Christmas 2026 — How Many Days Until Christmas?

About Christmas

Christmas is celebrated on 25 December each year across the world, marking the birth of Jesus Christ and serving as one of the most widely observed cultural holidays on earth. Rooted in Christian tradition, it has grown into a global celebration of generosity, family, and joy embraced by people of many faiths and none.

The modern Christmas we know blends ancient midwinter traditions, Christian liturgy, and Victorian-era customs. Gift-giving draws from the biblical story of the Three Wise Men; the decorated Christmas tree was popularised in Britain by Prince Albert in the 1840s; and Father Christmas — or Santa Claus — evolved from the Dutch Sinterklaas tradition and St Nicholas, the fourth-century bishop famous for secret gift-giving.

Today, Christmas is observed with church services, family gatherings, festive meals, carol singing, and the exchange of presents. Decorations go up weeks in advance, and the Christmas season stretches from Advent through to 6 January (Epiphany) in many countries.

Christmas falls on 25 December every year without exception
Over 2 billion people worldwide celebrate Christmas in some form
The word "Christmas" comes from the Old English "Cristes Mæsse" — meaning "Christ's Mass"
Christmas is a public holiday in more than 160 countries
The UK alone sends around 900 million Christmas cards each year

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Christmas?

Christmas Day is always on 25 December. It falls on the same calendar date every year, though the day of the week changes. In 2026 Christmas falls on a Friday.

How many days until Christmas?

The live countdown above shows the exact number of days, hours, minutes, and seconds until midnight on 25 December. Bookmark this page for a real-time answer any day of the year.

Is Christmas a public holiday?

Yes — Christmas Day is a public holiday in over 160 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and most of Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Why is Christmas on 25 December?

The date was chosen by the early Christian church, likely to align with existing Roman midwinter festivals. The actual birth date of Jesus is not recorded in the Bible.

What is the Christmas season?

The Christmas season traditionally runs from Advent (the four Sundays before Christmas) through to Epiphany on 6 January — sometimes called "the Twelve Days of Christmas."