Sun Aligns With D.C. and New York Streets on 2026 Henge Dates

6 articles · Updated · WJLA · May 27

Washington and New York will see several 2026 “henge” alignments, when the rising or setting sun lines up with city streets to create bright urban corridors.
23.5 degrees of Earth’s axial tilt shifts the sun’s position through the year, and the effect appears only when that angle matches a city’s street grid.
Washington’s next sunset viewing chance is July 11 after cloudy conditions spoil Tuesday night; other D.C. dates include Sept. 17 for sunset and Oct. 26 for sunrise.
New York’s best-known Manhattanhenge arrives May 28-29 and July 11-12, with prime views along 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd and 57th streets.
The phenomenon is not unique to those cities: any place with long, straight streets and tall buildings—from Chicago to Toronto—can produce similar alignments.

Beyond Manhattan, which other global cities offer their own stunning 'henge' alignments worth seeing?

Could the lesser-known 'Reverse Manhattanhenge' sunrise be a more rewarding experience than the famous sunset?

Was the Manhattanhenge spectacle an intentional secret hidden within the city's original 1811 grid plan?