Sukkot 2027: The Festival of Tabernacles
Festival guide · 2027
Sukkot (סוּכּוֹת) — the Festival of Tabernacles — is the joyful harvest festival that begins five days after Yom Kippur, on 15 Tishrei. It commemorates the 40 years the Israelites lived in temporary shelters in the desert and is one of the three biblical pilgrimage festivals.
Sukkot lasts seven days in Israel and eight in the Diaspora, and is called 'the season of our joy' (z'man simchateinu). It closes with Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah — two of the most festive days in the Jewish year.
2027 Dates
| Date | Friday, October 15, 2027 |
Dates are calculated automatically and may vary by ±1 day. Always confirm with your local religious authority.
Traditions & Observance
Building the Sukkah
The sukkah is a temporary booth with walls and a roof of plant matter (schach) through which stars should be visible. Families eat meals inside — and many sleep there — for the seven days. The sukkah is decorated with hanging fruits, vegetables, and paper chains. It represents both the fragility of physical shelter and trust in God's protection.
The Four Species (Arba Minim)
Each day, Jews take and wave four plant species: an etrog (citron), lulav (palm branch), three myrtle branches, and two willow branches. They are waved in six directions, symbolising God's presence everywhere. Each species represents a different type of person — together they embody the unity of the Jewish people.
Hol HaMoed and Hoshana Rabbah
The middle days (Hol HaMoed) are semi-festive, with families taking outings and communities organising events. The 7th day — Hoshana Rabbah — is the last day to finalise the divine judgment sealed on Yom Kippur. Special prayers are recited and willow branches are beaten on the ground five times.
Simchat Torah
At the end of Sukkot, Simchat Torah celebrates the completion and restart of the annual Torah reading cycle. Torah scrolls are danced around the synagogue seven times (hakafot) in a joyful, singing celebration. All children are called up together under a tallit for a special blessing — one of the most beloved moments of the year.
Other Years
Sukkot begins at sundown on 14 Tishrei. Diaspora communities observe two days of Yom Tov; Israel observes one. Confirm dates with your local synagogue.