When is the Hunter's Moon in 2026?

Full phase for the Hunter’s Moon arrives on October 26, 2026. It rises near sunset that evening and remains in view all night.

Why is it called the Hunter's Moon?

The name follows traditional North American almanac usage: it marks the post-harvest season for hunting and provisioning. Almanacs used such names to keep track of the seasons by the monthly full moon.

What is a full moon, exactly?

A full moon is the instant the Moon stands opposite the Sun, so its entire Earth-facing hemisphere is illuminated. It happens once each roughly 29.5-day lunar cycle and appears fully rounded for about one night on either side.

Hunter's Moon October 26, 2026

When the Hunter's 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 2026-10-26 12:00:00+00:00. (Frame: 7165)

Rendering: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio

Full moon: October 26, 2026
Illumination: 100%
Distance: 367,821 km
Apparent size: average

View score: Excellent

A premier night to look up, sky permitting.

100% illuminated

About the Hunter's Moon

The Hunter's Moon reaches full phase on October 26, 2026. It is the full moon of October, named for the post-harvest season of hunting and provisioning.

A full moon occurs halfway through the roughly 29.5-day lunar cycle, when the Moon sits opposite the Sun and its entire Earth-facing side is sunlit. It rises near sunset, peaks high near midnight, and sets near sunrise — on duty all night, clouds aside.

How to see the Hunter's Moon

On October 26, 2026, the Hunter’s Moon lies about 369,396 km from Earth, close to the average Earth–Moon distance, so its apparent size is ordinary.

Face east soon after sunset on October 26; the Moon looks biggest and most orange while it is low, an illusion sharpened by foreground objects. No gear is required, though binoculars bring extra detail to the craters along the day-night line on the nights bracketing full phase.

Frequently asked

When is the Hunter's Moon in 2026?: Full phase for the Hunter’s Moon arrives on October 26, 2026. It rises near sunset that evening and remains in view all night.
Why is it called the Hunter's Moon?: The name follows traditional North American almanac usage: it marks the post-harvest season for hunting and provisioning. Almanacs used such names to keep track of the seasons by the monthly full moon.
What is a full moon, exactly?: A full moon is the instant the Moon stands opposite the Sun, so its entire Earth-facing hemisphere is illuminated. It happens once each roughly 29.5-day lunar cycle and appears fully rounded for about 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
Corn MoonSeptember 26
Beaver MoonNovember 24
Cold MoonDecember 24

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