Sankranti · संक्रांति
Sankranti 2026: Makar Sankranti and all 12 dates
Each Sankranti is the moment the Sun enters a new sign. Here are all of them for 2026 and 2027, to the minute in IST.
Makar Sankranti 2026: Wed, 14 Jan 2026, 3:11 pm IST.
Sankranti dates 2026
| Sankranti | Date | Time (IST) | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makar Sankranti मकर संक्रांति | Wed, 14 Jan 2026 | 3:11 pm | The start of Uttarayana; Pongal, Lohri (the evening before), Uttarayan kite flying and til-gud. |
| Kumbha Sankranti कुंभ संक्रांति | Fri, 13 Feb 2026 | 4:12 am | |
| Meena Sankranti मीन संक्रांति | Sun, 15 Mar 2026 | 1:06 am | Kharmas begins again until Mesha Sankranti. |
| Mesha Sankranti मेष संक्रांति | Tue, 14 Apr 2026 | 9:37 am | The solar new year in many regions: Baisakhi, Vishu, Puthandu and Pohela Boishakh. |
| Vrishabha Sankranti वृषभ संक्रांति | Fri, 15 May 2026 | 6:27 am | |
| Mithuna Sankranti मिथुन संक्रांति | Mon, 15 Jun 2026 | 12:57 pm | |
| Karka Sankranti कर्क संक्रांति | Thu, 16 Jul 2026 | 11:43 pm | The start of Dakshinayana, the Sun’s southward half of the year. |
| Simha Sankranti सिंह संक्रांति | Mon, 17 Aug 2026 | 8:02 am | |
| Kanya Sankranti कन्या संक्रांति | Thu, 17 Sep 2026 | 7:56 am | Vishwakarma Puja falls on this day. |
| Tula Sankranti तुला संक्रांति | Sat, 17 Oct 2026 | 7:56 pm | |
| Vrishchika Sankranti वृश्चिक संक्रांति | Mon, 16 Nov 2026 | 7:46 pm | |
| Dhanu Sankranti धनु संक्रांति | Wed, 16 Dec 2026 | 10:27 am | Kharmas begins: many avoid weddings and griha pravesh until Makar Sankranti. |
Sankranti dates 2027
| Sankranti | Date | Time (IST) | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makar Sankranti मकर संक्रांति | Thu, 14 Jan 2027 | 9:12 pm | The start of Uttarayana; Pongal, Lohri (the evening before), Uttarayan kite flying and til-gud. |
| Kumbha Sankranti कुंभ संक्रांति | Sat, 13 Feb 2027 | 10:11 am | |
| Meena Sankranti मीन संक्रांति | Mon, 15 Mar 2027 | 7:02 am | Kharmas begins again until Mesha Sankranti. |
| Mesha Sankranti मेष संक्रांति | Wed, 14 Apr 2027 | 3:30 pm | The solar new year in many regions: Baisakhi, Vishu, Puthandu and Pohela Boishakh. |
| Vrishabha Sankranti वृषभ संक्रांति | Sat, 15 May 2027 | 12:22 pm | |
| Mithuna Sankranti मिथुन संक्रांति | Tue, 15 Jun 2027 | 6:58 pm | |
| Karka Sankranti कर्क संक्रांति | Sat, 17 Jul 2027 | 5:50 am | The start of Dakshinayana, the Sun’s southward half of the year. |
| Simha Sankranti सिंह संक्रांति | Tue, 17 Aug 2027 | 2:15 pm | |
| Kanya Sankranti कन्या संक्रांति | Fri, 17 Sep 2027 | 2:12 pm | Vishwakarma Puja falls on this day. |
| Tula Sankranti तुला संक्रांति | Mon, 18 Oct 2027 | 2:10 am | |
| Vrishchika Sankranti वृश्चिक संक्रांति | Wed, 17 Nov 2027 | 2:00 am | |
| Dhanu Sankranti धनु संक्रांति | Thu, 16 Dec 2027 | 4:40 pm | Kharmas begins: many avoid weddings and griha pravesh until Makar Sankranti. |
The Sun’s entry into each sidereal sign (Lahiri), from the astronomy-engine library, found to the minute.
Also see all planet transits, the panchang and Amavasya and Purnima dates.
Questions about Sankranti
When is Makar Sankranti 2026?
The Sun enters Makara on Wed, 14 Jan 2026 at 3:11 pm IST. When it enters after sunset, many panchangs keep the festival and its punya kaal on the next day.
What is a Sankranti?
The moment the Sun moves from one sidereal sign into the next. There are 12 in a year, and each starts a solar month.
Why is Makar Sankranti on 14 or 15 January?
It follows the Sun’s entry into sidereal Makara, which falls on 14 or 15 January in these years and slowly moves later over the centuries.
What is punya kaal?
The auspicious window around a Sankranti for bathing, charity and prayer. Its length depends on the Sankranti and the time of day; ask for the exact window for your city.