A Full Moon happens when Earth sits directly between the Sun and the Moon, so the side of the Moon facing us is fully lit by sunlight. As the Moon travels around Earth, the amount of sunlight reflected back to us changes — and that changing view is what we call the lunar phases.
The next Full Moon will be the Beaver Moon, which reaches its peak at 9:53 a.m. EST on Tuesday, November 24, 2026. It is a supermoon — the first of three supermoons in a row — and it will look its biggest and brightest on the evenings of November 23 and 24.
Updated for November 2026: the next Full Moon is the Beaver Moon on November 24, with the Cold Moon following on December 23. Below you will find every Full Moon of 2026, what to watch in the final weeks of the year, and how the Moon’s phases work.
Here’s the complete list of Full Moons this year and their traditional names.
2026 Full Moon schedule and names of each
(All times Eastern; * denotes a Super Moon.)
- Saturday, Jan. 3 – 5:03 a.m. – Wolf Moon*
- Sunday, Feb. 1 – 5:09 p.m. – Snow Moon
- Tuesday, March 3 – 6:38 a.m. – Worm Moon | Total lunar eclipse
- Wednesday, April 1 – 10:12 p.m. – Pink Moon
- Friday, May 1 – 1:23 p.m. – Flower Moon
- Sunday, May 31 – 4:45 a.m. – Blue Moon
- Monday, June 29 – 7:57 p.m. – Strawberry Moon
- Wednesday, July 29 – 10:36 a.m. – Buck Moon
- Friday, Aug. 28 – 12:19 a.m. – Sturgeon Moon | Partial lunar eclipse
- Saturday, Sept. 26 – 12:49 p.m. – Corn Moon
- Monday, Oct. 26 – 12:12 a.m. – Hunter’s Moon
- Tuesday, Nov. 24- 9:53 a.m. – Beaver Moon*
- Wednesday , Dec. 23 – 8:28 p.m. – Cold Moon*
What to watch in November and December
November opens with a New Moon on November 9, followed by the First Quarter on November 17. The Full Beaver Moon peaks at 9:53 a.m. EST on Tuesday, November 24 — a supermoon, the first of three in a row — and the Last Quarter falls on December 1. Step outside on the evenings of November 23 and 24, when the Moon will look at its largest and brightest, rising low in the east after sunset.
December follows the same rhythm: a New Moon on December 8 and the First Quarter on December 17, leading to the Full Cold Moon at 8:28 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 23 — also a supermoon. The Last Quarter on December 30 closes out the year, so the final Full Moon of 2026 is one of the year’s best, shining through the long winter nights.
The phases of the Moon
The Moon moves through eight phases in a cycle of about 29.5 days, known as a lunar month: New Moon, waxing crescent, First Quarter, waxing gibbous, Full Moon, waning gibbous, Last Quarter and waning crescent.
The Moon is only truly full for a single moment, when Earth, Moon and Sun line up exactly — but to the eye it looks full for roughly three nights: the night before, the night of, and the night after the peak.
Different names for different types of Full Moon
Full Moons go by many special names, and most of them come from the natural world, farming life and the traditions of people who lived by the seasons.
Nearly every month’s Full Moon carries a name passed down from Native American, Colonial American and European traditions, tied to what was happening in nature at that time of year.
Wolf Moon (January): Inspired by the cries of hungry wolves.
Snow Moon (February): A nod to the month’s often heavy snowfall.
Worm Moon (March): Named after the earthworms that signal thawing grounds.
Pink Moon (April): In honor of the blossoming pink wildflowers.
Flower Moon (May): Celebrating the bloom of flowers.
Strawberry Moon (June): Marks the prime strawberry harvest season.
Buck Moon (July): Recognizing the new antlers on bucks.
Sturgeon Moon (August): Named after the abundant sturgeon fish.
Corn Moon (September): Signifying the corn harvesting period.
