The first day of summer brings the longest day of the year and the start of vacations, pool days, and warm evenings outside. This live countdown shows how many days are left until the summer solstice.
Summer at a glance
- Next date
- Monday, June 21, 2027
- Day of the week
- Monday
- How the date is set
- The first day of summer is the June solstice, which falls on June 20 or 21 depending on the year (dates shown in U.S. Eastern Time)
- Category
- Seasons
Summer dates for the next 5 years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Monday | |
| 2028 | Tuesday | |
| 2029 | Wednesday | |
| 2030 | Friday | |
| 2031 | Saturday |
What is the summer solstice?
The June solstice is the moment the North Pole is tilted most directly toward the Sun. In the Northern Hemisphere it is the longest day of the year, with the most hours of daylight. After the solstice, days slowly begin to get shorter again.
The word "solstice" comes from Latin words meaning "sun" and "to stand still," because the Sun appears to pause at its highest point in the sky before reversing direction.
Astronomical vs. meteorological summer
Astronomical summer starts at the solstice, but meteorologists count summer as June, July, and August, so meteorological summer begins on June 1. Many people also think of Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial start of summer.
Frequently asked questions
When is Summer 2027?
Summer 2027 is on Monday, June 21, 2027. The first day of summer is the June solstice, which falls on June 20 or 21 depending on the year (dates shown in U.S. Eastern Time).
How many days until Summer?
The live countdown at the top of this page shows exactly how many days, hours, minutes, and seconds are left until Summer, calculated for your local time zone.
Is the first day of summer the longest day of the year?
Yes. In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice has the most daylight of any day of the year. The exact number of hours depends on how far north you live.
Why is the hottest weather after the first day of summer?
Land and oceans take weeks to warm up, so the hottest days in most of the U.S. typically come in July and August, well after the solstice. This delay is called seasonal lag.