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Autumn Equinox 2026: UK Ushers in Fall
22 Sep
Summary
- Autumn equinox marks the end of summer and start of fall in the UK.
- The equinox occurs on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 1:06 AM.
- Met Office uses September 1 for meteorological autumn start.
Summer officially draws to a close this week in the UK as the autumn equinox arrives. This annual astronomical event marks the beginning of autumn and the end of summer. The precise moment of the equinox will occur on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 1:06 AM.
During the autumn equinox, neither of Earth's hemispheres is tilted away from or towards the Sun, resulting in roughly equal amounts of daylight and darkness. While the term 'equinox' means 'equal night,' day and night are not precisely the same length. In London on September 23, daylight will last approximately 12 hours and eight minutes.
The Met Office uses a different system for meteorological seasons, defining autumn as running from September 1 to November 30 annually. This fixed date system allows for consistent comparison of weather and climate data. English Heritage is offering managed open access to Stonehenge on September 23, 2026, for visitors to observe the sunrise.
