Yalda Night — Shab-e Yalda, the ancient Persian celebration of the winter solstice — falls on Monday, December 21, 2026, the longest and darkest night of the year. Families gather to outlast the dark together until dawn. Watch the time tick down on our live Yalda Night countdown.
When is Yalda Night 2026?
Yalda is observed on the eve of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the last night of autumn in the Iranian calendar. In 2026 that is the night of December 21, stretching into the early hours of December 22. It is celebrated not only in Iran but across the wider Persian cultural world, including Afghanistan, Tajikistan and the Caucasus.
Yalda traditions
- Pomegranates and watermelon — red fruits symbolising the glow of life and the dawn to come.
- Poetry of Hafez — families take turns opening the Divan of Hafez at random for a verse of guidance (fal-e Hafez).
- The Shahnameh — reading from Ferdowsi's epic and sharing stories late into the night.
- Nuts and dried fruit shared around the korsi as the family stays up together.
Why the longest night is celebrated
Yalda marks the turning point of the year: from the solstice onward the days slowly lengthen and the light returns. The ancient festival treats the rebirth of the sun as a victory of light over darkness — a reason to stay awake, surrounded by warmth and family, until morning.
Count down to Yalda Night
Open the live Yalda Night 2026 countdown for the exact days and hours, browse more festival countdowns, or create your own countdown to the longest night.