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When is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur falls on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
About Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. It falls on the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, ten days after the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah. The period between the two is known as the Days of Awe, a time of reflection and repentance. Yom Kippur is the day on which, in Jewish tradition, people seek forgiveness for the wrongs of the past year and are sealed in the divine judgement for the year ahead. It is observed with a full fast lasting about 25 hours, from sundown to nightfall the next day, and with prayer for much of that time.
On Yom Kippur, observant Jews refrain from eating and drinking and from other physical comforts, and much of the day is spent in synagogue. The services include the Kol Nidre prayer on the eve of the day and a closing service called Neilah. Even many Jews who are not otherwise strictly observant mark Yom Kippur in some way, which makes it one of the most widely kept days in the Jewish year. In Israel the day brings the country almost to a standstill, with shops, restaurants, broadcasting and public transport closed, and the roads largely empty. The Gregorian date moves each year and falls in September or October.
Frequently asked questions
What is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur, which means the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish year. It is a day of repentance, when Jews seek forgiveness for the wrongs of the past year and reconciliation with God and with other people. It is observed with a fast of about 25 hours and with prayer for much of the day. Yom Kippur comes at the end of a ten-day period of reflection that begins with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year.
When is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur falls on the 10th day of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar, ten days after Rosh Hashanah. Because the Hebrew calendar is lunisolar, the Gregorian date changes each year, usually falling in September or October. Like other Jewish holy days, Yom Kippur begins at sundown the evening before and ends at nightfall the following day, lasting about 25 hours in total. It is the final and most solemn of the High Holy Days.
How is Yom Kippur observed?
Yom Kippur is observed with a complete fast lasting about 25 hours, from sundown to nightfall the next day, during which observant Jews take no food or drink. Other physical comforts are also set aside. Much of the day is spent in synagogue in prayer, including the Kol Nidre service on the eve of the day and the closing Neilah service. White clothing is often worn as a sign of purity. The focus throughout is on repentance, prayer and seeking forgiveness.
What is the difference between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the two High Holy Days of the Jewish year and are closely linked. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year, a time of both celebration and reflection that opens a ten-day period of repentance. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, closes that period and is the most solemn day of the year. In short, Rosh Hashanah begins the season of judgement and Yom Kippur completes it, with the days between given to reflection.
Is Yom Kippur a public holiday?
Yom Kippur is a public holiday in Israel, where its effect is unusually complete. Shops, restaurants and businesses close, television and radio go off air, the airport shuts and public transport stops, and the roads are almost empty. Outside Israel, Yom Kippur is generally not a public holiday, but it is very widely observed within Jewish communities, and many Jewish people take the day off work or school. Some areas with large Jewish populations adjust schedules around it.