Thefall equinoxis here, marking the first day of autumn — and depending on where you live, changing leaves and other signs of the season may soon follow.
The first day of fall is Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. The autumnal equinox marks the astronomical start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and occurs when Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, resulting in nearly equal amounts of daylight and darkness around the globe.
The change of seasons also brings cooler temperatures — hopefully soon — and colorful fall foliage. Leaves have already begun changing across parts of the northern U.S., but Texans will have to wait a little longer for peak fall color.
When is the first day of fall this year?
The first day of fall is Tuesday, Sept.
22, 2026.
What is the fall equinox?
Equinoxes occur twice each year. The vernal equinox marks the beginning of spring, while the autumnal equinox marks the beginning of fall.
Although the word “equinox” is associated with equal day and night, daylight and darkness are not exactly 12 hours each. One reason is atmospheric refraction, which bends the sun’s rays and makes the sun appear above the horizon even when it is technically below it.
During the autumnal equinox, also known as the September equinox, the sun crosses the celestial equator from north to south. From here, daylight hours will continue to decrease in the Northern Hemisphere as the winter solstice approaches.
When will leaves change?
Based on historical foliage patterns, fall colors in 2026 are expected to peak first in northern states and higher elevations beginning in late September, then gradually move south through October and into early November, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
Weather conditions, including temperatures, rainfall and early frosts, can shift peak foliage by several days and affect how vibrant the colors appear, the Almanac states.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Is today the first day of fall? When autumn starts and leaves change
