When is Christmas?
Christmas Day is December 25 every year in the Gregorian calendar, which most Western churches and countries use. Many Orthodox churches that keep the Julian calendar for religious dates celebrate on January 7 instead. Christmas Eve, December 24, is the main celebration in many countries, including Germany, Poland, and much of Scandinavia.
Upcoming Christmas dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday, December 25, 2026 |
| 2027 | Saturday, December 25, 2027 |
| 2028 | Monday, December 25, 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, December 25, 2029 |
Plan backward from the big day
- Shipping cutoffs: postal services and couriers publish holiday shipping deadlines, usually in mid-December. Check yours early if you are sending gifts.
- Advent: the season starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. Advent calendars traditionally begin on December 1.
- Travel: the days just before December 24 are among the busiest of the year for roads and airports.
- Food: a large frozen turkey can take several days to thaw safely in the refrigerator. Count back from your cooking day.
Questions
How many days until Christmas?
The counter at the top of this page shows the exact number of days, hours, minutes, and seconds until midnight on December 25 in your time zone. It updates every second.
Does the countdown use my time zone?
Yes. It counts to midnight on Christmas morning according to your device's clock and time zone, so it is correct wherever you are.
Can I put this countdown on a big screen?
Yes. Open the page on a TV, projector, or laptop and use your browser's full-screen mode. The counter keeps updating while the page is open.
More countdowns
Counting down to something else? Use the custom date countdown.