Madison Sunrise & Sunset in May 2026

CST43.0731°N, 89.4012°W

Northern Hemisphere • mid-latitude latitude band

Last updated: February 23, 2026

This page shows daily sunrise and sunset times for Madison, Wisconsin throughout May 2026, displayed in local time. You can view how sunrise and sunset times change day by day across the entire month. May marks a transitional period in daylight patterns. Both morning and evening golden hours in May offer distinct advantages. Morning light tends to be crisp and clear, while evening light often carries warmer tones, making each period valuable for different types of photography and activities. Residents of Madison use May's sun time data for everyday planning. Morning commuters check sunrise times, while evening joggers and cyclists rely on sunset times to plan safe routes before darkness falls. The precise timing of sunrise and sunset in Madison during May depends on the city's specific coordinates and the Earth's position. Our calculations account for these factors to provide accurate, location-specific data. The daily variations in sun times during May may seem minor, but they reflect the Earth's continuous motion around the sun. These changes affect everything from energy consumption to mood and daily routines. Understanding these patterns helps residents and visitors make the most of each day's available daylight.

May is a seasonal transition month for Madison in the Northern Hemisphere. Daylight length changes more noticeably now, with sunrise and sunset shifting week by week as the sun moves between solstice extremes.

May daylight summary

  • Sunrise shifts 30m earlier from the start to the end of the month.
  • Sunset shifts 31m later from the start to the end of the month.
  • Total daylight changes by 1h 2m longer by month end.

Key May Statistics

  • Earliest sunrise: May 1 at 5:53 AM
  • Latest sunrise: May 31 at 5:23 AM
  • Earliest sunset: May 1 at 7:58 PM
  • Latest sunset: May 31 at 8:29 PM
  • Day length change: +1h 2m from start to end of month

May averages

  • Average sunrise: 5:36 AM
  • Average sunset: 8:14 PM
  • Average day length: 14h 38m

Monthly Sun Trend Charts

Sunrise Trend
Sunset Trend
Day Length Trend

Daily Sun Times for May 2026

DateSunriseSunsetDay LengthMorning Golden HourEvening Golden Hour
May 15:53 AM7:58 PM14h 4m5:53 AM - 6:33 AM7:18 PM - 7:58 PM
May 25:52 AM7:59 PM14h 7m5:52 AM - 6:31 AM7:19 PM - 7:59 PM
May 35:51 AM8:00 PM14h 9m5:51 AM - 6:30 AM7:20 PM - 8:00 PM
May 45:49 AM8:01 PM14h 12m5:49 AM - 6:29 AM7:21 PM - 8:01 PM
May 55:48 AM8:02 PM14h 14m5:48 AM - 6:28 AM7:22 PM - 8:02 PM
May 65:47 AM8:03 PM14h 17m5:47 AM - 6:27 AM7:24 PM - 8:03 PM
May 75:45 AM8:05 PM14h 19m5:45 AM - 6:25 AM7:25 PM - 8:05 PM
May 85:44 AM8:06 PM14h 21m5:44 AM - 6:24 AM7:26 PM - 8:06 PM
May 95:43 AM8:07 PM14h 24m5:43 AM - 6:23 AM7:27 PM - 8:07 PM
May 105:42 AM8:08 PM14h 26m5:42 AM - 6:22 AM7:28 PM - 8:08 PM
May 115:41 AM8:09 PM14h 28m5:41 AM - 6:21 AM7:29 PM - 8:09 PM
May 125:39 AM8:10 PM14h 31m5:39 AM - 6:20 AM7:30 PM - 8:10 PM
May 135:38 AM8:11 PM14h 33m5:38 AM - 6:19 AM7:31 PM - 8:11 PM
May 145:37 AM8:12 PM14h 35m5:37 AM - 6:18 AM7:32 PM - 8:12 PM
May 155:36 AM8:13 PM14h 37m5:36 AM - 6:17 AM7:33 PM - 8:13 PM
May 165:35 AM8:15 PM14h 39m5:35 AM - 6:16 AM7:34 PM - 8:15 PM
May 175:34 AM8:16 PM14h 42m5:34 AM - 6:15 AM7:35 PM - 8:16 PM
May 185:33 AM8:17 PM14h 44m5:33 AM - 6:14 AM7:36 PM - 8:17 PM
May 195:32 AM8:18 PM14h 46m5:32 AM - 6:13 AM7:37 PM - 8:18 PM
May 205:31 AM8:19 PM14h 48m5:31 AM - 6:13 AM7:37 PM - 8:19 PM
May 215:30 AM8:20 PM14h 50m5:30 AM - 6:12 AM7:38 PM - 8:20 PM
May 225:29 AM8:21 PM14h 51m5:29 AM - 6:11 AM7:39 PM - 8:21 PM
May 235:29 AM8:22 PM14h 53m5:29 AM - 6:10 AM7:40 PM - 8:22 PM
May 245:28 AM8:23 PM14h 55m5:28 AM - 6:10 AM7:41 PM - 8:23 PM
May 255:27 AM8:24 PM14h 57m5:27 AM - 6:09 AM7:42 PM - 8:24 PM
May 265:26 AM8:25 PM14h 58m5:26 AM - 6:08 AM7:43 PM - 8:25 PM
May 275:26 AM8:26 PM15h 0m5:26 AM - 6:08 AM7:44 PM - 8:26 PM
May 285:25 AM8:27 PM15h 2m5:25 AM - 6:07 AM7:44 PM - 8:27 PM
May 295:24 AM8:27 PM15h 3m5:24 AM - 6:06 AM7:45 PM - 8:27 PM
May 305:24 AM8:28 PM15h 5m5:24 AM - 6:06 AM7:46 PM - 8:28 PM
May 315:23 AM8:29 PM15h 6m5:23 AM - 6:05 AM7:47 PM - 8:29 PM

