Autumn Equinox 2026 Arrives on September 23
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Summer will officially end on 23 September 2026, when the autumn equinox takes place. This event marks the start of the new season.
Many people assume that summer always ends on 21 September, but the exact date can change from year to year. In 2026, the equinox falls on 23 September instead.
The reason for this shift lies in astronomy. An equinox happens twice a year, once in spring and once in autumn, when day and night are nearly equal in length everywhere on Earth.
This happens because of how Earth orbits the Sun and how it spins on its axis. The axis is slightly tilted, which is also the reason we have different seasons throughout the year.
Because Earth's orbit is not perfectly regular, the exact date of the equinox can move slightly each year. This explains why the season change does not always fall on the same calendar day.
The change of season has been marked by people for thousands of years. Many ancient cultures created traditions and festivals linked to the equinox, often connected to farming, harvests, or religious beliefs.
After the autumn equinox, days gradually become shorter and nights grow longer, continuing until the winter solstice, when the process reverses again.
Vocabulary10 words
- equinox
- a day when day and night last about the same time
- astronomy
- the science of stars, planets, and space
- Earth
- the planet where humans live
- orbits
- moves in a circle around something
- axis
- an imaginary line a planet spins around
- tilted
- leaning slightly to one side
- ancient
- from a very long time ago
- traditions
- customs passed down for many years
- festivals
- special celebrations held on certain days
- solstice
- the day with the longest or shortest sunlight in a year
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Because Earth's orbit is not perfectly regular 2. Twice 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Summer will officially end on 23 September 2026, when the autumn _____ takes place.
Many people assume that summer always ends on 21 September, but the exact date can _____ from year to year.
An equinox happens twice a year, when day and night are nearly _____ in length everywhere on Earth.
This happens because of how Earth _____ the Sun and how it spins on its _____.
The axis is slightly _____, which is also the reason we have different seasons.
Many _____ cultures created traditions and _____ linked to the equinox.
After the autumn equinox, days gradually become shorter until the winter _____.
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