The days have been gradually getting longer since the winter solstice in December, and the UK is about to experience daylight after 9pm for the first time since 2025. Lighter and hopefully warmer nights are on the horizon.
First Post-9pm Sunsets Across the UK
Today, Thursday, April 30, 2026, the westernmost parts of the UK, including County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, will see the sun set after 9pm. For London, this milestone will occur roughly 26 days later, on May 26. Edinburgh is expected to have its first post-9pm sunset around May 6, Cardiff on May 18, and Belfast on May 3, according to predictions.
Summer Solstice 2026
Sunset times will continue to get later until the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, which falls on Sunday, June 21, 2026. On this date, the sun is forecast to set at 9:21pm in London, 10:02pm in Edinburgh, 9:33pm in Cardiff, and 10:04pm in Belfast. After the solstice, the sun's position remains nearly stationary for a few days before the days gradually shorten again.
According to English Heritage, during the solstice, the Earth's axis is tilted closest to the sun, meaning the sun is at its highest point in the sky in the northern hemisphere. The summer solstice is celebrated by many cultures and countries around the world.
