The timing for illuminating Niagara Falls can vary based on the season and local sunset times. Generally, the falls are illuminated from dusk, which is around sunset, until around midnight.

In 2026, the nightly illumination of Niagara Falls follows a seasonal schedule that ensures the falls are lit from dusk until late into the night. Generally, the lights turn off at 2:00 AM during the peak spring, summer, and early autumn months (roughly from mid-March through the end of October). During the winter season, specifically from early November to mid-March, the lights are typically turned off slightly earlier at 1:00 AM. The illumination begins every evening at dusk, which ranges from as early as 4:30 PM in December to as late as 8:30 PM in July. Special "color" illuminations—often requested by charities or for holidays—usually take place in 15-minute blocks, typically at 10:00 PM, before the falls return to their standard multi-colored or white light display for the remainder of the night. This century-old tradition is managed by the Niagara Falls Illumination Board and is best viewed from Queen Victoria Park on the Canadian side or Prospect Point on the American side.