It might already be feeling like summer in Chicago, but the official start of the season doesn’t arrive until the end of the month.
Here’s everything to know about the 2026 Summer Solstice.
What is a solstice?
A solstice occurs twice a year when the Earth’s axis reaches its maximum tilt toward or away from the sun, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Earth experiences both a Summer and Winter solstice, with the Summer Solstice occurring annually around June 20 – 22 in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Summer Solstice marks the point at which the Earth is tilted the farthest towards the sun.
During this astronomical event, the sun aligns directly over the latitudinal line known as the Tropic of Cancer.
Thus, all areas north of the Tropic of Cancer experience the longest day of the year, with the sun reaching its highest elevation at noon.
When is the 2026 Summer Solstice?
The 2026 Summer Solstice falls on Sunday, June 21, with the earth reaching its maximum tilt at 3:24 a.m.
Following the exact moment of the solstice, Chicago will experience its longest day of the year.
The sun will rise at 5:15 a.m. and set at 8:29 pm., meaning we’ll see roughly 13 hours of daylight.
From there, the sun will set at the same time for several days, before gradually beginning to set earlier and earlier until we reach the winter solstice on December 21.
