How Many Days Until Christmas Eve?
Christmas Eve 2026 is 54 days from today, on Thursday, December 24, 2026.
The countdown ends at midnight going into December 24, local time, which is when Christmas Eve officially starts.
Christmas Eve dates, 2026 to 2031
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 24 | Thursday |
| 2027 | December 24 | Friday |
| 2028 | December 24 | Sunday |
| 2029 | December 24 | Monday |
| 2030 | December 24 | Tuesday |
| 2031 | December 24 | Wednesday |
Christmas Eve around the world
For a big part of Europe, December 24 is the main event. Germany, Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic and the Nordic countries open presents on the evening of the 24th. In Poland the dinner is called Wigilia and traditionally has twelve meatless dishes, and nobody starts eating until the first star shows up in the sky.
In the US and the UK the 24th is more about getting ready: last-minute shopping, wrapping, leaving cookies or mince pies out for Santa. Many churches hold a midnight mass that runs into Christmas Day.
Christmas Eve isn't a US federal holiday, but presidents have given federal employees the day off several times by executive order, usually when the 24th lands next to a weekend.
More holiday countdowns
Halloween
Oct 31, today
Veterans Day
Nov 11, 11 days away
Christmas
Dec 25, 55 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 Eve 2026?
Christmas Eve 2026 is on Thursday, December 24, 2026.
How many days until Christmas Eve?
As of Saturday, October 31, 2026, there are 54 days left until Christmas Eve. The countdown at the top of this page updates every second and uses your own time zone.
Is Christmas Eve a public holiday?
Not in the US or the UK, although plenty of businesses close early. It is a public holiday in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Estonia, and in most of Scandinavia it's treated as a day off in practice.
Which countries open presents on Christmas Eve?
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and much of Latin America open presents on the evening of December 24.