Groundhog Day 2026: When It Is, What Time Punxsutawney Phil Comes Out, and Whether He Saw His Shadow

Groundhog Day is today, Monday, February 2, 2026, and the center of gravity is once again Gobbler’s Knob near Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where Punxsutawney Phil’s dawn appearance is treated as a folk forecast for the rest of winter. For people searching “silver bullet” answers to seasonal fatigue, the appeal is simple: one quick moment at sunrise, one clear headline, and a shared ritual that turns weather anxiety into theater.

As of early Monday morning ET, the official shadow call for 2026 was still pending in widely available pre-ceremony coverage. The on-site declaration typically happens shortly after sunrise once Phil is presented, so the answer can flip from “not yet announced” to “yes” or “no” fast.

When Is Groundhog Day, and When Is Groundhog Day 2026?

Groundhog Day is always on February 2 each year. That means Groundhog Day 2026 falls on Monday, February 2, 2026.

If you are asking “is today Groundhog Day,” the answer is yes, today is Groundhog Day, February 2, 2026, ET.

What Time Does the Groundhog Come Out?

The Punxsutawney event runs for hours, but Phil’s moment is clustered around sunrise.

A practical timing guide in ET:

• Festivities often begin in the very early morning, well before dawn.

• Phil is typically brought out around sunrise, commonly in the 7:15 AM to 7:30 AM ET window.

• The shadow decision is announced immediately after he is presented and interpreted by the handlers.

If you are searching “what time is Groundhog Day,” the day-long celebration is February 2, but the moment most people mean is sunrise, roughly 7:20 AM ET plus or minus several minutes.

Did the Groundhog See His Shadow 2026?

The binary question has only two answers, but timing matters.

For 2026, the shadow result is declared at the sunrise ceremony. In early-morning coverage before that moment, the result is naturally not confirmed yet. If you’re checking this before the ceremony window, the most accurate description is: the announcement has not happened yet.

Once the call is made, it will be stated plainly as one of the following:

• Phil saw his shadow, which traditionally means six more weeks of winter.

• Phil did not see his shadow, which traditionally means an early spring.

What Happens If the Groundhog Sees His Shadow?

The folklore rule is straightforward:

• If the groundhog sees his shadow, he is said to retreat, signaling six more weeks of winter.

• If the groundhog does not see his shadow, he is said to stay out, signaling an early spring.

This isn’t meteorology, and it isn’t meant to be. The point is a clean narrative moment that people can repeat, debate, and meme, even when the forecast models disagree.

Behind the Headline: Why This Tradition Keeps Winning Attention

Groundhog Day survives because it solves several problems at once.

Context: Early February is the psychological trough of winter for much of the country. People are tired of storm cleanups, heating bills, gray skies, and disrupted travel. A playful ceremony offers a shared release valve.

Incentives: The local economy benefits from a predictable annual surge in visitors. Hotels, restaurants, vendors, and regional tourism agencies all have reasons to keep the event big, safe, and media-ready. For broadcasters and streamers, it is reliable live morning programming with built-in audience curiosity.

Stakeholders: The small-town community gains visibility and revenue. Visitors get a bucket-list experience. Media organizations get a simple, repeatable live segment. And the broader public gets a harmless ritual that turns “how much longer is winter” into a story with a mascot.

Missing pieces: The biggest unknown each year is the call itself, but the deeper unknown is what people will do with it. The “six more weeks” line can shape mood and expectations even if temperatures turn mild soon after. The event is also a reminder that folklore forecasts can collide with real risk: ice, power outages, and dangerous travel remain serious regardless of what Phil “predicts.”

Second-order effects: The ceremony can influence consumer behavior at the margins. A “more winter” call can nudge demand for winter gear, heating fuel, and travel caution, while an “early spring” call can spur optimism around gardening, home projects, and spring travel planning.

What Happens Next: Realistic Scenarios After the 2026 Shadow Call

• If Phil “sees his shadow,” expect a wave of jokes, some groans, and a renewed focus on late-winter storm risk through mid-March, regardless of any short warm spells.

• If Phil “does not see his shadow,” expect an optimism bump and lots of early-spring talk, followed by backlash if cold snaps return.

• If the morning’s weather is messy or visibility is questionable, expect renewed debate about how “shadow” is determined and how much of the ritual is performance versus observation.

• Either way, the next news beat is how the broader regional forecast compares over the following two to three weeks, because that is when the public mood tends to swing.

For anyone searching “cbs live” or “watch live,” the most practical approach is to look for a live local morning broadcast or an official event stream around sunrise in ET, because that is when the shadow decision is delivered.