Above Newgrange’s entrance, a rectangular opening is almost imperceptible in the façade. Yet around the winter solstice, it is through this opening that the rising sun enters the Neolithic tomb. It travels along the stone passage for almost nineteen metres, reaching a chamber that daylight rarely reaches in this way. On Monday 21 December 2026, the Office of Public Works (OPW), which manages the monument, plans to broadcast this sunrise live.
How can you follow the 2026 solstice at Newgrange?
A live broadcast on 21 December, with no place to book inside the tomb
Details are announced on the official Newgrange solstice page. As of 9 November, the OPW had not yet published the start time or the broadcast link for the 2026 event. This is the page to check as 21 December approaches. The OPW’s official YouTube channel already has recordings of previous years. If you are watching the live broadcast from mainland France, add one hour to the Irish time once it has been announced.
The broadcast is planned even though there can be no guarantee that the beam of light will be visible. The sky needs to be sufficiently clear on the horizon at sunrise: a bank of cloud can be enough to obscure the sun when it is aligned with the opening. That is also what sets the live broadcast apart from a guided visit: you wait to see what that particular dawn will reveal.
The draw to enter the chamber has already taken place
On 15 October 2026, pupils from three local schools took part in the draw at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre. The OPW received 34,263 applications and selected 38 winners, each permitted to bring one guest. The invitations apply to sunrises during the solstice period, not necessarily on the morning of 21 December alone. A standard visitor ticket does not grant access to the chamber at dawn.
Why does the sun reach Newgrange’s chamber?
An opening above the entrance guides the beam along the passage
Built around 3200 BCE in the Boyne Valley, County Meath, Newgrange forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne. The opening known in English as the roof-box is positioned above the entrance. Around the solstice, when the sun rises at the right angle, its rays pass through this opening and follow the slope of the passage to the chamber. The light begins as a narrow band, widens, then recedes as the sun rises.
The OPW states that the illumination can last for around seventeen minutes when conditions allow. The alignment can be seen around the solstice and is not confined to a single morning. It demonstrates the precision with which the builders positioned the opening and orientated the passage. Architecture alone, however, cannot tell us what they did in the chamber at that time of year, or what this light meant to them.
Can you already enter the draw for the 2027 solstice?
The official form is open, with one entry per email address
The OPW is already accepting applications through the official Newgrange draw form. The rules state that entries close at midnight Irish time on Sunday 26 September 2027; entries received after this deadline will be carried over to the 2028 draw. The form specifies that entrants must be over ten years old and that minors must be accompanied by an adult. Places are non-transferable, and winners must present photo ID on arrival.
For a standard visit, start at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre
If your main aim is to see the monument, plan a standard visit outside the solstice arrangements. The starting point is the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, not the tomb entrance. When booking, check that your chosen tour includes access to the chamber: not all options do. If you are planning to travel during the solstice itself, wait for the OPW’s traffic and access guidance, which had not yet been detailed as of 9 November.
