The spring equinox marks the transition to a new season. It’s the time when winter gives way to renewal. Here’s when it will take place this year, and what this phenomenon represents.
With the spring equinox, the days gain ground and nature comes back to life. Every March, this precise moment marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring in the northern hemisphere. But what does this astronomical landmark really represent, and how long does this season, synonymous with renewal, last?
What are the spring dates in 2026?
The spring season begins on Friday March 20, 2026 and ends on Sunday June 21, 2026. If the end of spring always falls on June 21, the first day of spring can vary between March 19, 20 and 21. Most of the time, the spring season lasts three months, from March to June. According to data from the Institute of Celestial Mechanics and Ephemeris Calculation (IMCCE) in Paris, the spring equinox will occur at 3:45:53 p.m. Paris time on Friday March 20, 2026.
What is the spring equinox?
The spring equinox is a astronomical event particular. The term “equinox” comes from the Latin aequinoctium which translates to “equal night”. Concretely, The equinox corresponds to the time of year when the day and night are of the same length, i.e. 12 hours. From an astronomical point of view, the equinox is due to the perfect alignment of the Earth’s celestial equator with the Sun. The Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted about 23° relative to the plane of its orbit, which causes the Sun to shine directly on the equator and across the entire northern hemisphere.
