Check if any year is a leap year and learn the rules.
2026 is NOT a leap year.
2026 has 365 days. February has 28 days.
Divisible by 4 β Leap Year No
The year must be evenly divisible by 4.
But divisible by 100 β NOT Leap Year No
If divisible by 100, it is NOT a leap year...
But divisible by 400 β Leap Year No
...UNLESS it is also divisible by 400. Then it IS a leap year.
A leap year occurs every 4 years to keep our calendar synchronized with the Earth's orbit around the Sun. Without leap years, we would lose about 6 hours every year, and after 100 years, our calendar would be off by approximately 24 days.
The rules are: a year is a leap year if divisible by 4, EXCEPT for century years (divisible by 100), which must also be divisible by 400. So 2000 was a leap year, but 1900 was not. Check any year with our tool and plan around February 29 using our Date Calculator.
Leap years occur every 4 years. Check the 'Upcoming Leap Years' section above for the next dates.
Earth takes approximately 365.25 days to orbit the Sun. The extra quarter day accumulates, so we add February 29 every 4 years.
Yes! Even though 2000 is divisible by 100, it is also divisible by 400, making it a leap year.
People born on Feb 29 ("leaplings") typically celebrate their birthday on Feb 28 or March 1 in non-leap years. They only get their "real" birthday every 4 years!
Instantly verify if any year is a leap year.
See a list of the next upcoming leap years.
Learn the complete rules for determining leap years.
Check if any year is a leap year with our free online tool. See upcoming leap years, learn the rules, and understand why we have them. Instant results for any year β past or future.
A year is a leap year if it's divisible by 4, except for century years which must be divisible by 400. For example, 2024 is a leap year, 1900 is not, but 2000 is.
Our tool shows a list of upcoming leap years. Leap years occur every 4 years (with the century exception).
Leap years keep our calendar aligned with Earth's orbit around the Sun, which takes approximately 365.25 days.
Last updated: February 12, 2026