Full Moon highlights 2026 | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
A guide to full Moon highlights in 2026, including supermoons, lunar eclipses and the Christmas Eve Cold Moon that will round off the year.
www.skyatnightmagazine.comHere are the upcoming full Moon dates for 2026, with a note on notable timing and names.
Core answer
- The next full Moon in 2026 occurs on May 31, 2026, at about 01:46 UTC. After that, the year continues with full Moons on August 28, September 26, October 25 or 26 (depending on time zone), and November 24, 2026, among others. These dates align with commonly used full-Moon calendars used in astronomy and folklore.[1][2][3][7]
Key full Moon dates to watch
- May 31, 2026 — Full Moon (often associated with Bride Moon or Whacky Moon in some traditions) around 01:46 UTC.
- August 28, 2026 — Full Moon (also called Sturgeon Moon in some sources) around 21:00–23:00 local time depending on time zone.
- September 26, 2026 — Harvest Moon, around late evening (time varies by location).
- October 25 or 26, 2026 — Hunter’s Moon, near local midnight to early morning.
- November 24, 2026 — Beaver Moon, around late afternoon to evening (local time varies).
- December 24, 2026 — Cold Moon, around early hours in some regions (local time varies).
Notes and context
- Exact times depend on your time zone and atmospheric conditions; many lists publish the moment of full illumination in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and then convert to local time. Several catalogs around this year detail these full-Moon moments and sometimes pair them with traditional names.[3][6][7][1]
- Some sources also highlight special features such as “Blue Moon” occurrences in 2026, which can affect how many full Moons are counted in a given season depending on the definition used (seasonal vs. monthly).[4][7]
Would you like me to pull a precise, location-specific list for Los Angeles (including local rise/set times and best viewing windows) and deliver a calendar-ready list? I can also add notes on notable events (e.g., supermoons or lunar eclipses) if you’re interested.