Hanukkah 2026: the Festival of Lights
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, brightens the middle of winter for eight nights, beginning in the month of Kislev. Each evening one more candle is lit on the menorah, songs are sung, doughnuts and latkes are eaten, and children spin the dreidel. It is not a day off work: life goes on, but the evenings are festive, usually with family or friends. Here are the dates of Hanukkah, its story, how to light the candles and the food that goes with it.
When is Hanukkah in 2026?
2026
From the evening of Friday 4 December until nightfall on Saturday, 12 December 2026
in 27 days
2027
From the evening of Friday 24 December until nightfall on Saturday, 1 January 2028
Every holiday begins at sunset the evening before and ends at nightfall; dates shown are those observed outside Israel, with Israel’s dates noted where they differ.
The story and meaning of Hanukkah
Hanukkah, meaning “dedication”, commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE. Judea was then ruled by the Seleucid kings, who had banned Jewish practice and desecrated the Temple. A revolt led by the Maccabee family eventually retook Jerusalem. According to tradition, only a single cruse of pure oil could be found, enough to light the Temple menorah for one day, yet it burned for eight. Hence the eight nights of the festival. Beyond the miracle, Hanukkah celebrates the freedom to live according to one’s faith, and light overcoming darkness, a message that speaks to everyone, observant or not.
Hanukkah traditions
The central ritual is lighting the hanukkiah, a menorah with eight branches plus a ninth, the shamash or “helper” candle used to light the others. On the first night one candle is lit, on the second two, and so on up to eight. Blessings are recited, followed by songs such as Maoz Tzur. Many place the menorah in a window to publicise the miracle to passers-by. Children play with the dreidel, or sevivon, a four-sided spinning top whose letters stand for “a great miracle happened there”; in Israel, the last letter becomes “here”. It is customary to give children coins, known as Hanukkah gelt, or small presents, and many communities hold public candle lightings.
Hanukkah food
In memory of the cruse of oil, fried food is the rule. Sufganiyot, jam-filled doughnuts dusted with sugar, have become the emblem of the holiday, especially in Israel. Ashkenazi families make latkes, grated potato pancakes served with apple sauce or sour cream. In Sephardic homes, you will find sfenj, light North African doughnuts, or bimuelos, fritters drizzled with honey. Some families also serve cheese dishes, in memory of Judith.
Hanukkah as a couple
Eight nights means eight chances to get together: lighting candles at one home, then the other, sharing the ritual with friends, bringing both families together one evening over doughnuts. Hanukkah is simple and warm, ideal for a first invitation without too much formality. It is also the time to compare recipes, latkes or sfenj, and perhaps choose a menorah of your own, the one that might one day shine in the window of your shared home.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Hanukkah last?
Hanukkah lasts eight days and eight nights, everywhere in the world. The first candle is lit on the evening the festival begins, and the eighth on the last evening.
How do you light the Hanukkah menorah?
Add one candle each night, placing them from right to left, and light them with the shamash starting with the newest one. The blessings are said before lighting, and the candles should burn for at least half an hour after nightfall.
Is Hanukkah a day off?
No, work is permitted during Hanukkah, unlike the major festivals. In Israel, schools are closed for part of the week. Elsewhere, the holiday is mostly celebrated in the evening, at candle lighting.
What is the difference between a hanukkiah and a menorah?
The Temple menorah had seven branches. The hanukkiah has eight plus the shamash and is used only on Hanukkah. In everyday speech, though, it is usually just called a menorah.
Light the candles together
On MeetJudaic, meet Jewish singles who share the way you celebrate. Free sign-up, a compatibility quiz and moderated profiles.