How Many Days Until Christmas?
Christmas 2026 is 55 days from today, on Friday, December 25, 2026.
The clock above runs to midnight on December 25 in your own time zone, so it's right whether you're in London, Chicago or Manila.
Christmas dates, 2026 to 2031
| Year | Date | Day of the week | US federal day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 25 | Friday | Same day |
| 2027 | December 25 | Saturday | Fri, Dec 24, 2027 |
| 2028 | December 25 | Monday | Same day |
| 2029 | December 25 | Tuesday | Same day |
| 2030 | December 25 | Wednesday | Same day |
| 2031 | December 25 | Thursday | Same day |
Why Christmas is on December 25
The Bible never gives a date for the birth of Jesus. The earliest record of December 25 being celebrated is a Roman calendar from the year 336, and the date stuck from there. One popular theory is that the church picked it to line up with Roman winter festivals like Saturnalia and the feast of the unconquered sun.
Not everyone celebrates on the 25th of December as we count it today. Orthodox churches that still follow the old Julian calendar (Russia, Serbia, Georgia) mark Christmas on January 7. Ukraine moved its official date to December 25 in 2023. Romania and Greece switched to the revised calendar and celebrate on December 25 like the rest of Western Europe.
In the US, Christmas became a federal holiday in 1870. In a lot of Europe, Christmas Eve is the bigger night and presents are opened on the 24th, while the UK, Ireland and the US mostly save them for the morning of the 25th.
More holiday countdowns
Halloween
Oct 31, today
Veterans Day
Nov 11, 11 days away
Christmas Eve
Dec 24, 54 days away
New Year's Eve
Dec 31, 61 days away
New Year
Jan 1, 62 days away
Groundhog Day
Feb 2, 94 days away
See all holiday countdowns or count down to a date of your own.
Frequently asked questions
When is Christmas 2026?
Christmas 2026 is on Friday, December 25, 2026.
How many days until Christmas?
As of Saturday, October 31, 2026, there are 55 days left until Christmas. The countdown at the top of this page updates every second and uses your own time zone.
How many sleeps until Christmas?
The number of sleeps is the number of nights left before Christmas morning, which is the same as the day count shown at the top of this page. If it says 10 days, that's 10 sleeps.
Is Christmas a federal holiday in the US?
Yes. When December 25 falls on a Saturday, federal workers get Friday the 24th off instead. When it falls on a Sunday, the day off moves to Monday the 26th.
When do Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas?
Churches that use the Julian calendar celebrate on January 7. Others, including the Romanian and Greek Orthodox churches, celebrate on December 25.