Sunrise and sunset in Cologne in 2026
In 2026, the sun rises in Cologne between 5:17 AM (June 16) and 8:35 AM (December 30), and sets between 4:26 PM (December 12) and 9:50 PM (June 25). The longest day is Sunday, June 21, with 16 h 32 min of daylight, and the shortest is Monday, December 21, with 7 h 55 min: a difference of 8 h 37 min.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Solar noon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | 8:35 AM | 4:37 PM | 8 h 2 min | 12:36 PM |
| Jan 15 | 8:29 AM | 4:55 PM | 8 h 26 min | 12:42 PM |
| Feb 1 | 8:09 AM | 5:23 PM | 9 h 15 min | 12:46 PM |
| Feb 15 | 7:45 AM | 5:48 PM | 10 h 4 min | 12:46 PM |
| Mar 1 | 7:17 AM | 6:13 PM | 10 h 56 min | 12:44 PM |
| Mar 15 | 6:46 AM | 6:37 PM | 11 h 50 min | 12:41 PM |
| Apr 1 | 7:08 AM | 8:05 PM | 12 h 57 min | 1:36 PM |
| Apr 15 | 6:38 AM | 8:28 PM | 13 h 50 min | 1:32 PM |
| May 1 | 6:06 AM | 8:54 PM | 14 h 48 min | 1:29 PM |
| May 15 | 5:43 AM | 9:15 PM | 15 h 32 min | 1:29 PM |
| Jun 1 | 5:24 AM | 9:37 PM | 16 h 13 min | 1:30 PM |
| Jun 15 | 5:18 AM | 9:48 PM | 16 h 31 min | 1:33 PM |
| Jul 1 | 5:22 AM | 9:49 PM | 16 h 27 min | 1:36 PM |
| Jul 15 | 5:35 AM | 9:40 PM | 16 h 5 min | 1:38 PM |
| Aug 1 | 5:58 AM | 9:18 PM | 15 h 20 min | 1:39 PM |
| Aug 15 | 6:19 AM | 8:53 PM | 14 h 34 min | 1:37 PM |
| Sep 1 | 6:46 AM | 8:18 PM | 13 h 32 min | 1:32 PM |
| Sep 15 | 7:07 AM | 7:47 PM | 12 h 39 min | 1:27 PM |
| Oct 1 | 7:32 AM | 7:10 PM | 11 h 38 min | 1:22 PM |
| Oct 15 | 7:55 AM | 6:40 PM | 10 h 45 min | 1:18 PM |
| Nov 1 | 7:24 AM | 5:07 PM | 9 h 43 min | 12:16 PM |
| Nov 15 | 7:48 AM | 4:45 PM | 8 h 57 min | 12:17 PM |
| Dec 1 | 8:13 AM | 4:29 PM | 8 h 16 min | 12:21 PM |
| Dec 15 | 8:28 AM | 4:26 PM | 7 h 58 min | 12:27 PM |
Local time in Cologne (Europe/Berlin), daylight saving time included, rounded to the minute, for an open horizon at sea level.
Earliest sunset, latest sunrise
The shortest day in Cologne is December 21, but the earliest sunset comes on December 12, at 4:26 PM, and the latest sunrise on December 30, at 8:35 AM. This shift comes from the equation of time: around the solstices, solar noon drifts by up to half a minute a day on the clock, so sunrise and sunset do not move symmetrically.
Solar noon and time zone
Cologne lies at 50.94° north and 6.96° east. Its standard time, UTC+1, is set on the 15° east meridian, so the sun reaches its highest point in Cologne about 32 minutes later than on that meridian. Over the year, solar noon falls between 12:16 PM (November 3) and 1:39 PM (July 25) on the clock, daylight saving time included.
Daylight saving time
Cologne changes its clocks. In 2026, they spring forward one hour on Sunday, March 29 (UTC+1 to UTC+2) and fall back on Sunday, October 25. On the clock, sunset jumps from 6:58 PM the day before to 8:00 PM on the day of the change. The sun itself does not move: only the clock does.
Height of the sun and twilight
At solar noon the sun climbs to 62.5° above the horizon on June 21, and only 15.6° on December 21. Civil twilight, from first light to sunrise, lasts about 33 minutes at the March equinox and 47 minutes in late June. The day length changes fastest around March 18: 3 min 54 s more each day.
From May 25 to July 17 (54 nights), the sun never sinks 18° below the horizon: the sky never gets fully dark, even at midnight.
Other cities: Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt. See also the current time in Cologne, tonight’s moon phase and sunrise and sunset anywhere.