5 summer solstice celebrations in the northern hemisphere in 2026

In some countries, the summer solstice marks the start of summer, and the year's longest day – and shortest night – is a time for revelry, steeped in local culture and history.

In 2026, the solstice falls on June 21, but these celebrations in the northern hemisphere run from June 20 to June 22. Here are five distinct events marking the summer solstice.

1. Midsommar in Stockholm, Sweden

Midsommar (Midsummer) in Sweden is sweet with romance, with Maypole dancing and gathering wildflowers for floral crowns. Tradition states that if you place seven types of flowers under your pillow at Midsummer, you will dream of your spouse. But who has time to sleep?

On a Friday near the solstice, people fill the streets for an extended party, washing down pickled herring and dill-laced new potatoes with spiced schnapps and plenty of drinking songs – the dirtier, the better. Family-oriented celebrations usually happen in the countryside. For those unable to snag an invite to someone's home, the open-air Skansen museum in Stockholm serves as a good alternative, with 3 days of activities from June 19 to 21.

2. Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England

The purpose of the boulder formations at Stonehenge may still be cloaked in mystery, but the site is the perfect backdrop for a phenomenal – and arguably the most famous – observation of a solstice sunrise and sunset. Visitors have flocked to Stonehenge for years – the site is believed to have hosted ancient Druid solstice celebrations. One-day access to the inner prehistoric stone circle allows travelers to face what’s known as the Heel Stone and catch the sunrise over the giant boulder.

As the popularity of the free event has grown, thousands of people in traditional Celtic attire have been known to camp out nearby days in advance. (No camping is permitted at the site.) The parking lot at Stonehenge will open at 7pm on June 20, sunrise is at 4:52am on June 21, and visitors must leave by 12 noon on June 21. English Heritage live streams the event on its YouTube channel, so you can tune in from wherever you are in the world.

3. Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival in Ottawa, Canada

A diversity of cultures is represented in Ottawa’s 2-day Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, which runs on June 20 and 21, fusing the longest day of the year with National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. The area was the traditional territory of the Algonquin people before Queen Victoria declared Ottawa as Canada’s capital.

During the festival, there's food by celebrated Indigenous chefs, traditional dress and cultural events. The visually captivating Pow Wow competition brings out the best talent in the surrounding areas, all vying for prizes totaling over 100,000 Canadian dollars. Admission is free, but there are fees for events and workshops.

4. Mountaintop bonfires in Tyrol, Austria

When the summer solstice comes around, Austrians play with fire. Their tradition of lighting bonfires on mountaintops not only looks spectacular but is also rooted in the Middle Ages, when flames were used to ward off evil spirits.

In the 1700s, the fires were relit to fight against the imminent threat of invasion by Napoleon, and after the victory, Austrians pledged themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Since then, the mountains of the Tyrol have been set ablaze annually in dramatic form, save for a brief time when they were outlawed by the Nazis. Austrians still honor the shortest night of the year but have incorporated religious symbols like crosses into the festivities.

5. Fairbanks and Anchorage in Alaska, USA

About one-third of Alaska lies north of the Arctic Circle, therefore a solstice celebration can be found pretty much wherever you land. Up north, Fairbanks goes for good old Americana, with the Alaska Goldpanners baseball team hosting the Midnight Sun Game, a tradition since the town’s beginnings in 1906. The game kicks off at 10pm and pauses close to midnight for the singing of the Alaska Flag Song.

A little further south, Anchorage gets 22 hours of daylight, and it uses all of them for the Anchorage Mayor’s Marathon and Half Marathon on June 20.