What is the golden hour time in Quebec City in May?

Golden hour in Quebec City in May begins at sunrise (average 05:10) and lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes, and again begins about 30 to 60 minutes before sunset (average 20:14).

Quebec City Sunrise & Sunset: May 2026

Day-by-day sunrise and sunset times with golden hour data

In Quebec City in May, sunrise averages 05:10 and sunset averages 20:14. Days are getting longer through May at Quebec City's latitude of 46.8°. Golden hour lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes after sunrise and before sunset. Times are accurate to within 1 minute.

Avg Sunrise

05:10

Avg Sunset

20:14

Avg Daylight

15h 03m

AprilMay 2026June

Monthly Sunrise & Sunset Table: Quebec City

Date	Day	Sunrise	Sunset	Daylight	Golden Hour
05/01	Fri	05:31	19:55	14h 24m	06:13 – 19:12
05/02	Sat	05:29	19:56	14h 27m	06:12 – 19:14
05/03	Sun	05:27	19:57	14h 30m	06:10 – 19:15
05/04	Mon	05:26	19:59	14h 33m	06:09 – 19:16
05/05	Tue	05:24	20:00	14h 36m	06:07 – 19:17
05/06	Wed	05:23	20:01	14h 38m	06:06 – 19:18
05/07	Thu	05:22	20:03	14h 41m	06:05 – 19:20
05/08	Fri	05:20	20:04	14h 44m	06:03 – 19:21
05/09	Sat	05:19	20:05	14h 47m	06:02 – 19:22
05/10	Sun	05:17	20:07	14h 49m	06:01 – 19:23
05/11	Mon	05:16	20:08	14h 52m	06:00 – 19:24
05/12	Tue	05:15	20:09	14h 54m	05:59 – 19:25
05/13	Wed	05:14	20:11	14h 57m	05:57 – 19:27
05/14	Thu	05:12	20:12	15h 00m	05:56 – 19:28
05/15	Fri	05:11	20:13	15h 02m	05:55 – 19:29
05/16	Sat	05:10	20:14	15h 04m	05:54 – 19:30
05/17	Sun	05:09	20:16	15h 07m	05:53 – 19:31
05/18	Mon	05:08	20:17	15h 09m	05:52 – 19:32
05/19	Tue	05:07	20:18	15h 11m	05:51 – 19:33
05/20	Wed	05:05	20:19	15h 14m	05:50 – 19:34
05/21	Thu	05:04	20:20	15h 16m	05:49 – 19:35
05/22	Fri	05:03	20:21	15h 18m	05:49 – 19:36
05/23	Sat	05:02	20:23	15h 20m	05:48 – 19:37
05/24	Sun	05:02	20:24	15h 22m	05:47 – 19:38
05/25	Mon	05:01	20:25	15h 24m	05:46 – 19:39
05/26	Tue	05:00	20:26	15h 26m	05:45 – 19:40
05/27	Wed	04:59	20:27	15h 28m	05:45 – 19:41
05/28	Thu	04:58	20:28	15h 30m	05:44 – 19:42
05/29	Fri	04:57	20:29	15h 31m	05:43 – 19:43
05/30	Sat	04:57	20:30	15h 33m	05:43 – 19:44
05/31	Sun	04:56	20:31	15h 35m	05:42 – 19:45

Daylight Hours Throughout the Year

May Sunrise & Sunset in Quebec City: Complete Monthly Guide

In May 2026, Quebec City has an average of 15h 03m of daylight per day. Sunrise times range from 05:31 at the start of the month to 04:56 at the end, while sunset shifts from 19:55 to 20:31.

May in Quebec City brings lengthening spring days. Average sunrise in May is 05:10 and average sunset is 20:14. The daily table above shows the exact sunrise and sunset time for each day of the month.

Day Length Variation in May

Day length in Quebec City in May changes throughout the month. Near the solstices (June 21 for the northern hemisphere, December 21 for the southern hemisphere), day length changes very slowly, less than 1 minute per day. Near the equinoxes (March 20 and September 22), day length changes rapidly, gaining or losing 2 to 4 minutes per day depending on latitude.

At Quebec City's latitude of 46.8°, the rate of day length change in May is approximately 2 to 3 minutes per day during the weeks furthest from the solstices. This means that sunrise in Quebec City shifts by approximately 40 to 60 minutes over the course of May.

Golden Hour in Quebec City in May

Golden hour in Quebec City in May occurs twice each day: in the morning shortly after sunrise, and in the evening before sunset. The duration depends on the sun's angle of elevation above the horizon, which varies with latitude and month. In Mayat Quebec City's latitude of 46.8°, golden hour lasts approximately 45 to 75 minutes.

