A Hanukkah party invitation works when guests know exactly what they are coming to, who is invited, and how to reply. Below are six complete, copy-ready invitations for genuinely different gatherings, from a seated family dinner to a dessert open house to a Hanukkah dinner for first-time guests, with short guidance and a checklist to adapt them. For other December formats, see our holiday party invitation wording guide.
Each example describes one invented household, and no two families celebrate identically; borrow the structure, then make the details yours. The 2026 dates are real, with weekdays and nights of Hanukkah to match. Replace the host names, dates, times, address, and RSVP deadlines with your own, and recheck the night of Hanukkah if you change the date or year.
What a Hanukkah Party Invitation Should Say
Cover the basics every invitation needs (host, date, time, place, and a reply deadline), then add the details Hanukkah gatherings benefit from:
- Name the night when it helps. Hanukkah spans eight nights, so a line like "the fourth night, Monday, December 7" is useful context, especially for an evening celebration where candles will be lit. In 2026, the first candle is lit on Friday, December 4, and the eighth on Friday, December 11; the holiday continues through December 12.
- Give the schedule in parts. If arrival, candle lighting, and the meal happen at different times, state each one, and present candle lighting as your planned time ("we plan to light candles at 6"), since nightfall shifts with your location and the calendar. If the party lands on a Friday or Saturday, note that guests who observe Shabbat light the Hanukkah candles before the Shabbat candles on Friday, before sundown, and after Shabbat ends on Saturday night; check local candle-lighting times and your start time, or pick a different night.
- Say exactly who is invited. Named adults, partners, children, or the whole household; "we'd love to see all four of you" prevents the guessing that a bare "join us" invites.
- Be clear about food and contributions. Tell guests whether they are getting dinner, substantial snacks, or dessert, and whether to bring anything ("bring nothing" is a useful line too). Describe the menu in confirmed, specific terms, and ask about dietary needs on the reply form rather than promising accommodations you have not planned.
Anything longer than a line or two, such as parking notes or a fuller menu, fits in the invitation's event details rather than on the card itself.
A Hosted, Seated Hanukkah Family Dinner
A seated dinner invitation benefits from separate times for arrival, candles, and the meal, plus a clear whole-household line and a dietary prompt.
Join us for Hanukkah dinner on the fourth night.
Hosted by Rachel and David Berman
Monday, December 7, 2026
Arrive at 5:30 p.m.; we plan to light candles at 6:00; dinner at 6:30; goodbyes by 9
[Street address], [City, State]
Your whole household is invited, kids included.
Dinner and dessert are on us; bring nothing but yourselves.
RSVP by Monday, November 30 through the invitation's reply button, and note any dietary needs when you respond.
Design pairing: Gilded Menorah by Claudia Owen, a gold-textured menorah with lit candles on a dark teal ground; a natural match for a dinner built around the lighting.
A Friends' Latke Potluck
A potluck invitation has one extra job: turning "bring something" into a menu. Say what the hosts cover, what guests should bring and for how many, and have each guest name their dish when they reply. On Greenvelope, a custom survey question on the RSVP page collects the dish with the reply, so the hosts can spot overlaps and fill gaps.
Latkes at ours; the rest of the table is up to you.
A Hanukkah potluck for friends, hosted by Maya Katz and Jordan Lee, on the sixth night
Wednesday, December 9, 2026, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
[Street address], [City, State]
We'll light candles at 7, latkes straight off the stove after.
We provide the latkes and the drinks. Please bring a main, side, or dessert that serves about eight.
This invitation is for you, plus a partner if you'd like to bring one; tell us who is coming.
RSVP by Wednesday, December 2 through the invitation's reply button, and name your dish when you reply.
Design pairing: Latkes, Lights And Dreidels by Laura Bolter Design, a whimsical dreidel illustration with hand lettering, practically named for this party.
A Children's Dreidel-and-Craft Gathering
For a kids' party, answer the question parents actually have: do I stay? Say so plainly, state the age range, and be clear that the afternoon is snacks rather than a meal.
Dreidels, crafts, and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) for little hands.
A children's Hanukkah afternoon at the Shapiros', before the third night
Sunday, December 6, 2026, 2 to 4:30 p.m.
[Street address], [City, State]
Kids ages 3 to 10, with a parent or caregiver who stays and joins the fun; this is not a drop-off party.
Dreidel games, menorah crafts, and plenty of snacks and sufganiyot; not a meal.
Nothing to bring.
Reply by Sunday, November 29 through the invitation's RSVP form with the names of the children and grown-ups coming.
Design pairing: Delicate Drawings by Tatjana Mai-Wyss, a playful watercolor of hand-drawn doves, stars, and silver sparkles in blue and silver.
A Hanukkah Dessert Open House
An open house trades a fixed schedule for a window, and the invitation should advertise exactly that: come and go, no pressure, dessert only, with your planned candle lighting as the one fixed moment.
