Helsinki, May 17, 2026 – The Europe Today: The midnight sun has officially returned to the northernmost regions of Finland, marking the beginning of a seasonal phenomenon during which the sun no longer sets above the Arctic Circle.
The phenomenon began this week in Utsjoki and will continue for more than two months, with the sun remaining above the horizon around the clock throughout the period.
Finland’s midnight sun zone stretches north of the Kemi–Kuusamo line and covers large areas of Lapland, where daylight continues uninterrupted even during nighttime hours as summer approaches its peak.
In southern parts of the country, nights also remain unusually bright during the summer season, despite the sun briefly dipping below the horizon.
According to the Finnish astronomy association Ursa, Finland will not experience a completely dark night again until August 2.
The longest duration of continuous daylight occurs in Nuorgam, Finland’s northernmost village and the northernmost settlement within the European Union. There, the midnight sun lasts for approximately 74 days, beginning around May 15 or 16 each year and continuing until late July.
The natural phenomenon is caused by the Earth’s axial tilt as it orbits the sun. Regions located above the Arctic Circle receive uninterrupted daylight around the time of the summer solstice.
This year’s summer solstice will occur on June 21, when daylight reaches its annual maximum and the night becomes shortest. The summer solstice typically takes place each year between June 20 and June 22.
