May 2026 Sunrise & Sunset Today in Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦
Sun Phase: Nautical Twilight
Sunrise Today: 07:08 ↑ 79.3° E
Sunset Today: 18:26 ↑ 280.5° W
Day Length: 11h 17m
Sun Direction: W
Sun Altitude: -11.9°
Sun Distance: 151.066 million km
Next Equinox: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 (September Equinox)
When Is Sunrise & Sunset in Cape Town?
May 2026 Sunrise & Sunset Times in Cape Town
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| Day | Sunrise/Sunset | Daylight | Astronomical Twilight | Nautical Twilight | Civil Twilight | Solar Noon | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise | Sunset | Length | Diff. | Start | End | Start | End | Start | End | Time | Sun Dist. (Mil km) | |
| 1 |
07:21
↑
72° ENE
|
18:05
↑
288° WNW
|
10h 43m | -1m 45s | 05:56 | 19:30 | 06:25 | 19:01 | 06:54 | 18:31 | 12:43 | 150.72 |
| 2 |
07:22
↑
72° ENE
|
18:04
↑
288° WNW
|
10h 42m | -1m 44s | 05:56 | 19:29 | 06:26 | 19:00 | 06:55 | 18:30 | 12:43 | 150.76 |
| 3 |
07:22
↑
72° ENE
|
18:03
↑
289° WNW
|
10h 40m | -1m 43s | 05:57 | 19:28 | 06:26 | 18:59 | 06:56 | 18:29 | 12:43 | 150.79 |
| 4 |
07:23
↑
71° ENE
|
18:02
↑
289° WNW
|
10h 38m | -1m 42s | 05:58 | 19:27 | 06:27 | 18:58 | 06:56 | 18:28 | 12:43 | 150.83 |
| 5 |
07:24
↑
71° ENE
|
18:01
↑
289° WNW
|
10h 37m | -1m 40s | 05:58 | 19:26 | 06:28 | 18:57 | 06:57 | 18:28 | 12:43 | 150.87 |
| 6 |
07:25
↑
70° ENE
|
18:00
↑
290° WNW
|
10h 35m | -1m 39s | 05:59 | 19:26 | 06:28 | 18:56 | 06:58 | 18:27 | 12:42 | 150.91 |
| 7 |
07:25
↑
70° ENE
|
17:59
↑
290° WNW
|
10h 33m | -1m 38s | 05:59 | 19:25 | 06:29 | 18:56 | 06:59 | 18:26 | 12:42 | 150.94 |
| 8 |
07:26
↑
70° ENE
|
17:58
↑
290° WNW
|
10h 32m | -1m 37s | 06:00 | 19:24 | 06:30 | 18:55 | 06:59 | 18:25 | 12:42 | 150.98 |
| 9 |
07:27
↑
70° ENE
|
17:57
↑
291° WNW
|
10h 30m | -1m 35s | 06:01 | 19:23 | 06:30 | 18:54 | 07:00 | 18:24 | 12:42 | 151.02 |
| 10 |
07:28
↑
69° ENE
|
17:57
↑
291° WNW
|
10h 29m | -1m 34s | 06:01 | 19:23 | 06:31 | 18:53 | 07:01 | 18:23 | 12:42 | 151.05 |
| 11 |
07:28
↑
69° ENE
|
17:56
↑
291° WNW
|
10h 27m | -1m 32s | 06:02 | 19:22 | 06:31 | 18:53 | 07:01 | 18:23 | 12:42 | 151.09 |
| 12 |
07:29
↑
68° ENE
|
17:55
↑
292° WNW
|
10h 25m | -1m 31s | 06:03 | 19:21 | 06:32 | 18:52 | 07:02 | 18:22 | 12:42 | 151.12 |
| 13 |
07:30
↑
68° ENE
|
17:54
↑
292° WNW
|
10h 24m | -1m 29s | 06:03 | 19:21 | 06:33 | 18:51 | 07:03 | 18:21 | 12:42 | 151.16 |
| 14 |
07:31
↑
68° ENE
|
17:54
↑
292° WNW
|
10h 23m | -1m 28s | 06:04 | 19:20 | 06:33 | 18:51 | 07:03 | 18:21 | 12:42 | 151.19 |
| 15 |
07:31
↑
