What is the summer solstice?
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, giving us a chance to take advantage of added sunlight. It is widely celebrated across the globe, but as with any event of cultural significance, the solstice has accumulated many a myth and folktale over the years.
So we're here to set the record straight, and help you sort the truth from the myths this summer solstice.
When is the summer solstice 2026?
The summer solstice takes place on Saturday 21st June and marks the ‘longest day’ of the year.
While most people believe the summer solstice to be a day, it is in fact an exact moment in time that falls on that day when the hemisphere is tilted at its maximum towards the Sun. This will be at 9.24am BST.
Is the summer solstice the hottest day of the year?
It's a myth!
While the summer solstice may mark the longest day of the year, it does not make it the hottest. As explained by the Royal Museums Greenwich, the atmosphere and, more importantly, the oceans take time to heat up. As a result, meteorological (weather-based) summer starts at the beginning of June and ending with the last day of August.
So fear not, while this may mark the return of shorter days, you might still have the added heat to look forward to.
Do some places get 24 hours of daylight during the summer solstice?
It's a fact!
Despite sounding a bit unbelievable, this is actually true! Various areas in and around the Arctic Circle experience 24 hours of daylight for part of the summer, including northern Alaska and parts of Norway.
The phenomenon, known as the Midnight Sun, gives the appearance of an endless sunset during the night, before the sun begins to rise again as morning arrives. According to Visit Norway, the official Norwegian travel site, Svalbard – an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean - experiences the longest period of the Midnight Sun in the country, with the sun remaining above the horizon continuously from 20 April to 22 August.
Was Stonehenge built to align with the sun on the solstice?
It's a fact!
Britain's biggest celebration of the summer solstice takes place at Stonehenge, with crowds of up to 10,000 people gathering at the iconic monument to bask in the light, and for good reason too!
According to the English Heritage Trust, the charity responsible for managing Stonehenge, the monument was built to align with the sun on the summer and winter solstices, with sun rays shining right into the heart of the stone circle. Evidence suggests it may also have been used as a burial site and for ceremonies or gatherings.
So while many experts agree that the monument's alignment with the solstices was intentional, there's still discussion over its main purpose.
Over the years, other unusual theories have emerged too, including claims that Stonehenge was built by the wizard Merlin or even by aliens, though there is no evidence to support these ideas.
This article was updated in June 2026
Not sure if the news you’re seeing on social media is true or false? Can you always tell if the things you see online are real or fake? Learn how to get the other side of the story with our quizzes, videos and explainers.
