2026 Full Moon Names and Dates

Jan 3 - Wolf Moon - Named for the hungry wolves heard howling outside villages during the deep midwinter snows.

Feb 1 - Snow Moon - February is historically the month with the heaviest snowfall in North America.

Mar 3 - Worm Moon - As the ground thaws, earthworm casts appear, signaling the return of birds and spring.

Apr 2 - Pink Moon - Named after "moss pink" (wild ground phlox), one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring.

May 1 - Flower Moon - Reflects the abundance of flowers that reach full bloom during May.

May 31 - Blue Moon - This is the second full moon in a single calendar month—a relatively rare "extra" moon.

Jun 30 - Strawberry Moon - Marks the peak ripening and harvest time for strawberries in the Northeast US.

Jul 29 - Buck Moon - During this month, the new velvety antlers of young buck deer begin to push out of their foreheads.

Aug 28 - Sturgeon Moon - Named by fishing tribes who found that the large sturgeon of the Great Lakes were most easily caught now.

Sep 26 - Harvest Moon - The full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox; its bright light allowed farmers to work late into the night.

Oct 26 - Hunter’s Moon - With the fields reaped and the deer fattened, this was the traditional time for hunting to stock up for winter.

Nov 24 - Beaver Moon - Named for the time beavers are most active preparing for winter, and when traps were traditionally set.

Dec 24 - Cold Moon - A straightforward name for the month when the winter chill truly tightens its grip.

Why do they have these names?

Historically, these names served as a lunar calendar to help people track the seasons. For example, knowing when the "Worm Moon" occurred told farmers the soil was ready for tilling, while the "Harvest Moon" provided extra illumination for gathering crops before the first frost.

Notable Events in 2026

• A Rare Blue Moon: Because the lunar cycle is about 29.5 days, we occasionally get two full moons in one month. In 2026, this happens in May.

• Lunar Eclipses: There will be a total lunar eclipse during the Worm Moon on March 3, and a partial lunar eclipse during the Sturgeon Moon on August 28.