68° ENE
|
17:53
↑
292° WNW
|
10h 21m | -1m 26s | 06:04 | 19:20 | 06:34 | 18:50 | 07:04 | 18:20 | 12:42 | 151.22 |
| 16 |
07:32
↑
67° ENE
|
17:52
↑
293° WNW
|
10h 20m | -1m 24s | 06:05 | 19:19 | 06:35 | 18:49 | 07:05 | 18:19 | 12:42 | 151.25 |
| 17 |
07:33
↑
67° ENE
|
17:51
↑
293° WNW
|
10h 18m | -1m 23s | 06:06 | 19:19 | 06:35 | 18:49 | 07:05 | 18:19 | 12:42 | 151.29 |
| 18 |
07:33
↑
67° ENE
|
17:51
↑
293° WNW
|
10h 17m | -1m 21s | 06:06 | 19:18 | 06:36 | 18:48 | 07:06 | 18:18 | 12:42 | 151.32 |
| 19 |
07:34
↑
66° ENE
|
17:50
↑
294° WNW
|
10h 16m | -1m 19s | 06:07 | 19:18 | 06:37 | 18:48 | 07:07 | 18:18 | 12:42 | 151.35 |
| 20 |
07:35
↑
66° ENE
|
17:50
↑
294° WNW
|
10h 14m | -1m 17s | 06:07 | 19:17 | 06:37 | 18:47 | 07:07 | 18:17 | 12:42 | 151.38 |
| 21 |
07:36
↑
66° ENE
|
17:49
↑
294° WNW
|
10h 13m | -1m 15s | 06:08 | 19:17 | 06:38 | 18:47 | 07:08 | 18:16 | 12:42 | 151.40 |
| 22 |
07:36
↑
66° ENE
|
17:49
↑
294° WNW
|
10h 12m | -1m 14s | 06:08 | 19:16 | 06:38 | 18:46 | 07:09 | 18:16 | 12:42 | 151.43 |
| 23 |
07:37
↑
66° ENE
|
17:48
↑
295° WNW
|
10h 11m | -1m 12s | 06:09 | 19:16 | 06:39 | 18:46 | 07:09 | 18:16 | 12:43 | 151.46 |
| 24 |
07:38
↑
65° ENE
|
17:48
↑
295° WNW
|
10h 09m | -1m 10s | 06:10 | 19:15 | 06:40 | 18:46 | 07:10 | 18:15 | 12:43 | 151.49 |
| 25 |
07:38
↑
65° ENE
|
17:47
↑
295° WNW
|
10h 08m | -1m 08s | 06:10 | 19:15 | 06:40 | 18:45 | 07:11 | 18:15 | 12:43 | 151.51 |
| 26 |
07:39
↑
65° ENE
|
17:47
↑
295° WNW
|
10h 07m | -1m 06s | 06:11 | 19:15 | 06:41 | 18:45 | 07:11 | 18:14 | 12:43 | 151.54 |
| 27 |
07:40
↑
65° ENE
|
17:46
↑
296° WNW
|
10h 06m | -1m 03s | 06:11 | 19:15 | 06:41 | 18:44 | 07:12 | 18:14 | 12:43 | 151.56 |
| 28 |
07:40
↑
64° ENE
|
17:46
↑
296° WNW
|
10h 05m | -1m 01s | 06:12 | 19:14 | 06:42 | 18:44 | 07:12 | 18:14 | 12:43 | 151.59 |
| 29 |
07:41
↑
64° ENE
|
17:45
↑
296° WNW
|
10h 04m | -0m 59s | 06:12 | 19:14 | 06:42 | 18:44 | 07:13 | 18:13 | 12:43 | 151.61 |
| 30 |
07:41
↑
64° ENE
|
17:45
↑
296° WNW
|
10h 03m | -0m 57s | 06:13 | 19:14 | 06:43 | 18:44 | 07:14 | 18:13 | 12:43 | 151.64 |
| 31 |
07:42
↑
64° ENE
|
17:45
↑
296° WNW
|
10h 02m | -0m 55s | 06:13 | 19:14 | 06:43 | 18:43 | 07:14 | 18:13 | 12:43 | 151.66 |
|
All times are in local time for Cape Town. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is not currently in effect. Calculations account for atmospheric refraction and are based on the Gregorian calendar. Today's date is in the table. |
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In Cape Town, the earliest sunrise of May is on May 01 and the latest sunset of May is on May 01.
