The full moon calendar for 2026 lists thirteen full moons — one more than the usual twelve, because May has two. Each one carries a traditional name from the farming and hunting year: Wolf Moon, Snow Moon, Worm Moon, and on through the year to the Cold Moon in December. This page gives every date, every name, and the stories behind them, with the dates given for the United States (Eastern time). If you live elsewhere, your local date may differ by a day, because the Moon reaches full at a single moment worldwide.
A full moon happens when the Earth sits between the Sun and the Moon, so the Moon's whole face is lit. It rises around sunset, shines all night, and sets around sunrise — the brightest night of the lunar month, and the easiest Moon to watch. No equipment is needed: find a clear view of the eastern sky at dusk, and the Moon will be there, rising large and low.
Every full moon of 2026
| Date (US Eastern) | Traditional name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| January 3 | Wolf Moon | Supermoon |
| February 1 | Snow Moon | |
| March 3 | Worm Moon | Total lunar eclipse |
| April 1 | Pink Moon | |
| May 1 | Flower Moon | |
| May 31 | Blue Moon | Second full moon of May |
| June 29 | Strawberry Moon | |
| July 29 | Buck Moon | |
| August 28 | Sturgeon Moon | |
| September 26 | Harvest Moon | Nearest full moon to the autumn equinox |
| October 26 | Hunter's Moon | |
| November 24 | Beaver Moon | Supermoon |
| December 23 | Cold Moon | Supermoon; closest full moon of the year |
Two of the year's full moons are supermoons — full moons that fall close to the Moon's nearest point to Earth, so they look slightly larger and brighter. The January Wolf Moon, the November Beaver Moon and the December Cold Moon are the year's closest, with the Cold Moon the nearest of all. The March Worm Moon is the year's only total lunar eclipse, when the Earth's shadow covers the Moon and turns it a deep copper red. The moon phase tool shows tonight's phase live, and the moon calendar tool shows the whole month at a glance.
The names and where they come from
The traditional names come from the Old Farmer's Almanac, which drew on the naming traditions of the Indigenous peoples of North America and the settlers who farmed alongside them. The names describe the year as it was lived: the Wolf Moon in January, when wolves were heard howling in the cold; the Snow Moon in February, the heaviest month of snow; the Worm Moon in March, when the earth softened and worms returned; the Pink Moon in April, for the first pink wildflowers.
The Flower Moon in May, the Strawberry Moon in June, the Buck Moon in July, when male deer grow new antlers, and the Sturgeon Moon in August, when the great fish were caught in the lakes — each name is a small piece of natural history. The Harvest Moon in September is the full moon nearest the autumn equinox, rising soon after sunset for several nights and giving farmers extra light to bring in the harvest. The Hunter's Moon in October follows it, a time for hunting before winter. The Beaver Moon in November is the time when beavers were trapped before the freeze, and the Cold Moon in December speaks for itself.
Why 2026 has thirteen full moons
Most years have twelve full moons, one per month. 2026 has thirteen because the lunar cycle is about 29 and a half days, slightly shorter than a calendar month, and the extra days accumulate until a month holds two full moons. In 2026 that month is May: the Flower Moon on May 1 and a second full moon on May 31. The second full moon in a calendar month is traditionally called a Blue Moon, from the old saying "once in a blue moon" — something rare. A Blue Moon happens roughly every two or three years.
The same arithmetic explains why some years have a month with no full moon at all, and why the dates drift from year to year. The Moon's cycle is not tied to the calendar; it is tied to the Moon's orbit, and the calendar simply catches it where it falls.
The two supermoons and the eclipse
Three of the year's full moons fall close to perigee, the Moon's nearest point to Earth. The Wolf Moon on January 3, the Beaver Moon on November 24 and the Cold Moon on December 23 are the year's supermoons, and the Cold Moon is the closest full moon of the year. A supermoon looks a little larger and a little brighter than an ordinary full moon, though the difference is modest — most people notice it only when the Moon is low on the horizon, where it always looks larger anyway.
The year's most dramatic event is the total lunar eclipse on March 3, when the Worm Moon passes through the Earth's shadow. During totality, the Moon does not disappear; it turns a deep red, lit by sunlight filtered through the Earth's atmosphere. It is safe to watch with the naked eye, and it is one of the finest sights in the sky. Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is visible from anywhere on the night side of the Earth, so the March eclipse will be widely seen.
How to watch a full moon
Watching a full moon is simple, but a few things make it better. The Moon looks largest when it is low on the horizon, just after moonrise, because of an illusion of the eye — the Moon is the same size all night, but near the horizon, with trees and buildings to compare it to, it seems enormous. Moonrise is around sunset on the night of the full moon, and the Moon climbs higher through the evening.
A pair of binoculars will show the Moon's craters and dark plains, the maria, in surprising detail. A telescope shows more, but it is not necessary. The best viewing is away from bright lights, with a clear view to the east at moonrise and to the south later in the night. If the sky is cloudy on the night of the full moon, the Moon will look almost as full the night before and the night after, so there is no need to worry about missing it.
Full moons in dreams and tarot
The full moon carries a rich symbolic life as well as an astronomical one. Dreaming of a full moon is a common image, and the dream about the Moon page explores what it traditionally means — clarity, feeling, and things coming into view. In tarot, the Moon card speaks to intuition and uncertainty, and the Star card, which follows it, speaks to hope and guidance. The full moon in the sky and the Moon in the cards share a theme: seeing clearly, even when the light is strange.
In folklore, the full moon is linked with restlessness and strong feeling, and the idea of a "full moon effect" on behaviour is an old one. Careful studies have not found reliable evidence for it, but the feeling persists — perhaps because a bright night does change how we sleep, and a bright sky does change how we feel. The honest view is that the full moon is a beautiful night, and a good excuse to go outside and look up.
Frequently asked questions
How many full moons are there in 2026?
There are thirteen full moons in 2026, one more than usual, because May has two: the Flower Moon on May 1 and a Blue Moon on May 31.
When is the next full moon?
The next full moon is the Beaver Moon on November 24, 2026. It is a supermoon, one of the year's closest full moons. The moon phase tool shows tonight's phase live.
What is a Blue Moon?
A Blue Moon is the second full moon in a calendar month. In 2026 it falls on May 31, the second full moon of May. Blue Moons happen roughly every two or three years.
What is a supermoon?
A supermoon is a full moon that falls close to perigee, the Moon's nearest point to Earth, so it looks slightly larger and brighter. In 2026, the Wolf Moon, Beaver Moon and Cold Moon are supermoons.
Is there a lunar eclipse in 2026?
Yes. The full moon on March 3, 2026, the Worm Moon, is a total lunar eclipse, when the Earth's shadow covers the Moon and turns it a deep copper red.
Where can I see the full moon dates for other months?
The moon calendar tool shows the month's phases at a glance, and the moon phase tool gives tonight's phase, illumination and rise time for your location.