Hanukkah 2026: When Candles Are Lit Each Night
Exact candle counts for each night of Hanukkah 2026, with Shabbat timing tips and a simple shopping count.
Hanukkah 2026 runs from sundown Friday, Dec. 4 to nightfall Saturday, Dec. 12.
Each night adds one light, from 1 candle on Dec. 4 to 8 candles on Dec. 11.
Hanukkah is the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights. Families light a nine-branched menorah each evening, using a helper candle called the shamash to kindle the other flames.
Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 05, 2026.
Which date matches each night?
Night 1 is Friday, Dec. 4, with 1 candle plus the shamash. Night 2 is Saturday, Dec.
5, with 2 candles plus the shamash. Nights 3 through 7 fall on Dec. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
They call for 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 candles respectively, each plus the shamash. Night 8 is Friday, Dec. 11, with all 8 candles plus the shamash, according to Hebcal's Chanukah 2026 calendar page.
No new candles are lit on Saturday, Dec. 12. The holiday ends at nightfall that evening.
Why is timing different on the two Fridays and Saturday?
Friday lighting happens before sundown, ahead of Shabbat candles. Jewish law forbids kindling fire after Shabbat begins, so Night 1 and Night 8 start early. Saturday night lighting happens later than usual.
Night 2 candles are lit only after Shabbat ends at nightfall, following Havdalah. That makes Dec. 5 the latest lighting of the eight nights.
Exact clock times shift with local sunset. Check local Shabbat and Hanukkah candle-lighting times rather than using one fixed hour.
How do you place and light the candles?
Place the candles in the menorah from right to left. Each night, kindle the newest candle first, then continue toward the older ones. Recite the blessings first, then use the lit shamash to light the other candles.
Chabad's How to Light the Menorah describes this right-to-left placement and newest-first lighting order. Keep the menorah where its light is visible. Let the flames burn on their own and do not use them for reading or other tasks.
What should you buy and how long should flames last?
A full Hanukkah needs 44 candle lights in total. That total covers 36 nightly lights plus 8 shamash lights, one helper candle each night. Flames should burn at least 30 minutes after nightfall.
Friday flames need to last longer because they are lit before sundown. Buy a box with at least 44 Hanukkah candles or oil cups before Dec. 4.
Chabad's How to Celebrate Hanukkah lighting instructions notes that local sunset sets the exact lighting time each night.