2026 Sun Graph for Cape Town
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Sun's Path on Selected Date in Cape Town
Today's Sunrise & Sunset times in other cities in South Africa:
Browse Sunrise Times in South Africa by cities in alphabetical order:
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Is the Day Getting Longer or Shorter in Cape Town?
Days in Cape Town are currently getting longer by about 1m 58s each day, roughly 14 minutes more daylight per week.
Golden Hour & Blue Hour in Cape Town Today
| Morning | Evening | |
|---|---|---|
| Blue hour | 06:43-06:52 | 18:42-18:51 |
| Golden hour | 06:52-07:41 | 17:53-18:42 |
Cape Town's Longest and Shortest Days
| Event | Date | Daylight |
|---|---|---|
| Longest day | December 21, 2026 | 14h 24m |
| Shortest day | June 22, 2026 | 9h 53m |
| Earliest sunrise | December 1, 2026 | 05:28 |
| Latest sunset | January 6, 2027 | 20:01 |
Qibla Direction & Distance to Mecca From Cape Town
The same solar geometry that fixes sunrise and sunset in Cape Town also fixes the Qibla: face 23deg (NNE) and the Kaaba in Mecca lies about 6,559 km ahead. Check the Qibla direction from Cape Town on a live compass.
Understanding Twilight & the Golden Hour
After the sun drops below the horizon, the sky does not turn dark all at once. Civil twilight is the brightest stage, when there is still enough natural light for most outdoor activities. Nautical twilight follows, when the sea horizon becomes hard to make out. Astronomical twilight is the darkest stage, after which the sky is fully dark and the faintest stars appear. The same three stages occur in reverse before sunrise, as dawn.
In Cape Town today, the morning golden hour runs 06:52-07:41 and the evening golden hour 17:53-18:42, with the cooler blue hour around 06:43-06:52 and 18:42-18:51. These warm and cool light windows drift through the year as the sun's path changes.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sun in Cape Town
What time is sunrise in Cape Town today?
The sun rises over Cape Town today at 07:08 local time.
What time is sunset in Cape Town today?
Today Cape Town has sunset at 18:26 local time.
What time is solar noon in Cape Town today?
Solar noon in Cape Town — when the sun is at its highest point in the sky — is at 12:47 local time today.
When does civil twilight begin and end in Cape Town?
In Cape Town today: civil twilight begins at 06:43 (before sunrise) and ends at 18:51 (after sunset). Civil twilight is the brightest of the three twilight phases.
When does nautical twilight occur in Cape Town?
Nautical twilight in Cape Town today runs from 06:14 in the morning to 19:20 in the evening — the period when the horizon is still visible to sailors but stars are out.
When is the sky fully dark in Cape Town for stargazing?
Astronomical twilight in Cape Town ends at 19:49 in the evening and resumes at 05:45 in the morning — between those times the sky is fully dark, ideal for observing faint stars and deep-sky objects.
Where on the horizon does the sun rise and set in Cape Town?
Today in Cape Town, the sun rises at an azimuth of 79° and sets at 281° (measured clockwise from due north). The exact angle shifts slightly each day with the seasons.
