A Hanukkah dinner is a quieter celebration than a big Hanukkah party: one table, family or close friends, candles in the window and a meal built around latkes and the foods your family loves. The invitation should tell guests which night you are hosting, when the candles will be lit and whether they should bring anything. Ready to pick a design? Browse our Hanukkah invitation templates.
This guide covers what to include, Hanukkah dinner invitation wording, a sample menu, candle-lighting timing for 2026, table ideas and when to send invitations. If you are planning a larger gathering with games and a crowd, our Hanukkah party invitations guide is the better fit.
Hanukkah 2026 Dates
Hanukkah 2026 starts at sundown Friday, December 4, and finishes at nightfall Saturday, December 12 (see Hebcal). Because the first night is also a Friday, many families light Shabbat candles that evening too, so decide early which night works for your table. The weekend of December 5–6 is a popular window for a dinner.
What to Include on a Hanukkah Dinner Invitation
- Host names: "The Cohen family" or "Rachel and David"
- Which night: "The third night of Hanukkah" plus the calendar date
- Arrival and candle-lighting time: So guests are there before the blessings
- Address: And parking or building notes
- Menu hint: "Latkes, brisket and sufganiyot" helps guests plan
- What to bring: A menorah, a dessert or nothing at all
- Gift note: For example, a small gift swap for the kids or "no gifts, please"
- RSVP deadline: So you know how many latkes to fry
Hanukkah Dinner Invitation Wording
Family Dinner
Join us around the table and the menorah
for a Hanukkah dinner on the second night
Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Latkes, brisket and plenty of sufganiyot.
Love, the Cohen family
Dinner with Friends
Eight nights, one long table.
You're invited to a Hanukkah dinner with friends
Sunday, December 6, 2026, 6 p.m.
Bring your menorah and we'll light together.
Elegant Candlelit Dinner
Rachel and David Levin
request the pleasure of your company
at a Hanukkah dinner by candlelight
Wednesday, December 9, 2026, at seven o'clock
Last Night of Hanukkah
All eight candles, one more feast.
Celebrate the final night of Hanukkah with us
Friday, December 11, 2026, 5 p.m.
Shabbat and Hanukkah candles together.
Bring a Dessert
We'll fry the latkes; you bring the sweets.
Hanukkah dinner at Maya's
Monday, December 7, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Sufganiyot, rugelach or your family favorite welcome.
Short Text-Message Version
Hanukkah dinner at ours, Sat 12/5! Arrive 5:30, candles at 5:45, latkes after. RSVP on the link by 11/28.
Sample Hanukkah Dinner Menu
Hanukkah food traditions celebrate oil, so fried foods take center stage. A simple, crowd-friendly menu:
- To start: Potato latkes with applesauce and sour cream
- Main: Slow-braised brisket, or roast chicken for a lighter option
- Sides: Roasted root vegetables, a green salad and challah
- Dessert: Sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), rugelach and chocolate gelt for the kids
Ask guests privately about any food preferences when they reply, rather than listing them on the invitation.
Hanukkah Dinner Table Ideas
- Blue, white and gold: Navy napkins, white plates and gold flatware are classic and easy.
- Menorah centerpiece: Place the menorah where everyone can see it, or near a window, as is tradition.
- Greenery and white flowers: Eucalyptus or olive branches with white blooms soften the table.
- Dreidels at each setting: A small dreidel and a few coins of gelt double as place cards and a post-dinner game.
- Candle-lighting moment: Print the blessings on a small card so every guest can join in.
Hanukkah Dinner Video Invitation Designs
Hanukkah Dinner Party is made for this occasion: a watercolor-style table set with navy plates and napkins, crystal glasses, a platter of golden latkes and a lit gold menorah under "Hanukkah Dinner Party — An Evening of Light, Flavor & Celebration."
For a lighter look, Menorah Candlelight Invitation has a gold menorah, blue dreidels, a kiddush cup and soft blue leaves around "please join us for a hanukkah Dinner Party," with the line "Candlelight, Latkes & Togetherness" underneath.
