. In Germany and many other European countries, it is the main night for opening gifts. In the US and UK, most families open gifts on Christmas morning, December 25.
Many churches hold candlelight services on Christmas Eve. Some families open one gift that night and save the rest for the morning.
How Many Sleeps Until Christmas?
There are 67 sleeps until Christmas. Each moon below is one night. On December 24 there is just one sleep left before Santa comes.
Kids find sleeps easier than days. A sleep is one bedtime, so naps don’t count! Try crossing off a moon on our printable chart each night to make bedtime fun.
How Does This Countdown Work?
We count calendar days from today to Christmas Day. Today is not counted, but December 25 is. So on Oct 19, 2026, Christmas is 67 days away.
- The live timer counts down to midnight on December 25 in your local time zone. It updates every second.
- Because the timer stops at midnight, it can show one day fewer than the day count. Both are correct.
- The number in the page is set in US Eastern Time and refreshes at midnight. Your browser then adjusts it to your device clock.
- Daylight Saving Time and leap years are handled for you.
- After Christmas Day, the countdown resets and starts counting to next Christmas.
Want the full details? Read How We Count.
Your Christmas Countdown Checklist
With 9 weeks and 4 days left, you have time to plan Christmas without stress. Use this week-by-week list. Tick off one card at a time.
8+ Weeks Before: Budget and Gift List
- Set a holiday budget for gifts, food and travel.
- Write a gift list with a price next to each name.
- Start saving a set amount each payday.
- Order custom or handmade gifts now.
4–6 Weeks Before: Online Orders and Travel
- Buy most gifts online while stock is good.
- Book flights, trains and hotels.
- Plan Secret Santa or White Elephant swaps.
- Buy Christmas cards and stamps.
2 Weeks Before: Shipping and Decorations
- Mail gifts before the USPS and Royal Mail deadlines.
- Send Christmas cards.
- Put up the tree, lights and decorations.
- Plan your Christmas dinner menu.
Final Week: Food and Wrapping
- Order or buy the turkey or roast.
- Wrap a few gifts each night.
- Buy batteries, tape and gift tags.
- Pick up last-minute gifts in a local store.
Plan Your Gift Budget
Spread the cost of Christmas across your paychecks. Enter your budget below. The calculator uses the 67 days left.
What Are Easy Ways to Count Down at Home?
The easiest way to count down to Christmas at home is an Advent calendar. It starts on December 1 and has 24 doors. Here are more simple ideas for kids and families:
Paper chain
Make a chain with one link for each day. Tear off a link every night. Our printable has 24 ready-made strips.
Advent calendar
Open one door each day from December 1. Fill a homemade one with notes, small treats or jokes.
One movie a week
Pick a Christmas movie for each weekend left. Make popcorn and a cozy blanket part of the plan.
Storybook countdown
Wrap 24 books, old or new. Unwrap and read one at bedtime each night in December.
Kindness calendar
Do one kind thing each day, like baking for a neighbor or donating a toy.
Christmas quiz night
Test the family with Christmas trivia. Use our daily fact of the day for questions.
Some families also use Elf on the Shelf, where a toy elf “moves” to a new spot each night. Pick the ideas that fit your home and time.
How Do Other Countries Celebrate Christmas?
Christmas traditions change from country to country. Germany is famous for Christmas markets, while Japan has a popular fried chicken dinner. Orthodox Christians in Russia and Serbia celebrate on January 7.
- Germany and Austria: Christmas markets fill town squares in Advent. Families open gifts on Heiligabend, December 24.
- United Kingdom: People pull Christmas crackers at dinner and watch the King’s Christmas message. Boxing Day on December 26 is a public holiday.
- United States: Many families hang stockings and open gifts on Christmas morning. Lights and tree lightings are big events.
- Mexico: Las Posadas parades run each night from December 16 to 24.
- Japan: Christmas is not a public holiday, but couples go out and families share a Christmas cake.
- Slovenia: Advent markets and lights turn towns like Ljubljana into a winter fair.
- Russia and Serbia: Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on January 7.
- Spain and Latin America: Three Kings Day on January 6 is the main gift day for many children.
- Kiribati and New Zealand: These Pacific nations are among the first places to reach Christmas each year.
