Groundhog Day 2026: Punxsutawney Phil set for shadow call in Pennsylvania

Groundhog Day is here today, Monday, February 2, 2026, and the annual spotlight is once again on Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where Punxsutawney Phil is scheduled to make his famously binary forecast. The big question — did the groundhog see his shadow 2026 — hinges on a dawn ceremony that typically unfolds within a narrow morning window.

As of early morning Monday in Eastern Time, the official shadow call had not been publicly confirmed in widely available coverage. The announcement is tied to Phil’s appearance at first light, shortly after the pre-dawn festivities begin.

What time does Punxsutawney Phil come out?

For anyone asking what time does the groundhog come out or what time does the groundhog see his shadow, the key timing is early morning:

• Festivities begin: around 6:00 a.m. ET

• Phil’s appearance: typically around 7:15–7:30 a.m. ET

• Shadow call: usually made immediately after Phil is brought out

This is why people often treat the morning window — rather than “all day” — as the practical answer to what time is Groundhog Day.

Groundhog Day 2026 in plain terms

Groundhog Day (also written as groundhog day, groundhogs day, ground hog day, or ground hogs day) is observed every year on February 2. So if you’re asking is today Groundhog Day, the answer is yes — it’s February 2, 2026.

The tradition centers on a simple bit of folklore: a groundhog emerges from its burrow (or, in Punxsutawney’s case, is presented during a ceremony) and the presence or absence of a shadow becomes the “forecast” for the rest of winter.

Did Phil see shadow 2026?

The most searched question — did Phil see his shadow 2026 — depends on the moment the ceremony happens after dawn in Punxsutawney. Early Monday morning ET, broad, reputable coverage available at that time still framed the event as pending rather than reporting a finalized result.

If you’re checking again after the typical 7:15–7:30 a.m. ET window, the outcome is usually announced quickly once Phil is presented.

What happens if the groundhog sees his shadow?

If you’re asking what happens if the groundhog sees his shadow or if the groundhog sees its shadow, the folklore answer is consistent:

• Shadow seen: Phil retreats, signaling six more weeks of winter

• No shadow: Phil stays out (in the story), signaling an early spring

It’s worth noting that “six more weeks” is part of the tradition, not a scientific forecast, and it doesn’t map cleanly to a specific meteorological metric. Still, the shadow call remains the headline every year because it’s a shared, recognizable ritual.

Why Punxsutawney matters

Punxsutawney became the best-known home of the Groundhog Day tradition in the late 1800s, and the event has grown into a major annual gathering at Gobbler’s Knob. Punxsutawney Phil is presented by an organizing group whose members interpret the moment and deliver the prediction in ceremony-friendly language.

Even with plenty of other local groundhog celebrations across North America, “Punxsutawney Phil” remains the name most people associate with the holiday — and the one most closely tied to the popular idea of the groundhog “seeing” his shadow.

Sources consulted: Associated Press; Punxsutawney Groundhog Club; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; The Washington Post