2026 Equinoxes Mark Equal Sunlight for Both Hemispheres on March 20 and September 23

On March 20, 2026, at 14:46 UTC (7:46 AM EDT), the Sun will cross the Earth’s equatorial plane, giving nearly equal daylight to the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The September 23 equinox follows at 00:05 UTC (5:05 PM PDT on September 22). These moments, called equinoxes, occur twice a year and are the only times when both poles receive simultaneous sunlight. After the March event, the Sun’s daily path shifts northward until the June solstice, then reverses southward after September, continuing the seasonal cycle. Ancient observatories recorded equinoxes, and today the dates are printed on calendars worldwide, making them a key reference for seasonal timing.