The next full moon is on 3 January 2026 at about 10:02–10:03 UTC , often called the Wolf Moon.

What is a full moon?

  • A full moon happens when the Moon is on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun and its Earth-facing side is completely lit.
  • This alignment makes the Moon look like a bright circle in the night sky for a couple of nights, even though the exact “full” moment is just an instant.

When is there a full moon?

  • Full moons come roughly once every 29.5 days, which is the length of a lunar cycle from one full phase to the next.
  • Because of this cycle, there is usually one full moon each calendar month, though some months can have two, known as a “blue moon”.

Full moon on 3 January 2026

  • In January 2026, the Moon reaches full phase on 3 January , around 10:02–10:03 UTC.
  • This January full moon is traditionally called the Wolf Moon in many English-language full moon name lists.

How it looks in the sky

  • The Moon will appear essentially full for a couple of nights around 3 January, even though the exact peak brightness is at that specific time.
  • Around full moon, it stays in the sky all night, rising near sunset and setting near sunrise, making it especially bright and noticeable.

Note for your location

  • The exact clock time of the full moon for you depends on your time zone; you can convert from about 10:02–10:03 UTC on 3 January 2026 to your local time.
  • Local moonrise and moonset times that night will also vary by location, but it will be the best night that month for bright lunar viewing.