Thousands set to visit Stonehenge for Summer Solstice celebrations
It will mark the longest day and the shortest night of the year
Last updated 20th Jun 2026
Stonehenge is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors tonight as people celebrate the Summer Solstice.
It marks the longest day of the year and the shortest night, as well as the astronomical summer, with visitors gathering around the stones for sunset and sunrise.
The stones were erected on the alignment of the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset with the first stones raised around 2,500 BC. The Summer Solstice will see the sun rise behind the Heel Stone, which is the monument's ancient entrance, with rays of sun channelled into the centre of the stone circle.
It happens when the hemisphere is at it's maximum tilt towards the sun. Sunrise at Stonehenge on Sunday morning will be at 04:52am.
Steve Bax, Operations Director for Stonehenge: “Celebrating the longest day of the year is a tradition at Stonehenge and it’s our job to look after the ancient stones and all the families and friends joining us at this special time.
Visitors are asked to avoid touching the stones as they are vulnerable. They are home to prehistoric carvings, but also dozens of rare lichens that grow on them.
Pre-booked parking has been sold out for days ahead of the celebrations, with visitors without pre-booked spaces asked to use public transport to get to the stones.
Salisbury Reds are putting on extra buses from Amesbury and Salisbury to get people to the ancient site. The timetables can be found here.
Last year saw road closures as people were abandoning cars on grass verges, but Wiltshire Police has set up a dedicated operation to create safe environments and ensure celebrations are peaceful.
Anyone leaving there vehicle at the roadside is warned that it will be towed away.
Chief Superintendent Guy Elkins, lead officer for the policing operation, said: “We will be delivering a proportionate policing operation at both Stonehenge and Avebury, policing in the same way we would any nighttime economy.
“We will be attending the event to support our partners including English Heritage and the National Trust. You can expect firm, fair and friendly policing throughout. We’re not here to spoil anyone’s fun, but we will take action where behaviour crosses the line into intimidation, violence or public disorder."