Christmas Has Arrived In…
Christmas reaches Kiritimati in Kiribati first, at UTC+14. It reaches American Samoa last. On December 24 and 25, watch the list fill up live:
Christmas has arrived in 0 of 19 places on our list.
- Kiritimati, KiribatiStarts Dec 24, 5:00 am ET
- Auckland, New ZealandStarts Dec 24, 6:00 am ET
- Sydney, AustraliaStarts Dec 24, 8:00 am ET
- Tokyo, JapanStarts Dec 24, 10:00 am ET
- Manila, PhilippinesStarts Dec 24, 11:00 am ET
- New Delhi, IndiaStarts Dec 24, 1:30 pm ET
- Karachi, PakistanStarts Dec 24, 2:00 pm ET
- Dubai, UAEStarts Dec 24, 3:00 pm ET
- Nairobi, KenyaStarts Dec 24, 4:00 pm ET
- Berlin, GermanyStarts Dec 24, 6:00 pm ET
- London, UKStarts Dec 24, 7:00 pm ET
- Rio de Janeiro, BrazilStarts Dec 24, 10:00 pm ET
- New York, USAStarts Dec 25, 12:00 am ET
- Chicago, USAStarts Dec 25, 1:00 am ET
- Denver, USAStarts Dec 25, 2:00 am ET
- Los Angeles, USAStarts Dec 25, 3:00 am ET
- Anchorage, AlaskaStarts Dec 25, 4:00 am ET
- Honolulu, HawaiiStarts Dec 25, 5:00 am ET
- Pago Pago, American SamoaStarts Dec 25, 6:00 am ET
Add This Christmas Countdown to Your Website
You can add a free Christmas countdown widget to any website, blog or school page. There is no signup. Pick a style, copy the code and paste it into your page.
The widget is free for personal, school, church and business sites. Please keep the small “Powered by daysleft.christmas” link. Need help? Contact us.
Printable Christmas Countdown for Kids
Our free printable Christmas countdown has three pages: a December calendar, a 24-link paper chain and a sleeps chart. Print it at home or in class, or save it as a PDF.
Print it on Letter or A4 paper. You get a December calendar to color in, a paper chain with 24 links, and a "sleeps" chart for the fridge.
Download printable (PDF / print)
Tip: in the print window, choose "Save as PDF" to keep a copy.
Teachers can use Classroom Mode to show a big, full-screen countdown on the board. Use it to count the days until the school Christmas break. School break dates vary, so check your school calendar.
More Christmas Countdowns
Looking for another holiday? Here are the next big dates, with days left for each. Christmas 2027 is on Saturday, December 25, 2027.
Make Your Own Countdown
Counting down to a flight home, a party or a family dinner? Make your own countdown and share the link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common Christmas countdown questions. The numbers update every day.
How many days until Christmas 2026?
There are 67 days until Christmas 2026. Christmas Day is Friday, December 25, 2026.
What day of the week is Christmas 2026?
Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday. Christmas Eve is on Thursday, December 24.
How many weeks until Christmas?
Christmas is 9 weeks and 4 days away. That is about 9.6 weeks.
How many sleeps until Christmas?
There are 67 sleeps until Christmas morning. On Christmas Eve, there is just one sleep left.
How many weekdays and weekends until Christmas?
There are 48 weekdays and 9 weekends left before Christmas. We count the days between today and December 25.
How many shopping days until Christmas?
There are 57 shopping days left, counting Monday to Saturday up to Christmas Eve. Check the shipping deadlines if you shop online.
When is Christmas Eve 2026?
Christmas Eve 2026 is on Thursday, December 24. It is 66 days away.
When does Advent start in 2026?
Advent starts on Sunday, November 29, 2026. Most Advent calendars start on December 1.
Is Christmas always on December 25?
Yes, in the Gregorian calendar Christmas is always December 25. Many Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar and celebrate on January 7.
Does the countdown include today?
No. We count from today to Christmas, so today is not counted but Christmas Day is. The live timer counts to midnight, so it can show one day fewer.
Is the countdown accurate to my time zone?
Yes. The live timer uses your device time zone and counts to midnight on December 25 where you are. You can change the time zone in Settings.
When does the countdown reset for next Christmas?
The countdown resets at midnight after Christmas Day. On December 26, it starts counting to Christmas 2027.