If you are searching What time does Yom Kippur start 2026, the holiday begins at sundown on Sunday, September 20, 2026, and continues until nightfall on Monday, September 21. Yom Kippur is observed on the 10th day of Tishrei, the Hebrew month that falls during the Jewish High Holy Days.
The exact clock time depends on where you live. Jewish holidays begin according to the local sunset rather than at one fixed national time. That means people in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and other U.S. cities will begin observing Yom Kippur at different times.
When does Yom Kippur start in 2026?
Yom Kippur 2026 begins around sunset on Sunday, September 20.
The holiday is also known as the Day of Atonement. It is one of the most important days in the Jewish calendar and marks the conclusion of the Ten Days of Repentance that begin with Rosh Hashanah.
The observance begins before sunset. Candle lighting usually takes place about 18 minutes before sunset in many communities, although local customs can differ. The fast then continues through Yom Kippur and ends after nightfall on Monday, September 21.
Because sunset changes from one location to another, there is no single start time for the entire United States.
What time does Yom Kippur start in the United States?
The start time depends on your city.
For example, candle-lighting times in major U.S. cities can fall within different parts of the early evening on September 20. A community in New York will have a different time from one in Los Angeles because the two cities have different sunset times.
Many Jewish communities use a candle-lighting time shortly before sunset. Synagogues may also publish their own schedules for Kol Nidrei and other services.
For that reason, anyone observing Yom Kippur should check the local synagogue or Jewish calendar for the exact time in their area.
The important point is that Yom Kippur does not begin at midnight. Its religious observance follows the Jewish calendar, with the holiday beginning around sundown and continuing into the following evening.
When does Yom Kippur end in 2026?
Yom Kippur ends after nightfall on Monday, September 21, 2026.
The fast does not end simply because the sun has set. Jewish communities generally wait until night has fallen and the required end-of-holiday time has arrived.
The final part of Yom Kippur includes the Neilah service. The shofar is traditionally sounded near the conclusion of the service.
Chabad notes that the shofar blast itself does not automatically determine the end of the fast. People observing the fast should follow the appropriate local end time before eating or drinking.
How long is Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur lasts roughly 25 hours.
In 2026, the observance runs from before sunset on Sunday, September 20, through after nightfall on Monday, September 21. Chabad describes the period as nearly 26 hours, while Jewish calendar sources commonly describe the fast as lasting about 25 hours.
The extra time beyond a standard 24-hour period allows the observance to begin before sunset and continue until after nightfall the next day.
During this period, observant Jewish people traditionally refrain from eating and drinking. Other restrictions also apply.
Why does Yom Kippur begin at sunset?
Jewish holidays traditionally follow the Jewish calendar, in which a day begins in the evening.
That is why Yom Kippur starts before the calendar date of September 21. The evening of Sunday, September 20 begins the observance, while the daytime hours of Monday, September 21 make up the main portion of Yom Kippur.
This timing can be confusing for people who normally think of a new day as beginning at midnight.
The same general sunset-to-nightfall pattern applies to many Jewish holidays.
What happens before Yom Kippur begins?
Preparation begins before the holiday itself.
Many observant Jewish people eat a final meal before the fast starts. This meal is commonly known as the Seuda Hamafeket, or separating meal. Chabad advises completing the meal before candle-lighting time.
Candle lighting takes place before sunset.
People may also attend the afternoon service before the holiday begins. Confession and prayers are important parts of the preparation for Yom Kippur.
Kol Nidrei then marks the beginning of the evening service.
The exact synagogue schedule can vary by community, so people planning to attend services should check their local congregation for arrival and service times.
What is observed during Yom Kippur?
Fasting is one of the central practices of Yom Kippur.
Observant adults traditionally avoid food and drink during the fast. Several other restrictions are also part of traditional observance. These include avoiding bathing or washing for pleasure, applying lotions or creams, wearing leather footwear and marital relations.
The day is also dedicated to prayer, reflection and seeking forgiveness.
Yom Kippur is not simply a day without food. Prayer and personal reflection form a major part of the observance.
