Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends on Saturday, December 12. New York has the largest Jewish population of any city outside Israel, and it celebrates with giant public menorahs, lightings and family events across the five boroughs and suburbs.
Quick Facts
| Hanukkah 2026 | Sundown Dec 4 – nightfall Dec 12 |
|---|---|
| Largest menorahs | Grand Army Plaza, Manhattan (Fifth Ave & 59th St) and Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn |
| Typical lighting times | Weeknights around sundown; Friday lightings earlier, before Shabbat; Saturday after nightfall |
Giant Menorah Lightings
- Grand Army Plaza, Manhattan — a towering menorah at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, lit nightly with live music on some nights.
- Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn — its rival giant menorah at the entrance to Prospect Park, with concerts and latkes on select nights.
- Hudson Yards — lightings in the Public Square.
Outside the City
- Stew Leonard’s (Norwalk, CT) — one of the region’s best-known lightings with an 18-foot menorah.
- Long Island — lightings in Huntington Village, Sag Harbor, Brookhaven and more (see Long Island lightings).
- New Haven Green and many New Jersey downtowns.
Food
Pick up latkes and sufganiyot at Jewish delis and bakeries across the city, from the Lower East Side to the Upper West Side.
About Hanukkah
Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. For eight nights, families light the menorah, adding one candle each night, and eat foods fried in oil, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts). Children play dreidel and often receive gelt, chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil.
Public Menorah Lightings
New York is home to some of the largest public menorahs in the world. The two giant menorahs at Grand Army Plaza in Manhattan and in Brooklyn are lit every night of Hanukkah, often with music, dancing and free latkes on select nights. Neighborhood lightings also take place at Hudson Yards, in parks and at community centers across the boroughs.
Hanukkah Food in New York
Jewish delis and bakeries on the Lower East Side, Upper West Side and in Brooklyn serve latkes, sufganiyot, rugelach and babka throughout the holiday. It’s a delicious way to celebrate even if you don’t observe the holiday.
For Families
Museums and Jewish community centers host family Hanukkah programs with crafts, music and storytelling. The Jewish Museum on Fifth Avenue and community centers across the city publish holiday calendars in November.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Hanukkah 2026?
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, December 12.
Where is the biggest menorah in NYC?
Both Grand Army Plaza in Manhattan and Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn host giant public menorahs, each claiming to be the world’s largest.
What do people eat at Hanukkah?
Foods fried in oil, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), along with other treats like rugelach.