Last updated: February 23, 2026

About sunrise and sunset in Madison in May

Sunrise and sunset times shift slightly each day through May as we move through the solstice. The times shown are in local time for Madison, Wisconsin, and are calculated based on the city's exact geographic coordinates.

You can come back daily to see updated values. This page shows you not just sunrise and sunset times, but also golden hour periods (ideal for photography), dawn and dusk times (civil twilight), and day length for every day of the month. All times are displayed in local time and update automatically based on the current date.

Whether you're planning outdoor activities, photography sessions, or simply want to know when daylight begins and ends, this calendar helps you make the most of each day in May.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is sunrise in Madison, Wisconsin in May?

Today, the sun rises in Madison, Wisconsin at 6:44 AM local time. Sunrise shifts slightly each day throughout May, so check this page for the latest times.

What time is sunset in Madison, Wisconsin in May?

Today, the sun sets in Madison, Wisconsin at 5:39 PM local time. Sunset shifts slightly each day throughout May, so check this page for the latest times.

How long is the day in Madison, Wisconsin in May?

Today's daylight in Madison, Wisconsin lasts about 10h 55m. As we move through May, day length changes gradually, and this page updates daily with new values.

What is golden hour in Madison, Wisconsin?

Golden hour in Madison, Wisconsin refers to the period shortly after sunrise and before sunset when the sun is low in the sky, creating warm, soft lighting ideal for photography. These periods occur twice daily and shift gradually throughout the month. For more information about planning photos during golden hour, see our guide on golden hour photography.

How often are these sunrise and sunset times updated?

Sunrise and sunset times are updated daily and are based on reliable astronomical calculations. The times account for your location's exact geographic coordinates, timezone, and the Earth's position in its orbit. You can check back each day to see the latest values.

April

Browse Other Months

June

How People Use This Information

People use sunrise and sunset times for planning outdoor activities, photography, travel, prayer times, fitness routines, gardening, and understanding seasonal daylight changes. SunTimesToday is designed as a quick, location-specific reference that updates daily to reflect accurate astronomical calculations.

Data Source & Accuracy

Sunrise, sunset, daylight length, and twilight times on SunTimesToday are calculated using standard astronomical algorithms based on your selected location and date. Data is updated daily to reflect seasonal and yearly changes. While times are accurate for most practical uses, small variations may occur due to atmospheric conditions and local geography.