In December 2026, sunrise in Madison moves from 7:10 AM on December 1 to 7:30 AM on December 31, and sunset from 4:25 PM to 4:33 PM. Daylight changes from 9h 15m to 9h 03m. The fullest moon falls on December 23 (100% lit) and the darkest nights for stars are around December 8.
Sunrise range
7:10 AM → 7:30 AM
Sunset range
4:25 PM → 4:33 PM
Full moon
Dec 23
moonrise 3:50 PM
New moon
Dec 8
best for stars
Day-by-day sun & moon times — December 2026
| Date | Sunrise | Morning golden hour | Evening golden hour | Sunset | Blue hour | Daylight | Moon | Moonrise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 1 | 7:10 AM | 6:51 AM–7:55 AM | 3:40 PM–4:45 PM | 4:25 PM | 4:45 PM–4:57 PM | 9h 15m | 46% | — |
| Wed 2 | 7:11 AM | 6:52 AM–7:56 AM | 3:40 PM–4:44 PM | 4:25 PM | 4:44 PM–4:57 PM | 9h 13m | 35% | 12:33 AM |
| Thu 3 | 7:12 AM | 6:53 AM–7:58 AM | 3:39 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:56 PM | 9h 12m | 25% | 1:44 AM |
| Fri 4 | 7:13 AM | 6:54 AM–7:59 AM | 3:39 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:56 PM | 9h 11m | 17% | 2:54 AM |
| Sat 5 | 7:14 AM | 6:55 AM–8:00 AM | 3:39 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:56 PM | 9h 10m | 10% | 4:03 AM |
| Sun 6 | 7:15 AM | 6:56 AM–8:01 AM | 3:38 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:56 PM | 9h 08m | 5% | 5:12 AM |
| Mon 7 | 7:16 AM | 6:57 AM–8:02 AM | 3:38 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:56 PM | 9h 07m | 2% | 6:18 AM |
| Tue 8 | 7:17 AM | 6:57 AM–8:03 AM | 3:38 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:56 PM | 9h 06m | 0% | 7:20 AM |
| Wed 9 | 7:18 AM | 6:58 AM–8:04 AM | 3:38 PM–4:43 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:43 PM–4:56 PM | 9h 05m | 1% | 8:15 AM |
| Thu 10 | 7:19 AM | 6:59 AM–8:05 AM | 3:38 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:56 PM | 9h 04m | 3% | 9:01 AM |
| Fri 11 | 7:20 AM | 7:00 AM–8:06 AM | 3:38 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:56 PM | 9h 04m | 7% | 9:41 AM |
| Sat 12 | 7:21 AM | 7:01 AM–8:07 AM | 3:38 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:56 PM | 9h 03m | 12% | 10:12 AM |
| Sun 13 | 7:22 AM | 7:02 AM–8:08 AM | 3:38 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:56 PM | 9h 02m | 19% | 10:39 AM |
| Mon 14 | 7:22 AM | 7:02 AM–8:08 AM | 3:38 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:56 PM | 9h 02m | 27% | 11:00 AM |
| Tue 15 | 7:23 AM | 7:03 AM–8:09 AM | 3:38 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:57 PM | 9h 01m | 37% | 11:21 AM |
| Wed 16 | 7:24 AM | 7:04 AM–8:10 AM | 3:38 PM–4:44 PM | 4:24 PM | 4:44 PM–4:57 PM | 9h 01m | 47% | 11:41 AM |
