Countdown
How many days until Yom Kippur?
🕯️ Monday, September 21, 2026
50 days until Yom Kippur
About Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism, a day devoted to fasting, prayer, and reflection intended to seek forgiveness and repentance. It falls on the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, exactly nine days after Rosh Hashanah, which is why the two holidays always shift together on the Gregorian calendar in step with one another. Its date varies each year because it is set by the lunisolar Hebrew calendar, which follows lunar months while periodically inserting a leap month to remain roughly aligned with the solar year, keeping the holiday within a consistent range of late September to early October rather than drifting through all seasons. Observant Jews traditionally abstain from food and drink for roughly twenty-five hours, from before sunset until nightfall the following day, and spend much of that time in synagogue services, including a distinctive evening prayer recited at the start of the observance. The day is regarded as a time for sincere personal and communal reflection on the past year's actions, and many workplaces and public life in Israel slow considerably or pause entirely during the holiday. A common misconception is that Yom Kippur is primarily a mournful or somber occasion in an unrelieved sense; while it is solemn and involves fasting, Jewish tradition also frames the day as one of spiritual renewal and hope, with the day's conclusion, marked by the sounding of the shofar, often experienced as a moment of relief and completion rather than only solemnity.
Quick facts
- Yom Kippur always falls exactly nine days after Rosh Hashanah, so the two holidays move together on the Gregorian calendar from year to year.
- The fast observed on Yom Kippur lasts roughly twenty-five hours, beginning before sunset and continuing until nightfall the following day.
- Despite its solemn, fasting-centered character, Jewish tradition also frames the day as one of spiritual renewal, and its conclusion is often marked with a sense of relief rather than only solemnity.
Frequently asked questions
- Why does Yom Kippur fall on a different date each year?
- It follows the lunisolar Hebrew calendar and always falls nine days after Rosh Hashanah, whose own date shifts within a range each year.
- How long is the Yom Kippur fast?
- It lasts roughly twenty-five hours, from before sunset until nightfall the following day.
- How many days until Yom Kippur?
- Check the countdown above for the exact number of days remaining until the next Yom Kippur.
Upcoming Yom Kippur dates
- Mon, Sep 21, 2026 (next)
- Mon, Oct 11, 2027
- Sat, Sep 30, 2028
- Wed, Sep 19, 2029
Dates on this page are checked against public calendar sources. Spot something wrong? Let us know.