The 2026 Moon Calendar: Full Moons, Lunar Phases, Eclipses, and What the Year in Moonlight Teaches Us
- Michele Thompson
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
A Year Guided by Moonlight, Not Pressure
Most calendars teach us to measure time by productivity: weeks, deadlines, quarters, and goals. The Moon offers a different way of understanding time — one based on cycles, return, and rest.
The 2026 Moon Calendar is especially significant because it includes 13 Full Moons instead of the usual 12, reminding us that some years are meant to be lived more slowly, with greater attention to emotional rhythm rather than linear progress.
This is a year that favors reflection over force.
For sensitive, intuitive, and neurodivergent people especially, lunar awareness can act as a stabilizing guide — not something to follow rigidly, but something to check in with. The Moon doesn’t tell us what to do. It shows us where we are.
Why 2026 Is a Unique Lunar Year
Astronomically, 2026 stands out for several reasons:
13 Full Moons, including a rare Blue Moon
Multiple Supermoons, appearing larger and brighter
A Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon) in March
A Partial Lunar Eclipse in August
Two Solar Eclipses, marking turning points
Energetically, this creates a year of heightened emotional awareness, deep reflection, and repeated invitations to reassess how we grow, rest, and express ourselves.
Rather than one big transformation, 2026 unfolds through layered realizations.
Understanding the Four Major Lunar Phases
Before moving through the year, it helps to understand the four primary Moon phases and how they work together.
New Moon — Beginnings and Intention
The New Moon marks the start of each lunar cycle. The sky is dark, inviting inward focus. This is a time for reflection, setting intentions, and planting seeds — not yet for action.
First Quarter — Adjustment and Momentum
As the Moon reaches its first quarter, tension often arises. This is the phase where plans meet reality, and adjustments are required.
Full Moon — Illumination and Culmination
The Full Moon reveals what has grown. Emotions rise, clarity arrives, and themes reach awareness. This is not always comfortable, but it is always informative.
Last Quarter — Release and Integration
The final quarter invites letting go. This is where learning settles and excess is released before the next cycle begins.
Each phase repeats monthly, reminding us that growth is cyclical, not constant.
The 13 Full Moons of 2026 — A Narrative Walk Through the Year
Rather than racing through dates, let’s walk through the year as it unfolds.
January 3 — Wolf Moon (Supermoon)
The year begins with a Wolf Moon, also the first Supermoon of 2026. Traditionally associated with endurance and survival, this Moon emphasizes emotional safety, inner stability, and belonging. Its Supermoon status amplifies feelings, making January a month for grounding rather than rushing forward.
February 1 — Snow Moon
The Snow Moon reflects winter’s stillness and quiet strength. This Full Moon asks what must be conserved rather than expanded. It’s a reminder that rest is not stagnation — it is preparation.
March 3 — Worm Moon (Total Lunar Eclipse / Blood Moon)
March brings the year’s most intense lunar moment: a Total Lunar Eclipse, often called a Blood Moon. Eclipses accelerate awareness. This one highlights endings, emotional truths, and deep release, particularly around outdated patterns that no longer support growth.
April 1 — Pink Moon
Named for early spring blooms, the Pink Moon represents renewal and gentle emergence. After March’s eclipse, April offers emotional softening and cautious optimism.
May 1 — Flower Moon
The Flower Moon reflects visible growth and creativity. This is a fertile period for ideas, relationships, and self-expression.
May 31 — Blue Moon
The Blue Moon is the second Full Moon in May — a rare event that invites reevaluation. Blue Moons often bring clarity around choices made earlier in the cycle, asking what truly deserves continued energy.
June 29 — Strawberry Moon
June’s Strawberry Moon connects to nourishment, sweetness, and the rewards of patience. This Moon highlights relationships, pleasure, and emotional fulfillment.
July 29 — Buck Moon
Traditionally associated with growth and strength, the Buck Moon reflects inner development. July favors self-trust and steady progress rather than sudden leaps.
August 28 — Sturgeon Moon (Partial Lunar Eclipse)
The Sturgeon Moon coincides with a Partial Lunar Eclipse, bringing subtle but meaningful emotional revelations. This is a recalibration Moon — less dramatic than March, but still significant.
September 26 — Harvest Moon
The Harvest Moon celebrates completion and gathering results. This is a time to acknowledge effort and integrate lessons from the year so far.
October 26 — Hunter’s Moon
October’s Hunter’s Moon turns attention toward preparation and discernment. It asks what is worth carrying forward and what should be left behind.
November 24 — Beaver Moon (Supermoon)
Another Supermoon, the Beaver Moon, emphasizes structure, boundaries, and long-term stability. This Moon supports planning rooted in realism rather than fear.
December 23 — Cold Moon (Supermoon)
The year closes with a Supermoon Cold Moon, encouraging reflection, rest, and emotional integration. It’s a fitting end to a year shaped by cycles rather than speed.
2026 Moon Phase Quick Reference Chart
This chart is included as a practical companion, not a rulebook.
MONTH | NEW MOON | FIRST QUARTER | FULL MOON | LAST QUARTER |
JANUARY | Jan 18 | Jan 25 | Jan 3 (Wolf • Supermoon) | Jan 10 |
FEBRUARY | Feb 17 | Feb 24 | Feb 1 (Snow) | Feb 9 |
MARCH | Mar 18 | Mar 25 | Mar 3 (Worm • Eclipse) | Mar 11 |
APRIL | Apr 17 | Apr 23 | Apr 1 (Pink) | Apr 10 |
MAY | May 16 | May 23 | May 1 (Flower) | May 9 |
May 31 (Blue Moon) | ||||
JUNE | Jun 14 | Jun 21 | Jun 29 (Strawberry) | Jun 8 |
JULY | Jul 14 | Jul 21 | Jul 29 (Buck) | Jul 7 |
AUGUST | Aug 12 (Solar Eclipse) | Aug 19 | Aug 28 (Sturgeon • Eclipse) | Aug 5 |
SEPTEMBER | Sept 10 | Sept 18 | Sept 26 (Harvest) | Sept 4 |
OCTOBER | Oct 10 | Oct 18 | Oct 26 (Hunter’s) | Oct 3 |
NOVEMBER | Nov 9 | Nov 17 | Nov 24 (Beaver • Supermoon) | Nov 1 |
DECEMBER | Dec 8 | Dec 17 | Dec 23 (Cold • Supermoon) | Dec 1 |
Dec 30 |
The Moon’s Influence in 2026 — A Gentle Horoscope Overview
Rather than predicting events, lunar astrology reflects themes.
Fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): 2026 emphasizes emotional pacing and sustainable expression.
Earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): Security, boundaries, and material alignment take priority.
Air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): Communication and clarity evolve through reflection rather than debate.
Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): Emotional truth and intuitive awareness deepen significantly.
Across all signs, the Moon in 2026 encourages self-trust over urgency.
How to Use the 2026 Moon Calendar in Daily Life
You do not need to ritualize every Moon to benefit from lunar awareness.
Simple ways to work with the Moon include:
Reflecting during Full Moons
Resting during New Moons
Noticing emotional patterns month to month
Using lunar cycles as emotional check-ins
"The Moon is not a command. It is a mirror." -- Michele Thompson
Closing Reflection
The 2026 Moon Calendar reminds us that life does not move in straight lines. It expands, contracts, rests, and returns.
In a world that demands constant forward motion, the Moon offers permission to pause — and wisdom in doing so.
You don’t need to follow every phase perfectly. Simply noticing the cycles is enough to bring more compassion, clarity, and rhythm into the year ahead.
Let 2026 be a year you live with time, not against it.
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