Full moon January 2026: When is the supermoon, and what is it called?

The first Full Moon of 2026 keeps the supermoon streak alive. After a run of these until the end of 2025, we’re getting one more to kick off the new year. October, November and December all saw beautiful, big moons in the sky, and January will be no different.

A supermoon is really what the name suggests, a Full Moon that appears larger and brighter in the sky than usual, perfect for stargazing late at night. There’s a lot going on with the January Full Moon, so keep reading to find out what it means.

When does the January Full Moon occur?

The January Full Moon will occur on Saturday, January 3. Time and date estimate it will peak at 5:02 a.m. ET.

What is the full moon in January called?

Full moons all have their own names, and the one in January is traditionally known as the “Wolf Moon.” Time and Date explains that this is because wolves were generally thought to be more active and howling in January.

The January Full Moon is also another supermoon, the fourth in a row. It will appear larger and brighter in the sky because it is closer to Earth in its orbit. A supermoon occurs when the Moon reaches full phase at or near lunar perigee, the point where it comes closest to our planet, creating a noticeably larger view, Royal Museums Greenwich tells us.

When will the next Full Moon take place?

The next Full Moon is expected to occur on February 1, 2026.

What are the lunar phases?

The Full Moon is just one of eight phases in the Moon’s 29.5-day orbit around Earth. All the different phases show how illuminated its surface is from our point of view. We always see the same side of the Moon, but as it moves around the Earth, the sunlight falls on it differently, which is why sometimes we see it full, sometimes half, and sometimes it seems to have completely disappeared.

The phases are:

• New moon — The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, so the side we see is dark (i.e. invisible to the naked eye).

• Hair removal crescent — A small burst of light appears on the right side (Northern hemisphere).

• First trimester — Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half moon.

• Gibbous hair removal — More than half is lit, but it is not yet completely full.

• Full moon — The entire face of the moon is illuminated and entirely visible.

• Decreasing Gibbous — The moon begins to lose light on the right side.

• Last quarter (or Third Quarter) — Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

• Descending ascending — A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before turning dark again.