Summer solstice happens precisely when the Earth's axial tilt is most inclined towards the sun, at the degree of 23° 26'.

Depending on the shift of the calendar, the summer solstice occurs sometime between December 21 and December 22 in the Southern Hemisphere and between June 20 and June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere

The majority of people simply consider summer solstice as the first day of summer and the day of the year with the longest period of daylight.

The following lists the dates and UTC times of the summer solstice for the early portion of the 21st century.

Year

Northern Hemisphere

Southern Hemisphere

2000

June 21, 01:48

December 21, 13:37

2001

June 21, 07:38

December 21, 19:21

2002

June 21, 13:24

December 22, 01:14

2003

June 21, 19:10

December 22, 07:04

2004

June 21, 00:57

December 21, 12:42

2005

June 21, 06:46

December 21, 18:35

2006

June 21, 12:26

December 22, 00:22

2007

June 21, 18:06

December 22, 06:08

2008

June 20, 23:59

December 21, 12:04

2009

June 21, 05:46

December 21, 17:47

2010

June 21, 11:28

December 21, 23:38

2011

June 21, 17:16

December 22, 05:30

2012

June 20, 23:09

December 21, 11:12

2013

June 21, 05:04

December 21, 17:11

2014

June 21, 10:51

December 21, 21:23

2015

June 21, 16:38

December 22, 04:48

2016

June 20, 22:34

December 21, 10:44

2017

June 21, 04:24

December 21, 16:28

2018

June 21, 10:07

December 21, 22:23

2019

June 21, 15:54

December 22, 04:19

2020

June 20, 21:44

December 21, 10:02

A couple celebrates summer solstice at the marker for the summer solstice at the Kokino megalithic observatory June 21, 2011. The 3,800-year-old observatory was discovered in 2001 in the northwestern town of Kumanovo, 70 km 43 miles north from Skopje, a
A couple celebrates summer solstice at the marker for the summer solstice at the Kokino megalithic observatory June 21, 2011. The 3,800-year-old observatory was discovered in 2001 in the northwestern town of Kumanovo, 70 km (43 miles) north from Skopje, and is ranked the fourth oldest observatory in the world, according to NASA. Reuters
A man celebrates summer solstice at the marker for the summer solstice at the Kokino megalithic observatory June 21, 2011. The 3,800-year-old observatory was discovered in 2001 in the northwestern town of Kumanovo, 70 km 43 miles north from Skopje, and
A man celebrates summer solstice at the marker for the summer solstice at the Kokino megalithic observatory June 21, 2011. The 3,800-year-old observatory was discovered in 2001 in the northwestern town of Kumanovo, 70 km (43 miles) north from Skopje, and is ranked as the fourth oldest observatory in the world, according to NASA. Reuters
Locals observe a bonfire as they celebrate summer solstice in Tuja, about 75 km 47 miles from the capital Riga
Locals observe a bonfire as they celebrate summer solstice in Tuja, about 75 km (47 miles) from the capital Riga Reuters
A man celebrates the summer solstice at the Kokino megalithic observatory June 21, 2008. The 3,800-year-old observatory was discovered in 2001 in the northwestern town of Kumanovo, 70 km 43 miles north from Skopje, and is ranked as the fourth oldest obs
A man celebrates the summer solstice at the Kokino megalithic observatory June 21, 2008. The 3,800-year-old observatory was discovered in 2001 in the northwestern town of Kumanovo, 70 km (43 miles) north from Skopje, and is ranked as the fourth oldest observatory in the world, according to NASA. Reuters
A man points at the marker for the summer solstice at the Kokino megalithic observatory June 21, 2008. The 3,800-year-old observatory was discovered in 2001 in the northwestern town of Kumanovo, 70 km 43 miles north from Skopje, and is ranked as the fou
A man points at the marker for the summer solstice at the Kokino megalithic observatory June 21, 2008. The 3,800-year-old observatory was discovered in 2001 in the northwestern town of Kumanovo, 70 km (43 miles) north from Skopje, and is ranked as the fourth oldest observatory in the world, according to NASA Reuters