Winter will officially arrive in Spain on Monday, December 21, 2026, at 9:50 PM (peninsular time). The new season will last for almost three months, until March 20, 2027, when spring will begin. Meanwhile, data from the last meteorological winter reflect temperatures above normal and especially abundant rainfall.
When does winter 2026 begin in Spain and how long will it last?
Winter 2026 will begin on Monday, December 21, at 9:50 PM, according to calculations by the National Astronomical Observatory, part of the National Geographic Institute (IGN). In the Canary Islands, the change of season will take place at 8:50 PM, due to the time difference with the Peninsula.
This date coincides with the winter solstice, the moment when the northern hemisphere receives the fewest hours of sunlight of the year. For this reason, December 21 will be the shortest day and the longest night of 2026. The season will last approximately 88 days and 23 hours. Its end will come on March 20, 2027, when spring will officially begin.
Last winter was warmer and wetter than usual
Data from the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) show that the last meteorological winter, between December 2025 and February 2026, was especially warm and humid in Spain. The average temperature in the Peninsula reached 7.6 degrees Celsius, one degree above the usual value for this time of year. According to AEMET, it was the ninth warmest winter since 1961 and the sixth of the 21st century.
February was the month that contributed most to this balance, with temperatures 2.4 degrees above average. January recorded values close to normal, while December was also warmer than usual. As for rainfall, winter left an average of 323.2 liters per square meter in peninsular Spain. This figure represents 71% more rain than the usual value and places it among the eight wettest winters since records began in 1961.
Despite this general balance, there were also episodes of intense cold. Between January 4 and 8, there was an influx of cold air that left temperatures much lower than usual. In Molina de Aragón (Guadalajara), thermometers reached -14 degrees on January 6.
