Want to see the eleventh full moon of 2026? We have all the details you need.
It’s a sight that has inspired myths, superstitions and awe through the centuries - when the night sky is lit up by the seemingly-perfect glowing sphere of a full moon.
We experience one full moon every month (and occasionally a 13th - the so-called Blue Moon, which we had earlier this year), with each one given a different evocative name.
Here's how to see the next one of 2026 - the Hunter Moon.
What is a full moon?
A full moon is when moon appears as a complete circle in the sky. The moon produces no light of its own, so this only happens when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth to the Sun - meaning the whole of the near side of the moon is fully lit up.
When is the Hunter Moon in 2026?
The next full moon or ‘Harvest Moon’ will reach its peak on Monday, October 26, at 4.12am. This time only applies to the UK however as when the full moon rises and sets depends on where you are on the planet. Don’t worry if it’s light or cloudy when it’s at its peak - it’ll still appear full over the entire night. The best time to view it will actually be on the evening of Sunday, October 25.
Why is it called a Hunter Moon?
Following last month’s Harvest Moon, the Hunter Moon is also all about stocking up on food for winter. It was coined by the Algonquin Native American tribe and reminded them to get out there to hunt animals so they could stock up on meat for the months ahead. Autumn was the best time to find animals, woth bare fields leaving them with less places to hide, while falling temperatures meant it was easier to keep meat for longer without it going off.
The October full moon is also known as the Corn Ripe Moon and the Falling Leaves Moon, coming as it does during the middle of Autumn
Why do full moons have different names?
Full moon names are often attributed to Native American tribes that would give them nicknames to keep track of they year as they didn’t record time using months found in the Julian or Gregorian calendar. Most of the names were linked to a specific event, for example the Worm Moon relates to a time of year when the ground starts to thaw and worms are able to wriggle up to the surface.
Other moons like the blood moon were thought to be caused by Jaguars who attacked the moon and left it bleeding hence the red colour. These lunar systems and their names differed between tribes but it seems Colonial Americans adopted some of these names and incorporated them into their own calendar systems.
When are the other full moons of 2026?
Here’s a full list of the other full moons still to come in 2026 - and their names:
November 24 - ‘Beaver Moon’
December 24 - ‘Cold Moon’
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