The summer solstice this year happens at 7:42 p.m. on Friday, June 20, in the Bay Area. Here’s what to know: In the Northern Hemisphere, it occurs when the North Pole attains its maximum tilt toward the sun. At that point the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer, and summer officially begins.

The astronomical start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, also known as the longest day of the year, is Friday, June 20, 2025, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Meteorological summer begins on June 1 and runs through the end of August, while astronomical summer is June 20 through Sept. 22.

The 2025 summer solstice falls on Friday, June 20, at 10:42 p.m. ET, according to NASA and the Old Farmer's Almanac. This marks the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, when the Earth's tilt positions it closest to the Sun.