Hanukkah 2026
Hanukkah 2026 dates and candle lighting, night by night
Short answer: Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 4 and runs eight nights to nightfall on Saturday, Dec. 12. Light one candle the first night and add one each night. Both Fridays, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11, light the menorah before the Shabbat candles; light Saturday's after Shabbat ends.
Disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It costs you nothing extra and doesn’t change what we recommend. We don’t show prices because they change; each button opens the live price. Details.
Hanukkah starts earlier than many people expect in 2026: the first candle is on Friday, Dec. 4, at the start of Shabbat, and the eighth is on Friday, Dec. 11, at the start of the next Shabbat. That makes the first and last nights different from the middle six.
The eight nights, with dates
The lights are lit in the evening that begins each day, so the first night is the evening of Dec. 4. Dates and the Hebrew calendar are from Chabad.org's 2026 guide. The three time columns are from Hebcal for New York, Los Angeles and Chicago: the Shabbat candle-lighting time on the Fridays, the Havdalah time on Saturday, and Hebcal's listed lighting time on the other nights.
| Night | Evening of | Candles | New York | Los Angeles | Chicago | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri, Dec. 4 | 1 | 4:10 p.m. | 4:25 p.m. | 4:01 p.m. | Light before Shabbat candles; three blessings |
| 2 | Sat, Dec. 5 | 2 | 5:19 p.m. | 5:33 p.m. | 5:10 p.m. | After Shabbat ends and Havdalah |
| 3 | Sun, Dec. 6 | 3 | 4:52 p.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. | |
| 4 | Mon, Dec. 7 | 4 | 4:52 p.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. | |
| 5 | Tue, Dec. 8 | 5 | 4:52 p.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. | |
| 6 | Wed, Dec. 9 | 6 | 4:52 p.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. | |
| 7 | Thu, Dec. 10 | 7 | 4:52 p.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 4:44 p.m. | |
| 8 | Fri, Dec. 11 | 8 | 4:10 p.m. | 4:26 p.m. | 4:01 p.m. | Light before Shabbat candles |
Times for your own town are on Hebcal's Chanukah page; these cities are only examples, and customs differ on whether to light at sunset or at nightfall.
How to light: right to left, left to right
Chabad's instructions, which are the standard ones, are:
- Set the candles in a straight row of equal height, with the shamash apart from the row.
- On the first night, place one candle at the right end. Each night, add a new candle to its left.
- Light the newest candle (the leftmost) first, and move to the right.
- Say two blessings (three on the first night) before lighting.
- After lighting, it is customary to sit by the lights for the first half hour and tell stories. Do not use the menorah's light to work by.
The two Fridays
On Friday, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 there are two deadlines, and the Hanukkah lights come first. Chabad says to light the menorah before the Shabbat candles, which are lit 18 minutes before sundown. The Friday lights must hold enough fuel to burn until half an hour after nightfall, so standard 30-minute candles will not do: use larger candles or oil. Once the Shabbat candles are lit, the menorah is not relit, moved or prepared until Shabbat ends.
So on Friday night, set up the menorah before sunset, and have the dinner mostly done before then.
Saturday night
Dec. 5 is the second night, and it is lit only after Shabbat ends and Havdalah is said. In 2026 that is about 5:19 p.m. in New York per Hebcal. Have the candles in place and the lighter nearby so the family can light as soon as Havdalah is done.
Where to put the menorah, and safety
Chabad notes that many put the menorah in a doorway or a windowsill facing the street. Whichever you choose, use a sturdy, fireproof surface, away from curtains and out of children's reach. A tray under the menorah catches wax. Never leave burning candles unattended while the family is out.
Before the first night
- Buy candles: 44 for eight nights, plus longer ones for the Fridays.
- Set up the menorah somewhere not near a curtain or a draft.
- If you give gifts, see the eight-night kids plan.
- If you cook, the latke timeline shows how to fit dinner around Friday's early lighting.
What you need to light eight nights safely
Four things. The candles and the menorah are essential; the tray and lighter are the safety items most households forget.
-
Ner Mitzvah Hanukkah candles, blue and whiteOur pick
A box of 44 covers eight nights: 36 candles across the nights plus 8 for the shamash (the helper candle). Friday needs longer burning candles, since the lights must last at least half an hour after nightfall.
- Look for:
- A box of 44, with a stated burn time. Buy a second box or an oil kit for the Fridays.
- Best for:
- Every household that lights a menorah.
- Skip if:
- Skip if you light with oil.
Check price on AmazonOpens Amazon search results -
Silver-plated geometric Hanukkah menorah
Nine holders in a straight row of equal height, with the shamash set apart or higher, is the traditional layout Chabad describes.
- Look for:
- A stable base, holders that fit standard candles, and enough room for the lit candles to sit in a clear row.
- Best for:
- Anyone without a menorah that fits their candles.
- Skip if:
- Skip if you have a family menorah.
Check price on AmazonOpens Amazon search results -
Rite Lite tempered glass menorah drip tray
Chabad advises a sturdy, fireproof surface away from children and curtains. A metal or ceramic tray catches wax and protects a windowsill or table.
- Look for:
- A flat metal, glass or ceramic tray larger than the menorah, with a lip.
- Best for:
- Anyone lighting on a wooden table or windowsill.
- Skip if:
- Skip if the menorah has a built-in drip tray.
Check price on AmazonOpens Amazon search results -
BIC EZ Reach candle lighter (3-pack)
Lighting from the newest candle on the left, moving right, means reaching across a row of lit flames. A long-neck lighter keeps your hand away from them.
- Look for:
- A refillable or rechargeable long-neck lighter with a child-resistant switch.
- Best for:
- Households with children lighting their own menorahs.
- Skip if:
- Skip if you use a shamash and are comfortable with it.
Check price on AmazonOpens Amazon search results
Related
For gifts and essentials for the whole holiday, see Hanukkah gifts and essentials.
Questions people ask
When does Hanukkah 2026 start and end?
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 4, and ends at nightfall on Saturday, Dec. 12. The first candle is lit on the evening of Dec. 4 and the eighth on the evening of Friday, Dec. 11.
How many candles do you light each night of Hanukkah?
One on the first night, two on the second, and so on up to eight on the eighth night, plus the shamash used to light the others. A full set across eight nights is 36 candles plus 8 shamash candles, which is 44.
How do you light the menorah on Friday night?
Light the menorah first, before the Shabbat candles, which are lit 18 minutes before sunset. Chabad says the Hanukkah lights must have enough fuel to burn half an hour after nightfall, so use larger candles or oil on Fridays.
When do you light the menorah on Saturday night?
After Shabbat ends and Havdalah is recited. On Saturday, Dec. 5, that is the second night, and Hebcal lists Havdalah at about 5:19 p.m. in New York, 5:33 p.m. in Los Angeles and 5:10 p.m. in Chicago.
Which blessings are said on the first night?
Three blessings the first night: the lighting blessing, the miracles blessing and the Shehechiyanu. On the other nights, say the first two. Chabad.org's guide gives the full text and transliteration.
Sources
Numbers and rules on this page come from these pages, checked October 24, 2026. Sources can change; check them before a high-stakes meal.
Holiday gift lists + the hosting checklist
One short email when a new guide goes up, plus the printable hosting checklist. Real send-by dates, no countdown-timer tricks. Unsubscribe whenever.
We use your email only to send these guides. See the privacy page.