Come for the candles, stay for the sufganiyot.
A Hanukkah dessert open house with Dana and Avi Rosen, on the seventh night
Thursday, December 10, 2026, drop in between 7 and 9:30 p.m.
[Street address], [City, State]
Candle lighting at 7:15.
Dessert only, so come after your own dinner: sufganiyot, rugelach, coffee, and cocoa all evening.
Everyone who lives under your roof is welcome. Bring nothing.
A quick reply by Thursday, December 3 through the invitation's RSVP button helps us plan the trays.
Design pairing: Letterpress Menorah by Lisa Travis, a two-sided design with the look of letterpress and foil; polished without being formal.
Latkes and Cocktails, Adults Only
For an adults-only evening, say plainly who is invited and whether the food is dinner or appetizers, and give the nonalcoholic drinks the same billing as the bar. On Greenvelope, hosts can allow a plus-one and configure the RSVP form to request their name.
Hot latkes, cold drinks, grown-ups only.
Latkes and cocktails with Noah Stein and Priya Desai, on the fifth night of Hanukkah
Tuesday, December 8, 2026, 7 to 10 p.m.
[Street address], [City, State]
We plan to light candles at 7:30.
Substantial appetizers alongside the latkes, not a seated dinner; a full bar and nonalcoholic options, including sparkling cider, pomegranate spritzes, and good coffee.
Adults only: you, plus one partner or friend. Name your plus-one when you reply.
Nothing to bring.
RSVP by Tuesday, December 1 through the invitation's reply button.
Design pairing: Gilded Hanukkah by Colin Cowie, gold-foil-effect script and a geometric overlay on a misty watercolor wash; the dressiest card of the set.
A Hanukkah Dinner for First-Time Guests
When some guests are attending their first Hanukkah celebration, make them comfortable without a lecture: say what you plan to share, let them know no prior familiarity is needed, and keep any explanation to the one or two details that help them show up relaxed.
We would love to share Hanukkah with you this year.
Hanukkah dinner with the Friedman family, on the third night
Sunday, December 6, 2026, 5 to 8 p.m.
[Street address], [City, State]
Menorah lighting and blessings at 5:30, about ten minutes; you're welcome to watch or join in as you feel comfortable.
Dinner at 6: brisket, roasted vegetables, and plenty of latkes, with dessert after.
Your whole household is invited. If this is your first Hanukkah, you're in excellent company, and we'll happily teach you dreidel.
Nothing to bring and no gifts, truly.
Reply by Sunday, November 29 through the invitation's RSVP button, and mention any dietary needs when you respond.
A Customization Checklist Before You Send
Run any invitation above through this list before it goes out:
- Invited names and scope: the wording says who is included, and the guest list matches it.
- Headcount: the reply captures the number you need, including children or plus-ones by name.
- Meal timing: arrival, candle lighting, and the meal are stated separately wherever the times differ.
- Candle lighting: give your intended lighting time, and check the night against Shabbat observance if it lands on a Friday or Saturday.
- Dietary questions: a dietary prompt in the wording or a question on the reply form.
- Contributions: what to bring, or a clear "bring nothing."
- Address: full street address with city and state, plus parking or buzzer notes if guests need them.
- RSVP deadline and method: a specific reply-by date, about 1 to 2 weeks before the party, and a named way to reply.
Aim to send Hanukkah party invitations 4 to 6 weeks ahead, as with other holiday-season parties, so guests can plan around a crowded December; the full send calendar lives in our invitation timing guide.
When the wording is set, browse Greenvelope's Hanukkah invitation collection to find the card that matches your night.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a Hanukkah party invitation say?
Name the host, the kind of gathering, the date, the schedule with arrival, planned candle lighting, and the meal stated separately, the address, who in the household is invited, what to bring if anything, and how and by when to reply. Make clear whether guests are getting dinner, substantial snacks, or dessert.
Should a Hanukkah invitation name the night of Hanukkah?
It helps, especially for an evening celebration where candles will be lit. Hanukkah spans eight nights, and a line like "the fourth night, Monday, December 7" tells guests where your party sits in their own week of candle lighting. Treat it as useful context rather than a requirement on every invitation.
How far in advance should you send Hanukkah party invitations?
Aim to send Hanukkah party invitations 4 to 6 weeks ahead, as with other holiday-season parties, with the RSVP deadline about 1 to 2 weeks before the gathering. Hosts sending on Greenvelope can schedule reminder emails for guests who have not replied.
How do you invite someone to their first Hanukkah celebration?
Say warmly what you plan to share, such as candle lighting, blessings, and dinner, let guests know that no prior familiarity is needed, and tell them they are welcome to watch or join in as they feel comfortable. Keep any explanation brief and practical, and make the logistics as explicit as for any other guest.