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Full Moon Calendar 2026: Names, Dates, and Folklore
The full Moon is the most universally observed astronomical event. Every culture on Earth has named the full Moons, tracked their cycles, and woven them into calendars, agriculture, and mythology. Here's every full Moon in 2026, when it rises, what it's called, and why those names stuck.
2026 Full Moon Dates
| Date (UTC) | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| January 3 | Wolf Moon | The year's first full Moon |
| February 1 | Snow Moon | Traditionally the heaviest snowfall month |
| March 3 | Worm Moon | Total lunar eclipse visible from parts of the Americas, Europe, and Africa |
| April 1 | Pink Moon | Named for early spring wildflowers, not the Moon's color |
| May 1 | Flower Moon | Peak spring bloom period |
| May 31 | Blue Moon (Strawberry Moon) | Second full Moon in May, a "Blue Moon" by calendar definition |
| June 29 | Buck Moon | When male deer begin growing new antlers |
| July 29 | Sturgeon Moon | Named for the large fish caught in the Great Lakes |
| August 28 | Corn Moon | Partial lunar eclipse visible from parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia |
| September 27 | Harvest Moon | The full Moon nearest the autumnal equinox |
| October 26 | Hunter's Moon | Traditionally time to prepare for winter |
| November 25 | Beaver Moon | When beavers finish building winter dams |
| December 24 | Cold Moon | The year's final full Moon, on Christmas Eve |
Eclipses in 2026
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Two lunar eclipses occur in 2026:
- March 3, Total Lunar Eclipse: Visible from the Americas, Europe, and Africa. The Moon passes deep into Earth's shadow, producing a dramatic blood-red Moon. Totality lasts about 58 minutes. This is the premier lunar event of the year.
- August 28, Partial Lunar Eclipse: Visible from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. About 93% of the Moon enters Earth's umbral shadow, nearly total. A striking sight even though it's technically partial.
If you want to photograph either eclipse, check our guide to eclipse photography for camera settings and techniques.
Observing the Full Moon
Many astronomers skip the full Moon because its brightness washes out deep-sky objects. But the full Moon itself is a worthy observing target if you know where to look:
- Ray systems: The brilliant ray systems from craters like Tycho and Copernicus are most prominent at full Moon. These streaks of bright ejecta material radiate outward from impact craters and are nearly invisible at other phases.
- Lunar swirls: Subtle bright markings on the lunar surface, like Reiner Gamma, are best seen under full illumination.
- Color differences: The maria (dark areas) have subtly different colors depending on their mineral composition. Some observers report detecting these color differences through telescopes, especially with slight color enhancement in photographs.
Photographing the Full Moon
The full Moon is one of the easiest astronomical objects to photograph well. A DSLR or mirrorless camera with a 200mm+ lens on a tripod can capture impressive results. Key settings:
- ISO: 100-200 (the Moon is bright!)
- Aperture: f/8-f/11 for maximum sharpness
- Shutter speed: Start at 1/250 and adjust. The "Looney 11" rule (f/11, 1/ISO) is a good starting point.
- Focus: Manual focus with Live View zoomed in on a crater edge.
For more detailed lunar photography techniques, including stacking for sharper results, see our astrophotography beginner's guide.
Published by the Visit Astronomy editorial team. Published October 3, 2026. Updated October 4, 2026.
Editorial responsibility: see Imprint.
Spotted an error or have something to add? corrections@visitastronomy.com
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