Next full moon and full moon dates
The next full moon date and exact UTC time, plus the next 12 upcoming full moons. A full moon happens about every 29.5 days, when the moon sits on the opposite side of Earth from the sun and its near face is fully lit.
A full moon happens when the moon and sun are 180 degrees apart in geocentric ecliptic longitude. The near side of the moon, facing Earth, is then fully illuminated by sunlight.
Although it is sometimes said the full moon lasts a single night, the lunar disc looks essentially full for about a day either side of the precise instant. Photographers and astronomers prefer the night closest to peak, because the moon then rises around sunset and sets around sunrise.
The synodic month, the cycle from one full moon to the next, averages 29.5306 days. Twelve full moons happen in most calendar years; thirteen happen when an extra cycle just fits.
Next 12 full moons
- 31 May 2026Sunday, 31 May 202608:45 UTC
- 29 Jun 2026Monday, 29 June 202623:57 UTC
- 29 Jul 2026Wednesday, 29 July 202614:36 UTC
- 28 Aug 2026Friday, 28 August 202604:19 UTC
- 26 Sep 2026Saturday, 26 September 202616:49 UTC
- 26 Oct 2026Monday, 26 October 202604:12 UTC
- 24 Nov 2026Tuesday, 24 November 202614:54 UTC
- 24 Dec 2026Thursday, 24 December 202601:28 UTC
- 22 Jan 2027Friday, 22 January 202712:17 UTC
- 20 Feb 2027Saturday, 20 February 202723:24 UTC
- 22 Mar 2027Monday, 22 March 202710:44 UTC
- 20 Apr 2027Tuesday, 20 April 202722:27 UTC
Frequently asked questions
When is the next full moon?▼
The next full moon date and exact UTC time are shown above. A full moon happens about every 29.5 days, when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun and its near side is fully illuminated.
What is a full moon?▼
A full moon is the lunar phase when the geocentric ecliptic longitude of the moon is 180 degrees away from the sun, so the moon appears as a fully illuminated disc from Earth. The peak full moon is a single instant; the moon looks essentially full for about a day either side.
How often does a full moon happen?▼
Full moons happen once per synodic month, which is approximately 29.5 days. Twelve to thirteen full moons fall in a calendar year. Two full moons in one calendar month is sometimes called a blue moon.
What time will the full moon be visible?▼
The full moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise, so it is visible most of the night. Exact moonrise and moonset times depend on your location and can be checked on the Solarc moon page for any spot on Earth.
Are full moon dates the same worldwide?▼
The astronomical full moon is a single instant in UTC, but the calendar date can shift by one day depending on your local time zone. The dates listed here are the UTC dates of the precise full-moon instant.