When is the Corn Moon in 2026?

The Corn Moon is full on September 26, 2026; it rises near sunset that evening and stays in view through the night.

Why is it called the Corn Moon?

The name follows traditional North American almanac usage: it marks the late-summer corn harvest. Such nicknames once served as an easy way to track the months of the farming seasons.

What is a full moon, exactly?

Full phase occurs when the Moon’s disk is straight across from the Sun, lighting every visible square kilometre of the side facing Earth. This milestone repeats once each ~29.5-day orbit and looks unchanged to the unaided eye for roughly one night on either side.

Corn Moon September 26, 2026Harvest Moon

When the Corn Moon peaks, how far away and how bright it is, and how good the view will be.

An image of the moon, as it would appear on 2026-09-26 12:00:00+00:00. (Frame: 6445)

Rendering: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio

Full moon: September 26, 2026
Illumination: 100%
Distance: 380,234 km
Apparent size: average

View score: Excellent

A premier night to look up, sky permitting.

100% illuminated

About the Corn Moon

September 26, 2026 brings the Corn Moon at full phase—the September full moon named for the late-summer corn harvest.

At the same time, the Moon has reached the point in its roughly 29.5-day cycle when it sits opposite the Sun, so every crater on the Earth-facing half is bathed in sunlight. It climbs above the eastern horizon near sunset, arcs highest about midnight, then slides down toward sunrise—making it an all-night spectacle, weather permitting.

How to see the Corn Moon

The Corn Moon sits about 379,892 km from Earth, close to the average Earth–Moon distance, so it appears a typical size in the sky.

For the best view, find the eastern horizon shortly after sunset on September 26, 2026; the Moon looks largest and most colorful when it is low, an illusion created by foreground landmarks. No equipment is needed, though binoculars sharpen the craters along the day–night line on the nights just before and after.

As the Harvest Moon — the full moon nearest the September equinox — it rises only a short time later each evening for several nights running, historically giving farmers extra light to work the late harvest.

Frequently asked

When is the Corn Moon in 2026?: The Corn Moon is full on September 26, 2026; it rises near sunset that evening and stays in view through the night.
Why is it called the Corn Moon?: The name follows traditional North American almanac usage: it marks the late-summer corn harvest. Such nicknames once served as an easy way to track the months of the farming seasons.
What is a full moon, exactly?: Full phase occurs when the Moon’s disk is straight across from the Sun, lighting every visible square kilometre of the side facing Earth. This milestone repeats once each ~29.5-day orbit and looks unchanged to the unaided eye for roughly one night on either side.

Every full moon in 2026

Wolf MoonJanuary 3
Snow MoonFebruary 1
Worm MoonMarch 3
Pink MoonApril 2
Flower MoonMay 1
Blue MoonMay 31
Strawberry MoonJune 29
Buck MoonJuly 29
Sturgeon MoonAugust 28
Hunter's MoonOctober 26
Beaver MoonNovember 24
Cold MoonDecember 24

See the full 2026 full moon calendar, or the sunset & twilight times for golden-hour planning.