Spring Equinox 2026: What It Means and When It Happens

The equinoxes are determined by the Earth's tilt on its axis as it travels around the Sun. The Earth’s axis is tilted by 23.5 degrees. This tilt, in relation to the Sun, changes on its orbit around the Sun. Twice a year, the Earth reaches a point when the tilt is neither towards nor away from the Sun, resulting in equal sunlight reaching both hemispheres.

While the equinox is defined as having equal day and night, the actual date when 12 hours of daylight occurs (the equilux) happens a few days before the spring equinox in the UK.

The Northern Hemisphere's vernal equinox occurs between March 19 and 21, while the autumnal equinox occurs between September 21 and 24. Following the spring equinox, days become longer in the Northern Hemisphere until the summer solstice.

Different methods exist for marking the start of seasons, meteorological vs astronomical. While astronomical seasons depend on Earth's movement around the sun, meteorological seasons are based on annual temperature cycles and start on the first day of the month (March 1 for spring).

It marks the beginning of astronomical spring, with nearly equal day and night hours.

After the equinox, daylight hours gradually increase in the Northern Hemisphere until the summer solstice.

Astronomical spring is based on the Earth's position relative to the sun, while meteorological spring is based on temperature cycles and begins on March 1st.

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