The Daf Yomi Cycle Explained — Dates, Length & What's Next
How long is a Daf Yomi cycle, when does the current one end, and when does the next one start? Full schedule and explanation.
The Daf Yomi cycle is the master schedule that every Daf Yomi learner around the world follows. One daf per day, every day, no rest days — covering all of Shas (the entire Talmud Bavli) in roughly 7 years and 5 months.
How long is one cycle?
Each cycle is exactly 2,711 dafim — one for every page in Shas — and takes approximately 7 years and 5 months to complete. There are no breaks for Shabbos, Yom Tov, or any other day. The daf changes every day at chatzos (halachic midnight).
Where are we now? The 14th cycle.
The current cycle is the 14th since Daf Yomi was founded in 1923. It started on 1 January 2020 (5 Teves 5780) with the opening of Maseches Berachos, and is scheduled to finish on 7 June 2027 (3 Sivan 5787) with the conclusion of Maseches Niddah.
You can see exactly where the world is up to on Daf Chazarah's interactive calendar — including upcoming masechtos and Hebrew dates.
When does the next (15th) cycle start?
The 15th cycle is scheduled to begin on 8 June 2027 with Berachos Daf 2 (every masechta begins on daf beis). The Siyum HaShas — the global celebration marking the end of the 14th cycle — will take place in the days leading up to it.
If you're thinking of starting Daf Yomi from scratch, the start of a new cycle is a natural moment. But don't wait — every day you delay is a daf of Torah you don't learn.
Why does each masechta start on daf 2?
Every tractate of the Talmud Bavli traditionally begins on daf beis (page 2), not page 1. The reason commonly given (from the Levush) is to remind learners that no matter how much they learn, they should remember they haven't even reached the 'first page' yet — humility built right into the printing.
Frequently asked
Has the cycle length always been the same?
Yes — 2,711 dafim, one per day, ever since Rabbi Meir Shapiro proposed the schedule in 1923. The length of the cycle (~7.5 years) hasn't changed.
What happens at the Siyum HaShas?
The Siyum HaShas is a massive global celebration marking the completion of all of Shas. The most recent one (end of the 13th cycle, January 2020) drew over 90,000 people to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey alone, with parallel events worldwide.