Wheel of the Year 2026 and 2027
The eight seasonal festivals of the modern Pagan year, with the traditional date and the exact moment the Sun reaches each point, in your own time zone.
Sabbat dates 2026
| Festival | Traditional date | Exact astronomical moment | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imbolc | February 1 | Tue, Feb 3, 3:01 PM | St Brigid's Day, Candlemas (Feb 2), Groundhog Day |
| Ostara | March equinox | Fri, Mar 20, 10:45 AM | Spring (vernal) equinox |
| Beltane | May 1 | Tue, May 5, 7:49 AM | May Day, Walpurgis Night (Apr 30) |
| Litha | June solstice | Sun, Jun 21, 4:25 AM | Midsummer, St John's Eve |
| Lughnasadh | August 1 | Fri, Aug 7, 7:42 AM | Lammas, the first harvest |
| Mabon | September equinox | Tue, Sep 22, 8:05 PM | Autumn equinox, Harvest Home |
| Samhain | October 31 to November 1 | Sat, Nov 7, 4:52 AM | Halloween, All Saints, All Souls, Day of the Dead season |
| Yule | December solstice | Mon, Dec 21, 3:50 PM | Midwinter, the winter solstice |
Sabbat dates 2027
| Festival | Traditional date | Exact astronomical moment | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Imbolc | February 1 | Wed, Feb 3, 8:46 PM | St Brigid's Day, Candlemas (Feb 2), Groundhog Day |
| Ostara | March equinox | Sat, Mar 20, 4:24 PM | Spring (vernal) equinox |
| Beltane | May 1 | Wed, May 5, 1:24 PM | May Day, Walpurgis Night (Apr 30) |
| Litha | June solstice | Mon, Jun 21, 10:10 AM | Midsummer, St John's Eve |
| Lughnasadh | August 1 | Sat, Aug 7, 1:26 PM | Lammas, the first harvest |
| Mabon | September equinox | Thu, Sep 23, 2:01 AM | Autumn equinox, Harvest Home |
| Samhain | October 31 to November 1 | Sun, Nov 7, 10:38 AM | Halloween, All Saints, All Souls, Day of the Dead season |
| Yule | December solstice | Tue, Dec 21, 9:42 PM | Midwinter, the winter solstice |
The eight festivals
Imbolc
The first stirrings of spring, halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
Sun at 315 degrees ecliptic longitude. Also: St Brigid's Day, Candlemas (Feb 2), Groundhog Day.
Ostara
Day and night are about equal; from here the days are longer than the nights.
Sun at 0 degrees ecliptic longitude. Also: Spring (vernal) equinox.
Beltane
The start of summer in the old Gaelic calendar, halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice.
Sun at 45 degrees ecliptic longitude. Also: May Day, Walpurgis Night (Apr 30).
Litha
The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Sun at 90 degrees ecliptic longitude. Also: Midsummer, St John's Eve.
Lughnasadh
The first harvest festival, halfway between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox.
Sun at 135 degrees ecliptic longitude. Also: Lammas, the first harvest.
Mabon
Day and night are about equal again, as the nights start to win.
Sun at 180 degrees ecliptic longitude. Also: Autumn equinox, Harvest Home.
Samhain
The Gaelic end of the harvest and start of winter, halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice.
Sun at 225 degrees ecliptic longitude. Also: Halloween, All Saints, All Souls, Day of the Dead season.
Yule
The longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and the return of the Sun.
Sun at 270 degrees ecliptic longitude. Also: Midwinter, the winter solstice.
Questions people ask
What are the 8 sabbats of the Wheel of the Year?
Imbolc, Ostara (spring equinox), Beltane, Litha (summer solstice), Lughnasadh or Lammas, Mabon (autumn equinox), Samhain and Yule (winter solstice). Four are set by the solstices and equinoxes, and four are the cross-quarter days in between.
What is the difference between the traditional and astronomical date?
The cross-quarter festivals are usually kept on fixed dates (February 1, May 1, August 1, October 31). The astronomical date is the moment the Sun is exactly halfway between a solstice and an equinox, which falls a few days later, around February 3 to 4, May 5, August 7 and November 7.
Is the Wheel of the Year an ancient calendar?
The eight-festival wheel as one set was put together in the mid 20th century by modern Pagans (Wicca and Druidry). Its parts are older: the Gaelic fire festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lughnasa, and the solstice and equinox celebrations found in many cultures.
Is the Wheel of the Year different in the Southern Hemisphere?
Many Southern Hemisphere Pagans turn the wheel around to match their seasons, so Samhain is kept around April 30 to May 1 and Beltane around October 31. Set your location and this page switches automatically.