Toronto Will Experience Its First 5PM Sunset of the Year on January 10, 2026
If you’ve been feeling like winter days in Toronto are way too short, I have some good news for you. Toronto will experience its first 5PM sunset of the year on January 10, 2026, and while it may seem small, it’s actually a meaningful milestone during the darkest stretch of winter.
Let me explain why this moment matters and what you can expect.
What’s Happening on January 10, 2026
On January 10, 2026, the sun will officially set at 5:00 PM in Toronto for the first time that year. Up until this point, sunsets have been happening before 5 PM, which is why afternoons can feel like they disappear so quickly.
This shift means you’ll start noticing a bit more light in the early evening — even if it’s just by a few minutes at first.
Why Toronto’s First 5PM Sunset Matters
I know it sounds like a small change, but if you live in the city, you feel it. After weeks of early sunsets in December and early January, reaching a 5PM sunset is a sign that daylight is slowly returning.
For many people, this moment:
- Makes evenings feel less rushed
- Adds a little brightness after work or school
- Signals that the worst of the early darkness is behind us
It’s one of those quiet winter milestones that you don’t always notice right away, but once you do, it feels encouraging.
How Daylight Changes After the Winter Solstice
Even though the winter solstice happens in late December — when days are shortest — sunset times don’t immediately start getting later. That’s why early January still feels especially dark.
By the time Toronto reaches its first 5PM sunset in 2026, daylight has already started increasing, just gradually enough that it takes a few weeks to become noticeable in the evening.
After January 10:
- Sunsets continue getting later day by day
- Evening light slowly increases through the rest of January
- Longer, brighter days become more noticeable as winter progresses
What This Means for Your Daily Routine
For you and me, this change can actually make a difference. That extra light after 5 PM might mean:
- A more pleasant walk home
- A short outdoor errand without complete darkness
- Even just a better mood heading into the evening
Winter in Toronto isn’t over by any means, but this is one of the first signs that things are shifting in the right direction.
A Small but Meaningful Winter Milestone for Toronto
The first 5PM sunset of the year in Toronto may not change the weather or the cold overnight, but it does change how winter feels. It’s a reminder that daylight is slowly returning and that spring, while still far off, is moving closer one minute at a time.
So if January has been feeling especially long, January 10, 2026 is a date worth quietly appreciating.
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