Sunrise & Sunset in Johannesburg, 2026

Sunrise and sunset in Johannesburg through 2026

Date	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight	Solar noon
1 January	05:18	19:03	13h 45m	12:10
15 January	05:28	19:04	13h 37m	12:16
1 February	05:41	19:00	13h 19m	12:20
15 February	05:52	18:51	13h 00m	12:22
1 March	06:01	18:40	12h 39m	12:20
15 March	06:08	18:25	12h 17m	12:17
1 April	06:16	18:07	11h 51m	12:12
15 April	06:23	17:52	11h 30m	12:08
1 May	06:30	17:38	11h 08m	12:04
15 May	06:38	17:29	10h 51m	12:03
1 June	06:46	17:23	10h 37m	12:05
15 June	06:52	17:23	10h 30m	12:07
1 July	06:55	17:26	10h 31m	12:11
15 July	06:54	17:32	10h 38m	12:13
1 August	06:47	17:40	10h 53m	12:14
15 August	06:37	17:47	11h 10m	12:12
1 September	06:21	17:54	11h 33m	12:08
15 September	06:06	18:00	11h 54m	12:03
1 October	05:47	18:06	12h 19m	11:57
15 October	05:33	18:13	12h 40m	11:53
1 November	05:18	18:23	13h 05m	11:51
15 November	05:11	18:34	13h 23m	11:52
1 December	05:07	18:46	13h 38m	11:57
15 December	05:10	18:55	13h 46m	12:02

Times are local (South Africa Time) and include daylight saving time where it applies. Calculated for -26.202, 28.044; accurate to about a minute.

Why the sun peaks at 2 PM in Johannesburg

Solar noon in Johannesburg arrives around 14:07 SAST. That is not a mistake. The city runs on South Africa Standard Time (UTC+2) year-round, but its longitude (28.04°E) puts clock noon well ahead of the sun. At 1767 m altitude, the thinner air also sharpens the light, making the offset feel more pronounced. For the history behind this fixed offset, see the Johannesburg time zone page.

The practical consequence: harsh, high-contrast "midday" light runs from about 11:00 to 15:00 SAST. Photographers and filmmakers work around it.

Johannesburg solstices and equinoxes for 2026

Four dates define the year's light. The figures below come from the IANA time zone database for Africa/Johannesburg.

Event	Date	Sunrise	Sunset	Length
March equinox	20 March	06:11	18:20	12 h 9 min
June solstice	21 June	06:54	17:23	10 h 30 min
September equinox	22 September	05:58	18:03	12 h 5 min
December solstice	21 December	05:12	18:59	13 h 47 min

The equinoxes are not perfectly even. The sun's disc and atmospheric refraction add extra light. That 5 to 9 minutes is normal at this latitude.

Golden hour and civil twilight across the seasons

Golden hour is the stretch when the sun sits between 6° below the horizon and the horizon itself. It is not a fixed sixty-minute block. In Johannesburg, the 2 PM solar noon pushes everything later.

Summer (December): Civil twilight starts near 04:40 and ends around 19:30. Morning golden light runs roughly 05:00 to 06:00. Evening golden light spans about 18:00 to 19:00.

Winter (June): Civil twilight begins near 06:15 and ends around 17:55. Morning golden light is roughly 06:30 to 07:00. Evening golden light is about 16:45 to 17:15.

Summer sunsets are slower. The evening window stretches. Winter snaps it shut fast. Check the exact date's sunrise and sunset before locking a shoot. The daily rhythm page covers how this light interacts with traffic and social patterns in Sandton and the CBD.

How 26°S latitude shapes Johannesburg's light

Johannesburg sits at 26.2°S. That is subtropical, not equatorial. The swing between the shortest and longest day exceeds three hours.

The June solstice delivers 10 hours 30 minutes of daylight. The December solstice delivers 13 hours 47 minutes. An equatorial city stays near 12 hours all year. Cape Town, at 34°S, gets a longer summer day and a shorter winter one. Johannesburg sits in the moderate band, but the variation is real. The common assumption that all of Africa gets equal day and night is wrong for this city.

Timing outdoor work and shoots around the light

The 2 PM solar noon dictates the usable windows.

Morning golden hour starts early. On 22 September, sunrise is 05:58. Evening golden hour runs late in summer. On 21 December, sunset is 18:59.

Avoid 11:00 to 15:00 SAST for portraits or landscape work. The light is overhead and harsh. In summer, schedule outdoor events from 16:00 onward. In winter, the window is 15:00 to 17:00. Confirm the specific date's sunset before finalising a call time.

Johannesburg sunrise and sunset compared to other South African cities

Every South African city uses SAST. Sunrise and sunset vary only by latitude and longitude. Johannesburg is north of Cape Town, so its winter days are slightly longer and its summer days slightly shorter. The gap at the solstices is about 30 to 45 minutes. Durban, at roughly 30°S, falls between the two.

Frequently asked questions

Does Johannesburg ever get exactly 12 hours of daylight?

Close to it. On 20 March the city gets 12 hours 9 minutes. On 22 September it gets 12 hours 5 minutes. Atmospheric refraction adds the extra minutes.

Why does the sun set so early in winter?

The winter sun traces a low arc at 26°S. On 21 June sunset is 17:23. With no daylight saving, the evening feels short. Many residents shift social plans to late afternoon.

Is golden hour the same length all year?

No. Summer sunsets are slower, stretching the window. Winter sunsets are fast. The difference is enough to matter for a shoot. Use a calculator for the exact date.

Does Johannesburg's altitude change sunrise or sunset?

Slightly. At 1767 m the horizon sits lower, so the sun appears to set a few minutes later than at sea level at the same latitude. The difference is under five minutes but noticeable when timing a shot.

When should I schedule an outdoor event to avoid harsh light?

Avoid 11:00 to 15:00 SAST year-round. Summer late afternoons from 16:00 work well. In winter the window is 15:00 to 17:00. Check the date's sunset before confirming.

How do Johannesburg's light hours compare to London's?

London at 51°N gets extremes: a short winter day and a long summer one. Johannesburg's 10 hours 30 minutes in June and 13 hours 47 minutes in December are moderate by comparison. The city never sees the ultra-short or ultra-long days of higher latitudes.

Sunrise & Sunset in Johannesburg: A Seasonal Guide to Day Length