2026 is a busy year for the moon. There are 13 full moons instead of the usual 12, which means one month gets a bonus Blue Moon. Three of those full moons are supermoons, appearing larger and brighter than average. There are also two lunar eclipses, one total and one partial. Here is the complete guide to every full moon in 2026.

Why 13 full moons in 2026

A lunar cycle (synodic month) lasts about 29.53 days. A calendar year has 365 days, which means 12 full lunar cycles take 354 days. The extra 11 days accumulate, and about every 2.5 years, a calendar month gets two full moons. In 2026, May has two: the Flower Moon on May 1 and the Blue Moon on May 31.

The second full moon in a single calendar month is commonly called a Blue Moon. This does not mean the moon actually turns blue. The name comes from an older phrase 'once in a blue moon,' meaning something rare. The next Blue Moon after May 2026 will not happen until May 2028.

Every full moon in 2026

  • January 3, 2026 - Wolf Moon (supermoon)
  • February 1, 2026 - Snow Moon
  • March 3, 2026 - Worm Moon (total lunar eclipse visible in Asia, Australia, Americas)
  • April 1, 2026 - Pink Moon (micromoon, farthest full moon at 406,300 km)
  • May 1, 2026 - Flower Moon
  • May 31, 2026 - Blue Moon (micromoon, second full moon in May)
  • June 29, 2026 - Strawberry Moon
  • July 29, 2026 - Buck Moon
  • August 28, 2026 - Sturgeon Moon (partial lunar eclipse visible in Americas, Europe, Africa)
  • September 26, 2026 - Harvest Moon
  • October 26, 2026 - Hunter's Moon
  • November 24, 2026 - Beaver Moon (supermoon)
  • December 23, 2026 - Cold Moon (supermoon, largest supermoon in 19 years)

The December 23, 2026 Cold Moon is the largest supermoon since 2007. The moon will be about 356,500 km from Earth, appearing roughly 14% larger and 30% brighter than a typical full moon.

Supermoons in 2026

A supermoon happens when the full moon coincides with perigee, the point in the moon's orbit closest to Earth. The moon's orbit is elliptical, so its distance varies between about 356,500 km (perigee) and 406,700 km (apogee). At perigee, the moon appears about 14% larger and 30% brighter than at apogee.

2026 has three supermoons: the Wolf Moon on January 3, the Beaver Moon on November 24, and the Cold Moon on December 23. The December Cold Moon is the closest full moon of the year at about 356,500 km, making it the largest supermoon in 19 years because it coincides almost exactly with perigee. The January Wolf Moon is nearly as close.

To the naked eye, the difference between a supermoon and a regular full moon is subtle. The 14% size increase is hard to perceive without a direct comparison. But supermoons do appear noticeably brighter, especially when viewed in a dark sky away from city lights.

Micromoons in 2026

The opposite of a supermoon is a micromoon, when the full moon coincides with apogee. 2026 has three micromoons: the Pink Moon on April 1, the Blue Moon on May 31, and one more later in the year. Micromoons appear slightly smaller and dimmer than average full moons.

The April 1 Pink Moon is the farthest full moon of 2026 at about 406,300 km. Compared to the January supermoon, it will appear about 14% smaller. Again, this difference is hard to see without a side-by-side comparison, but photographers sometimes create composite images showing the size difference.

Lunar eclipses in 2026

2026 has two lunar eclipses. The first is a total lunar eclipse on March 3, visible from Asia, Australia, and the Americas. During a total lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth's shadow and takes on a reddish-orange color, often called a Blood Moon. The red color comes from sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere, scattering blue light and letting red light through.

The second is a partial lunar eclipse on August 28, visible from the Americas, Europe, and Africa. In a partial eclipse, only part of the moon enters Earth's shadow, so you see a dark 'bite' taken out of the moon rather than the full red disc.

Unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are completely safe to watch with your naked eyes. No special equipment is needed. Just find a spot with a clear view of the moon and enjoy.

Full moon names and their origins

The traditional full moon names used in the United States come from Native American, Colonial American, and European sources. The Farmer's Almanac has published these names since the 1930s.

  • Wolf Moon (January): named for wolves howling outside villages in midwinter
  • Snow Moon (February): named for the heaviest snowfall of the season
  • Worm Moon (March): named for earthworms appearing as soil thaws
  • Pink Moon (April): named for wild ground phlox, an early spring flower
  • Flower Moon (May): named for abundant flowers in late spring
  • Strawberry Moon (June): named for the short strawberry harvest season
  • Buck Moon (July): named for new antlers growing on deer
  • Sturgeon Moon (August): named for the large fish caught in the Great Lakes
  • Harvest Moon (September): the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, providing extra light for harvesting
  • Hunter's Moon (October): named for the hunting season before winter
  • Beaver Moon (November): named for beavers preparing for winter
  • Cold Moon (December): named for the long, cold nights of midwinter

These names are specific to the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed, so the names do not match. For example, the June Strawberry Moon falls in winter in Australia.

How to photograph the full moon

Full moon photography is accessible with any camera that has manual controls. The most common mistake is overexposing the moon. The moon is surprisingly bright, and your camera's auto exposure will make it look like a white blob.

  • Use manual mode. Set ISO to 100 or 200, aperture to f/8 or f/11, and shutter speed to 1/125 or 1/250. This is the 'looney 11' rule: set aperture to f/11 and shutter speed to 1/ISO.
  • Use a tripod. Even slight camera shake will blur the moon's details at long focal lengths.
  • If you want the moon rising over a landscape, shoot during the 10-15 minute window when the moon is just above the horizon. The moon appears larger near the horizon (the moon illusion) and you can frame it with buildings or mountains.
  • For supermoons, the same settings work. The extra brightness is minimal and will not significantly change your exposure.

Use our Moon Phase Calculator to check the exact phase and illumination for any date, and our Moonrise and Moonset Calculator to find when the moon rises and sets in your location.

Frequently asked questions

How many full moons are there in 2026?

There are 13 full moons in 2026. Most years have 12, but because the lunar cycle is 29.53 days and a calendar year is 365 days, an extra full moon occurs about every 2.5 years. In 2026, May has two full moons: on May 1 and May 31.

When is the Blue Moon in 2026?

The Blue Moon is on May 31, 2026. It is the second full moon in the calendar month of May, which is the most common definition of a Blue Moon. The next Blue Moon will not occur until May 2028.

When are the supermoons in 2026?

2026 has three supermoons: January 3 (Wolf Moon), November 24 (Beaver Moon), and December 23 (Cold Moon). The December 23 Cold Moon is being called the largest supermoon in 19 years because it nearly coincides with perigee at about 356,500 km from Earth.

When are the lunar eclipses in 2026?

There are two lunar eclipses in 2026. A total lunar eclipse on March 3, visible from Asia, Australia, and the Americas. A partial lunar eclipse on August 28, visible from the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Lunar eclipses are safe to view without any special equipment.

What is a micromoon?

A micromoon is the opposite of a supermoon. It occurs when the full moon coincides with apogee, the farthest point in the moon's orbit. The moon appears about 14% smaller and 30% dimmer than a supermoon. 2026 has three micromoons: April 1, May 31, and one more later in the year.

Why does the moon look bigger near the horizon?

This is called the moon illusion, and it is a perceptual trick, not a physical change. When the moon is near the horizon, your brain compares it to familiar objects like trees and buildings, making it appear larger. When the moon is high in the sky, there is nothing to compare it to, so it looks smaller. Photographs show the moon is the same size in both positions.

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