For photographers planning shoots in Quebec City in May: plan to arrive at your location 30 to 40 minutes before the listed sunrise time to capture blue hour before golden hour begins. The transition from blue hour to golden hour creates the most dramatic color sequences. Evening golden hour in May begins about 45 to 60 minutes before sunset and produces warmer, more orange tones than the morning session.

Blue Hour and Twilight in Quebec City in May

Civil twilight in Quebec City in May begins before sunrise and ends after sunset, creating windows of usable natural light even outside the official sunrise-to-sunset window. Civil twilight occurs when the sun is between 0 and 6 degrees below the horizon. Nautical twilight spans 6 to 12 degrees below the horizon. Astronomical twilight spans 12 to 18 degrees below the horizon.

The total twilight window in Quebec City in May extends the usable light day by approximately 60 to 90 minutes beyond the sunrise-to-sunset window. This extended twilight is valuable for photographers who want to shoot in soft, diffused light without harsh shadows.

Photography Tips for May in Quebec City

Shooting in Quebec City in May requires adapting to the season's specific light quality and timing. Camera settings for sunrise photography in May:

Blue hour: ISO 800 to 1,600; aperture f/8; shutter speed 10 to 30 seconds on tripod.
Golden hour: ISO 100 to 400; aperture f/8 to f/16 for landscapes, or f/1.8 to f/2.8 for portraits; shutter speed 1/250 to 1/1,000s handheld.
Post-sunrise (30 minutes after): ISO 100; aperture f/11; shutter speed 1/500 to 1/2,000s.

In May, Quebec City's weather patterns affect photography conditions. Check cloud cover forecasts the evening before a planned shoot: a thin layer of clouds above the horizon creates more dramatic golden and orange tones than a clear sky. Fully overcast conditions produce flat, diffused light that is good for portraits but lacks the dramatic quality of golden hour. Partly cloudy skies create the most dramatic conditions.

About This Monthly Sunrise Data

All sunrise and sunset times in this May table for Quebec City are calculated using Jean Meeus astronomical algorithms, implemented via the SunCalc library. Calculations use the coordinates of Quebec City (46.8139°, -71.2082°) and the local timezone (America/Toronto). Times are accurate to within 1 minute and account for atmospheric refraction.

The times shown are for the center of the sun crossing the horizon. Sunrise is defined as the moment when the upper limb of the sun first appears above the mathematical horizon. Sunset is when the upper limb disappears below the horizon. Both definitions account for atmospheric refraction, which lifts the apparent position of the sun by approximately 0.5 to 1 degree near the horizon.

Frequently Asked Questions: May Sunrise & Sunset in Quebec City

What is the average sunrise time in Quebec City in May?

The average sunrise time in Quebec City in May 2026 is approximately 05:10. This is based on the mid-month calculation for Quebec City at latitude 46.81° and longitude -71.21°. Actual daily sunrise times vary from 05:31 on the first of the month to 04:56 on the last day. See the full daily table above for exact times.

How many hours of daylight does Quebec City get in May?

Quebec City receives an average of 15h 03m of daylight per day in May 2026. This is calculated as the difference between sunrise and sunset and does not include twilight periods. Day length varies from 14h 24m on the first of the month to 15h 35m on the last day.

What is the earliest sunrise in Quebec City in May?

The earliest sunrise in Quebec City in May 2026 occurs on 2026-05-31 at 04:56. The latest sunrise in the month occurs on 2026-05-01 at 05:31.

What time is golden hour in Quebec City in May?

Golden hour in Quebec City in May occurs twice daily. Morning golden hour begins at sunrise (05:10 at mid-month) and lasts approximately 45 to 75 minutes. Evening golden hour begins approximately 45 to 60 minutes before sunset (20:14 at mid-month). The precise start of golden hour is when the sun's altitude drops below 6 degrees above the horizon.

Is May a good time to photograph sunrise in Quebec City?

Yes. May is an excellent month for sunrise photography in Quebec City. Spring light is clean and warm, days are lengthening rapidly, and temperatures are generally comfortable for outdoor shoots. Sunrise at around 05:10 is a reasonable wake-up time for most photographers.

When does civil twilight start in Quebec City in May?

Civil twilight in Quebec City in May begins approximately 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise and ends 20 to 30 minutes after sunset. At Quebec City's latitude of 46.8°, civil twilight in May starts around 04:45 in the morning. Civil twilight provides enough light for outdoor activities without artificial lighting and is considered the beginning of the usable photography window each day.

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