| Thu 17 | 7:24 AM | 7:04 AM–8:11 AM | 3:38 PM–4:45 PM | 4:25 PM | 4:45 PM–4:57 PM | 9h 00m | 57% | 12:00 PM |
| Fri 18 | 7:25 AM | 7:05 AM–8:11 AM | 3:39 PM–4:45 PM | 4:25 PM | 4:45 PM–4:57 PM | 9h 00m | 67% | 12:23 PM |
| Sat 19 | 7:26 AM | 7:06 AM–8:12 AM | 3:39 PM–4:45 PM | 4:25 PM | 4:45 PM–4:58 PM | 9h 00m | 77% | 12:48 PM |
| Sun 20 | 7:26 AM | 7:06 AM–8:13 AM | 3:39 PM–4:46 PM | 4:26 PM | 4:46 PM–4:58 PM | 9h 00m | 86% | 1:18 PM |
| Mon 21 | 7:27 AM | 7:07 AM–8:13 AM | 3:40 PM–4:46 PM | 4:26 PM | 4:46 PM–4:59 PM | 9h 00m | 93% | 1:57 PM |
| Tue 22 | 7:27 AM | 7:07 AM–8:14 AM | 3:40 PM–4:47 PM | 4:27 PM | 4:47 PM–4:59 PM | 9h 00m | 97% | 2:47 PM |
| Wed 23 | 7:28 AM | 7:08 AM–8:14 AM | 3:41 PM–4:47 PM | 4:27 PM | 4:47 PM–5:00 PM | 9h 00m | 100% | 3:50 PM |
| Thu 24 | 7:28 AM | 7:08 AM–8:14 AM | 3:41 PM–4:48 PM | 4:28 PM | 4:48 PM–5:00 PM | 9h 00m | 99% | 5:02 PM |
| Fri 25 | 7:28 AM | 7:08 AM–8:15 AM | 3:42 PM–4:48 PM | 4:28 PM | 4:48 PM–5:01 PM | 9h 00m | 96% | 6:22 PM |
| Sat 26 | 7:29 AM | 7:09 AM–8:15 AM | 3:43 PM–4:49 PM | 4:29 PM | 4:49 PM–5:01 PM | 9h 00m | 90% | 7:43 PM |
| Sun 27 | 7:29 AM | 7:09 AM–8:15 AM | 3:43 PM–4:50 PM | 4:30 PM | 4:50 PM–5:02 PM | 9h 01m | 82% | 9:00 PM |
| Mon 28 | 7:29 AM | 7:09 AM–8:15 AM | 3:44 PM–4:50 PM | 4:30 PM | 4:50 PM–5:03 PM | 9h 01m | 73% | 10:16 PM |
| Tue 29 | 7:30 AM | 7:09 AM–8:16 AM | 3:45 PM–4:51 PM | 4:31 PM | 4:51 PM–5:03 PM | 9h 02m | 62% | 11:28 PM |
| Wed 30 | 7:30 AM | 7:10 AM–8:16 AM | 3:46 PM–4:52 PM | 4:32 PM | 4:52 PM–5:04 PM | 9h 02m | 51% | — |
| Thu 31 | 7:30 AM | 7:10 AM–8:16 AM | 3:47 PM–4:53 PM | 4:33 PM | 4:53 PM–5:05 PM | 9h 03m | 41% | 12:39 AM |
Highlighted rows are full and new moon days. Times are local (America/Chicago) and computed for Madison city center.
Photo planning tips for December
- The December solstice brings the earliest sunsets and the most southerly sunrise and sunset.
- Long nights are ideal for star trails and winter constellations.
- The Geminids peak around December 13–14 — the year's richest shower.
Other months
JanuaryMadisonFebruaryMadisonMarchMadisonAprilMadisonMayMadisonJuneMadisonJulyMadisonAugustMadisonSeptemberMadisonOctoberMadisonNovemberMadisonDecemberMadison
FAQ
What time is sunset in Madison in December?
Between 4:25 PM (on December 1) and 4:33 PM (on December 31), local time.
When is golden hour in Madison in December?
On December 15 the evening golden hour is 3:38 PM–4:44 PM and the morning golden hour is 7:03 AM–8:09 AM.
When is the full moon in December 2026?
The moon is fullest on December 23; it rises around 3:50 PM in Madison. Full moonrise at dusk is a classic landscape shot.