Sukkot 2027 begins at sundown on Friday, October 15, 2027, and ends at nightfall on Friday, October 22, 2027. The seven-day Jewish festival begins on the 15th day of Tishrei, 5788, and is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths.
The holiday commemorates the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness after leaving Egypt and celebrates the autumn harvest. Jewish families observe Sukkot by eating in temporary outdoor shelters called sukkot, gathering with loved ones, and performing traditional rituals with four special plant species.
When Is Sukkot 2027?
Sukkot 2027 starts on Friday evening, October 15, and concludes on Friday evening, October 22. Because Jewish calendar dates begin at sundown, the first full daytime observance is Saturday, October 16.
The festival runs from the 15th through the 21st of Tishrei in the Hebrew year 5788. The exact local time for candle-lighting and the end of the holiday depends on sunset and nightfall in each location.
In Israel, the first day is observed as a major festival day, followed by the intermediate days. In many Jewish communities outside Israel, the first two days are observed as yom tov. Local customs and religious practice can affect how the days are observed.
What Is Sukkot?
Sukkot is one of the three pilgrimage festivals in Judaism, together with Passover and Shavuot. Its name comes from the Hebrew word sukkah, meaning a temporary booth or shelter; sukkot is the plural.
The holiday has two closely connected themes. It recalls the temporary shelters and divine protection associated with the Israelites’ years in the wilderness, and it gives thanks for the agricultural harvest and the resources that sustain life.
The Torah describes Sukkot as a time of rejoicing and instructs the people to live in booths for seven days. These themes make the festival a time for gratitude, hospitality, community, and reflection on the relationship between people, the land, and God.
The Meaning and Significance of Sukkot
One central message of Sukkot is the importance of remembering that security and comfort should not be taken for granted. Spending time in a temporary shelter encourages people to think about vulnerability, dependence, and the protection they receive.
The harvest connection adds a message of gratitude. Sukkot takes place in the fall, after the gathering of crops in the land of Israel, and reminds worshippers to appreciate the food, work, and natural resources that support their communities.
Sukkot is also associated with joy. After the reflective period of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the festival shifts the focus toward celebration, shared meals, welcoming guests, and spending time together.
How Is Sukkot Celebrated?
The best-known Sukkot customs are building and using a sukkah, eating meals in it, and blessing the Four Species. Families and communities may also attend synagogue services, welcome guests, sing, and share festive foods.
1. Building and Decorating a Sukkah
A sukkah is a temporary structure built for the festival. It commonly has at least three walls and a roof covering made from natural plant material, known as schach, which provides shade while allowing those inside to see the sky.
Families often decorate the sukkah with fruit, paper chains, artwork, lights, or seasonal decorations. Many people eat their meals inside it throughout Sukkot, and some also spend additional time or sleep there, depending on their custom and the weather.
2. The Four Species
Another central Sukkot ritual involves the Four Species, known in Hebrew as arba minim. They are the etrog (citron), lulav (palm frond), hadas (myrtle branches), and aravah (willow branches).
The branches are held together with the etrog, and worshippers recite a blessing and wave the species in prescribed directions. The ritual is traditionally performed on each day of Sukkot except Shabbat, according to the customary practice.
The Four Species have been given several symbolic interpretations in Jewish tradition. They are often understood as representing different kinds of people brought together as one community.
3. Festive Meals and Hospitality
Meals in the sukkah are an important part of the celebration. Families may serve traditional dishes, seasonal produce, bread, soups, and desserts while inviting relatives, friends, and guests to share the experience.
Hospitality is especially meaningful during Sukkot. Some Jewish traditions include welcoming symbolic guests, known as ushpizin, representing biblical figures into the sukkah.
4. Prayer and Synagogue Services
Special prayers and readings are included in synagogue services during Sukkot. In many communities, worshippers carry the Four Species during parts of the service and take part in processions around the synagogue.
The seventh day, known as Hoshana Rabbah, has its own distinctive prayers and customs. It is an important closing day of the Sukkot festival.
Why Does the Date of Sukkot Change Every Year?
Sukkot falls on the 15th day of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar, which is lunisolar. Its months follow the cycles of the Moon, while adjustments keep the calendar aligned with the solar year and the seasons.
As a result, Sukkot moves from year to year on the Gregorian calendar, usually occurring in September or October. The Hebrew date remains the same even when the corresponding Gregorian date changes.
FAQs About Sukkot 2027
When is Sukkot 2027?
Sukkot 2027 begins at sundown on Friday, October 15, and ends at nightfall on Friday, October 22. Its seven days fall from the 15th to the 21st of Tishrei, 5788.
What are the dates for Sukkot 2027 in the Hebrew calendar?
Sukkot begins on 15 Tishrei and concludes at the end of 21 Tishrei, in the Hebrew year 5788.
Is Sukkot 2027 the same date in Israel and the United States?
The festival begins at sundown on October 15 in both places. However, some observances differ: Israel observes one opening yom tov day, while many Jewish communities in the Diaspora observe two.
When is Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah in 2027?
Shemini Atzeret begins at sundown on October 22, 2027. In the Diaspora, Simchat Torah follows and concludes on October 24; in Israel, the celebrations are combined on October 23.
Also see: Shemini Atzeret 2027: Dates, Meaning, and Customs | Complete List of Jewish Holidays in 2027
Final Thoughts
Sukkot 2027 begins on the evening of October 15 and concludes on the evening of October 22. Through the sukkah, the Four Species, festive meals, and communal prayers, the holiday brings together remembrance, gratitude, hospitality, and joy.