What Leap Day is

29 February, added in years divisible by four — except century years not divisible by 400. That correction is what keeps the calendar aligned with the solar year of about 365.2422 days.

Without it the seasons would drift by roughly a day every four years.

When it falls, and why the date moves

The countdown at the top of this page is live, and the date beneath it is the next occurrence. This date exists only in leap years — those divisible by four, excluding century years not divisible by 400.

It is grouped here under Astronomy, alongside the other observances that share its calendar.

What is coming up next

Once this date passes, the countdown moves straight on to the next occurrence — you do not need a different page for next year. See the full list of upcoming events, or use the countdown timer for a date of your own.

Where to go next

This leap day countdown has its own page, so the link keeps working next year as well as this one. If you came here wondering what time it is somewhere rather than how long is left, world clock and time zones has the current time in every country and city.

• event countdowns — live countdowns to holidays and festivals worldwide
• countdown timer — count down from any length you set
• World Clock — pick a country or city and read its clock, offset and daylight saving rules
• time zone converter — turn a time in one place into the same instant in another
• world clock time — the current time in every country, territory and US state