Three more designs fit a dinner well: Gather Around the Glow (a navy napkin, a plate of latkes and a glowing menorah), Blue, Gold & Candlelight Hanukkah (a lit menorah over deep blue waves with doves and dreidels) and Warmth & Wonder Hanukkah (a blue-and-white porcelain menorah with white roses).
In the TwistInvite app, choose a menorah design, add which night you are hosting, the candle-lighting time and a menu note, then text or email one link to family. Relatives open it in a browser, RSVP without installing anything, and you see replies in the app.Get the App.
Candle-Lighting Timing for a Dinner Party
For a Hanukkah dinner, the invitation should separate arrival time from candle-lighting time. Guests who want to be present for the blessings need the lighting time in bold; guests who can only come for dinner need to know they will not miss the meal if they arrive twenty minutes later. In December, sunset is early across much of the U.S., so check your local candle-lighting time and put a real clock time on the invite—"Candle lighting at 5:10 p.m., dinner at 5:45 p.m."
If some guests observe Shabbat and your dinner falls on Friday, December 4 or 11, 2026, note whether the evening is planned around Shabbat constraints or whether a different night would be easier for them. Naming the night of Hanukkah ("sixth night") helps guests who are lighting at home earlier in the day.
Dinner Etiquette and Dietary Notes
- Kosher or style of kitchen: A short note ("dairy meal" or "we keep kosher") helps guests who want to bring wine or dessert.
- Allergies: Ask privately by text after people RSVP; do not invent complex form fields.
- Kids at the table: Say if there is a kids' table, earlier lighting for children, or an adults-only dinner.
- What not to bring: If you have the meal covered, "just bring yourselves" prevents duplicate kugel.
- End time: Weeknight dinners benefit from a soft end ("we'll finish around 8:30") so school nights stay sane.
Common Mistakes
Treating a seated dinner like a drop-in open house confuses guests and food timing. Another miss is linking only to a general holiday party vibe when you mean a quiet table—use dinner language on the invite. Finally, do not wait until after Thanksgiving to send December Hanukkah dinner invites; by then calendars are full.
When to Send Hanukkah Dinner Invitations
Send invitations two to three weeks before your chosen night. For the first weekend of Hanukkah 2026 (December 5 and 6), that means mid-November, before Thanksgiving on November 26 takes over everyone's attention. Set the RSVP deadline about a week before the dinner.
Recommended 2026 schedule: choose your night by early November, send invitations by mid-November (before Thanksgiving on November 26), set RSVP about a week before your dinner, and confirm dietary notes in personal messages after yes replies. Create the invite in the TwistInvite app and share one link; guests view and RSVP in the browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Hanukkah in 2026?
It starts at sundown Friday, December 4, 2026, and ends at nightfall Saturday, December 12.
What should a Hanukkah dinner invitation include?
Include the hosts, which night of Hanukkah and the date, arrival and candle-lighting time, address, a menu hint, what to bring, a gift note and an RSVP deadline.
What foods are traditionally served at a Hanukkah dinner?
Fried foods that celebrate oil, especially latkes and sufganiyot, along with dishes like brisket, roast chicken, challah and rugelach.
Which night of Hanukkah is best for a dinner?
Any night works. In 2026, the weekend of December 5 and 6 is popular, and the first and last nights fall on Fridays, alongside Shabbat.
When should I send Hanukkah dinner invitations?
Two to three weeks before the dinner, with an RSVP deadline about a week before.
Should candle lighting be before or after guests arrive?
Invite guests to arrive 10–15 minutes before lighting if the blessings are the centerpiece. Put both arrival and lighting times on the invitation.
How is a Hanukkah dinner invitation different from a Hanukkah party invitation?
A dinner invite focuses on a seated meal, candle-lighting time and menu notes. A party invite may emphasize games, a larger crowd and a longer drop-in window.
Conclusion
A good Hanukkah dinner invitation names the night, sets the candle-lighting time and gives guests a taste of the menu. Choose a candlelit table or menorah design, send it two to three weeks ahead and leave room at the table for one more. For more holiday ideas, see our dinner party invitation ideas and wording and holiday party invitation ideas and wording guides.
Create it in the TwistInvite app
Download free on iPhone or Android, then share one link with your guests.