Hunter’s Moon (October): Commemorating the hunting season preceding winter.
Beaver Moon (November): Reflects the time when beavers are busy building their winter dams.
Cold Moon (December): Evocative of winter’s chill.
A few other names turn up whenever people talk about Full Moons, and each one describes a particular kind of Full Moon rather than a month.
Super Moon: A Full Moon counts as a supermoon when it happens near perigee, the Moon’s closest approach to Earth. That closeness makes it look unusually large and bright. A Full Moon earns the label when it comes within about 90 percent of its closest possible distance to Earth — which is why both the Beaver Moon on November 24 and the Cold Moon on December 23 qualify.
Blue Moon: A Blue Moon is the second Full Moon in a month that experiences two Full Moons. This phenomenon graces our skies roughly every 2.7 years. Though the term suggests a color, Blue Moons aren’t truly blue. Very occasionally, atmospheric conditions such as recent volcanic eruptions might lend the Moon a slightly blueish tint, but this hue isn’t tied to the term.
Black Moon: A Black Moon is a recent, unofficial term that can describe one of two situations. Either the third of four New Moons in a single astronomical season or the second of two New Moons in a month is a Black Moon. As its name suggests, the Black Moon is completely dark, as it is a New Moon that occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth. The New Moon cannot be observed except during a total solar eclipse.
Harvest Moon: Occurring closest to the autumnal equinox, typically in September, the Harvest Moon is often renowned for a distinct orange tint it might display. This Full Moon rises close to sunset and sets near sunrise, providing extended hours of bright moonlight. Historically, this was invaluable to farmers gathering their produce.
Viewing tips for the Beaver and Cold Moons
The Beaver Moon is best seen on the evenings of November 23 and 24, when it rises low in the east just after sunset and looks at its largest. The Cold Moon follows the same pattern on December 23. Find a spot with a clear eastern horizon, away from bright lights, and give your eyes a few minutes to adjust — binoculars or a small telescope will bring out the craters and the dark plains known as maria. Dress warmly: both full moons rise on some of the longest, coldest nights of the year.
Common questions about Full Moons
What is the difference between a Full Moon and a New Moon? A Full Moon is witnessed when Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, making the entire Moon’s face visible. Conversely, during a New Moon, the Moon lies between Earth and the Sun, shrouding its Earth-facing side in darkness.
How does the Full Moon influence tides? The Moon’s gravitational tug causes Earth’s waters to bulge, birthing tides. During both Full and New Moons, the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in alignment, generating “spring tides.” These tides can swing exceptionally high or low due to the combined gravitational influences of the Sun and Moon.
Here are the dates for all the lunar phases in 2026:
| New | First Quarter | Full | Last Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 3 | Jan. 10 | ||
| Jan. 18 | Jan. 25 | Feb. 1 | Feb. 9 |
| Feb. 17 | Feb. 24 | March 3 | March 11 |
| March 18 | March 25 | April 1 | April 10 |
| April 17 | April 23 | May 1 | May 9 |
| May 16 | May 23 | May 31 | June 8 |
| June 14 | June 21 | June 29 | July 7 |
| July 14 | July 21 | July 29 | Aug. 5 |
| Aug. 12 | Aug. 19 | Aug. 28 | Sept. 4 |
| Sept. 10 | Sept. 18 | Sept. 26 | Oct. 3 |
| Oct. 10 | Oct. 18 | Oct. 26 | Nov. 1 |
| Nov. 9 | Nov. 17 | Nov. 24 | Dec. 1 |
| Dec. 8 | Dec. 17 | Dec. 23 | Dec. 30 |
Further reading
Chandra Grahan 2026: A Unique Lunar Event Coinciding With Holi
How NASA contractors are pressing on to bring humans to the Moon with Artemis
Holika Dahan 2026: date, auspicious muhurat, puja vidhi and Bhadra timing
Sanatani Science: Ancient Indian Knowledge and Wisdom
