The Next Leap Day: When Will It Fall in 2028?

February is the shortest month of the year, typically only consisting of 28 days. However, every four years, an extra day is added to the calendar in the form of Leap Day on February 29th. This phenomenon is known as a leap year, a concept that was created to ensure our calendars align with the Earth's orbit around the sun. Today is Leap Day — Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Here's what leap years do and how they were created.

This year is a leap year, meaning Feb. 29 was added as the 366th day on the calendar. Here's what to know about its meaning, origin, and why it is essential for keeping our calendars accurate. It's Leap Day. Have you decided how you want to spend it? Some consider the extra day in February a blessing, with additional hours to make memories or catch up on tasks.

Why do we have leap years, and what are we supposed to do — or not do — with our rare extra day? NPR's Morning Edition spoke with experts to shed light on the significance of Leap Day and how it impacts our daily lives. A leap day ensures our calendars align with Earth's orbit. The previous leap year was 2020, and the next leap day will fall on February 29, 2028.

If we didn't have leap days, then the months and the seasons would stop lining up the same way every year. We'll have an extra day on the calendar this February, but don't get used to it. Here's when the next leap year is, and when we can expect to celebrate Leap Day once again in the future. February is the shortest month, but it gets a bit longer during a leap year. Here's what to know about when the next leap year is and how it impacts our annual calendar.