Lunar calendar January 2026: When will there be a full moon this month?

Astronomy enthusiasts can look forward to a variety of celestial events, including notable lunar phases, the Wolf Moon, planetary conjunctions and a meteor shower.

For January 2026, the National Geographic Institute (IGN) has released its astronomical calendar, offering a full overview of the events expected throughout the year.

Seasons in 2026

• Start of spring: 20 March
• Start of summer: 21 June
• Start of autumn: 23 September
• Start of winter: 21 December

Lunar phases in January 2026

• 3 January 2026: Full Moon in Cancer. The Moon appears fully illuminated as seen from Earth.
• 10 January 2026: Last Quarter Moon in Libra. Half of the Moon’s visible surface is illuminated as it begins to wane.
• 18 January 2026: New Moon in Capricorn. The Moon is positioned between the Earth and the Sun, making it largely invisible from Earth.
• 26 January 2026: Waxing Crescent Moon in Taurus. A small, increasing portion of the Moon becomes visible after the New Moon.

Full Moons of 2026

• 3 January: Wolf Moon
• 1 February: Snow Moon
• 3 March: Worm Moon
• 2 April: Pink Moon
• 31 May: Flower Moon
• 30 June: Strawberry Moon
• 29 July: Deer Moon
• 28 August: Sturgeon Moon
• 26 September: Harvest Moon
• 26 October: Hunter’s Moon
• 24 November: Beaver Moon
• 24 December: Cold Moon

Other astronomical events in January

• Quadrantid meteor shower: Peaks on 3 and 4 January, with up to 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions.
• Jupiter at opposition: On 10 January, Jupiter will be directly opposite the Sun, making it brighter and easier to observe.
• Conjunction of the Moon, Saturn and Neptune: Visible in the evening sky on 23 January.
• Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter: Visible before dawn on 31 January.

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