Five prayer services are traditionally held during Yom Kippur. They include the evening service, morning service, Musaf, Mincha and Neilah.
What is Kol Nidrei?
Kol Nidrei is one of the best-known parts of Yom Kippur.
It is recited at the beginning of the evening service on Yom Kippur. For many Jewish communities, it is an important spiritual moment that signals the start of the holiday’s prayers.
Synagogues may begin Kol Nidrei before sunset or around the start of the holiday, depending on local scheduling.
Because Yom Kippur begins according to sunset, people should not assume that the service start time is identical to the official holiday start time.
What happens on Yom Kippur Day?
Monday, September 21 is the main daytime observance of Yom Kippur in 2026.
Services continue throughout the day. Many communities include Yizkor, a memorial service, during the morning portion of Yom Kippur.
Later, the Mincha service includes the reading of the Book of Jonah in traditional observance. The day then moves toward Neilah, the final prayer service.
Neilah is closely associated with the closing moments of Yom Kippur.
The shofar is sounded near the conclusion of the service. After the holiday ends, families and communities commonly gather for a break-fast meal.
What time does the Yom Kippur fast end?
The exact end time depends on your location.
Yom Kippur ends after nightfall on Monday, September 21. Because nightfall occurs at different times across the country, the end of the fast also varies.
For example, Chabad’s local calendar listings show different end times for different communities. A Philadelphia listing gives 7:40 p.m. for the end of Yom Kippur, while a Baltimore listing gives 7:45 p.m.
These examples show why using a local Jewish calendar is important.
A person in another city may need to wait until a different time before ending the fast.
Is Yom Kippur a federal holiday in the U.S.?
Yom Kippur is not a U.S. federal public holiday.
Federal offices do not automatically close because of Yom Kippur. However, Jewish schools, synagogues, organizations and some businesses may follow their own holiday schedules.
Some school districts and employers may also have policies that accommodate religious observances.
People should check directly with their employer, school or organization if they need to know whether normal activities will continue.
What is the meaning of Yom Kippur?
Yom Kippur means the Day of Atonement.
It is traditionally associated with repentance, forgiveness and spiritual reflection. Jewish tradition considers it the holiest day of the year.
The holiday follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and comes at the end of the Ten Days of Repentance.
During this period, many Jewish people reflect on their actions, seek forgiveness and consider how they want to move forward in the coming year.
The fast and long prayer services create a period for serious reflection and religious observance.
What time does Yom Kippur start 2026 in my city?
There is no single answer for every U.S. city.
The holiday begins around sunset on September 20, but the exact candle-lighting and fast-start time depends on local sunset calculations and community customs.
People in New York will follow a different clock time from people in Los Angeles. Chicago, Miami, Houston, Denver and other cities will also have their own local schedules.
Local synagogues can sometimes use slightly different candle-lighting or service schedules. Some communities may also follow specific traditions for when the fast begins and ends.
For an exact time, observers should use a Jewish calendar for their city or follow the schedule provided by their synagogue.
Yom Kippur 2026 at a glance
Start: Sunday, September 20, 2026, around sunset
Main day: Monday, September 21, 2026
End: Monday, September 21, after nightfall
Hebrew date: 10 Tishrei 5787
Observance: Fasting, prayer, repentance and reflection
Length: Approximately 25 hours
First major evening service: Kol Nidrei
Final service: Neilah
End-of-holiday tradition: Shofar and the break-fast meal
These dates are consistent across the major Jewish calendar references for 2026. The exact clock time changes by location.
Final answer: What time does Yom Kippur start 2026?
What time does Yom Kippur start 2026? Yom Kippur begins around sunset on Sunday, September 20, 2026. Candle lighting and the start of the fast occur shortly before sunset according to local Jewish custom. The holiday continues through Monday, September 21, and ends after nightfall that evening.
Since sunset and nightfall differ across the United States, the exact start and end times depend on the city. Anyone observing Yom Kippur should check the local synagogue schedule or a Jewish calendar for the precise times.
What time will Yom Kippur begin in your city? Share your local time and experience in the comments.