Autumn equinox
The autumn equinox falls around 22 September in the UK.
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Next date
Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Autumn equinox 2026
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Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Countdown | Region / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn equinox 2026 | Wednesday, 23 September 2026 | In 2 months | UK |
| Autumn equinox 2027 | Thursday, 23 September 2027 | In 1 year 2 months | UK |
| Autumn equinox 2028 | Friday, 22 September 2028 | In 2 years 2 months | UK |
The autumn equinox occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator moving southward, bringing roughly equal hours of daylight and darkness. After this point, nights become longer than days until the winter solstice. In the UK it falls around 22 September each year. Meteorological autumn begins earlier, on 1 September. The equinox often coincides with the peak of harvest season and the beginning of the deer rut.
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Verified 13 May 2026
Questions
When is the autumn equinox in the UK in 2026?
It falls around 22 September 2026.
When does meteorological autumn start?
1 September — three weeks before the astronomical equinox.
Do days get shorter before the autumn equinox?
Yes — days have been shortening since the summer solstice in June. The equinox is when nights become longer than days.
Is the autumn equinox the same date every year?
It falls around 22 or 23 September each year, varying slightly due to the leap year cycle.