When Is the Full Moon in October: Meet the Hunter’s Moon 2026
Mark your calendar for October 26, 2026! On that date, the Hunter’s Full Moon will rise. Want your exact local timing? Use the free Sky Tonight app to learn it in seconds. Read on to find out what gives the Hunter’s Moon its name and how to see the Full Moon at its best.
Contents
- October 2026 Lunar Calendar
- What Zodiac Sign is the October Full Moon in?
- October Full Moon name
- October Full Moon 2026 FAQ
- Full Moon in October 2026: Conclusion
October 2026 Lunar Calendar
Moon Phases in October 2026
- Last Quarter: October 3, 13:25 GMT
- New Moon: October 10, 15:50 GMT
- First Quarter: October 18, 16:13 GMT
- Full Moon: October 26, 04:12 GMT
Check our comprehensive lunar calendar, where you can easily track the Moon phase for any date. Plan your stargazing adventures with precise moonrise and moonset times, all in one convenient place.
You can also find out the Moon’s phase, brightness, location, and other details in the Moon calendar of the Sky Tonight astronomy app. Just open the app, tap the calendar icon at the bottom of the main screen, and go to the “Moon” tab to get all the up-to-date information about our natural satellite. The images of the Moon in the calendar correspond to the actual appearance of the Moon on that day.
When Is the Full Moon in October 2026?
This month, the Full Moon will occur on October 26, at 04:12 GMT. It will appear full for about three days, so start watching from October 25.
For the best experience, try watching the Full Moon around sunset when it’s near the horizon. During this time, the Moon appears larger to the eye (this effect is known as the Moon illusion) and takes on a beautiful orange tint due to atmospheric refraction – a perfect addition to the autumn landscapes in the Northern Hemisphere!
What time will the October Full Moon rise?
The moonrise time during the Full Moon on October 26, 2026, depends on your location. Below are the moonrise times for some major cities:
- London: October 26, 16:21 GMT
- Chicago: October 26, 17:51 CST
- New York City: October 26, 17:58 EST
- Toronto: October 26, 18:12 EST
- Los Angeles: October 26, 18:17 PST
- Mexico City: October 26, 18:28 CST
- Singapore: October 26, 18:55 SGT
- São Paulo: October 26, 19:01 BRT
- Sydney: October 26, 19:31 AEDT
You can check the exact moonrise time for each date in your city in our interactive lunar calendar.
When Is the New Moon in October 2026?
The New Moon will occur on October 10 at 15:50 GMT. This is the best time for stargazing because the moonlight won't obscure faint celestial objects. The New Moon in October provides an excellent opportunity to view well-known and exotic deep-sky objects, including the Andromeda Galaxy and the Saturn Nebula.
What Zodiac Sign is the October Full Moon in?
The October Full Moon can lie in one of three constellations: Pisces, Aries, or Cetus. In 2026, at the exact moment of Full Moon, it will shine in the constellation Aries, then later that same night drift into Pisces.
However, Astrologers claim that the October 2026 Full Moon is in the zodiac sign of Taurus. However, the zodiac signs and constellations don’t always correspond to each other – read our article to find out why.
October Full Moon name
Hunter’s Moon meaning
The Hunter’s Moon is not associated with a particular month. In short, it is the Full Moon that comes right after the Harvest Moon.
Hunter’s Moon and Harvest Moon
You might recall that the Harvest Moon is the Full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which comes in September in the Northern Hemisphere and March in the Southern Hemisphere. The Harvest Moon may occur either in September or October (and in March or April in the Southern Hemisphere).
The Hunter’s Moon is the first Full Moon to follow the Harvest Moon. This means it may take place in October or November (in the Southern Hemisphere – in April or May). In most years, the Northern Hemisphere's Hunter's Moon occurs in October, as it does in 2026. The next November Hunter’s Moon will take place in 2028. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Hunter’s Moon of 2026 is on May 1. The next April Hunter’s Moon will be on April 21, 2027.
Why is it called the Hunter’s Moon?
The farmers had traditionally finished reaping their fields under the light of the Harvest Moon. By the time of the next Full Moon, the fields were clean, so the hunters could easily see the animals prowling in search of food before the winter. Moreover, at this time of the month, the Moon rises at around dusk and sets at around dawn for several nights in a row. The moonlight allowed the hunters to track down the prey into the late evening.
October Blood Moon
Sometimes the October Full Moon is called the Blood Moon, which refers to the hunting season but not to the Moon’s actual color (not to be confused with the Blood Moon that denotes a lunar eclipse).
Red Moon
The October Full Moon might appear red or orange when it’s hanging low above the horizon. At this point, the Moon’s light has to pass through a thicker layer of the atmosphere. Shorter blue wavelengths scatter more easily as they travel through the atmosphere, so the remaining light is richer in red, making the Moon appear orange or reddish. Take our quiz to learn more about the possible colors of the Moon!
Halloween Full Moon
The October Full Moon may occur close to Halloween, which evokes mystical associations. However, the October Full Moon rarely coincides with Halloween night itself. The next Halloween Full Moon will occur in 2039. In 2026, Halloween arrives under a waning gibbous Moon that won’t rise until after local midnight. That means early evening skies will be dark – perfect for spotting spooky celestial treats before the Moon lights up the night.
Other names for the October Full Moon
The traditional names used by the Native American tribes are the Migrating Moon (or the Travel Moon – at this time, the birds fly to warmer climes), Freezing Moon (or Ice Moon, because at this time, the first frosts begin), Falling Leaves Moon and Dying Grass Moon.
The other alternative names include:
- Chinese: Kindly Moon
- Wiccan: Blood Moon
- South African: Seed Moon
- Southern Hemisphere: Egg Moon, Fish Moon, Pink Moon, Waking Moon
October Full Moon 2026 FAQ
Why is the Moon orange tonight?
The October Full Moon can look orange when it sits low on the horizon because its light passes through a thicker layer of Earth’s atmosphere, which filters out blue light and leaves the longer red and orange wavelengths. Our natural satellite can also look unusually large thanks to the Moon illusion – the Moon’s real size doesn’t change, but our brains perceive it as bigger when it’s close to the horizon.
When is the next Full Moon in 2026?
The next Full Moon after October 26 arrives on November 24, 2026. It is known as the Beaver Supermoon. Curious why it has this name, and what makes it a Supermoon? Explore all the details in our dedicated guide to the November Full Moon.
When is the next Hunter’s Moon?
The Hunter's Moon is the Full Moon that follows the Harvest Moon. The next Hunter’s Moon in the Northern Hemisphere after October 26, 2026, will be on October 15, 2027.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the next Hunter's Moon will be on May 1, 2026. After that, the next Hunter's Moon will be on April 21, 2027.
What will the Moon phase be on Halloween 2026?
Halloween pictures often depict a glowing Full Moon rising over haunted houses and spooky landscapes, but on October 31, 2026, the actual Moon will be in its waning gibbous phase, approximately 65% illuminated. This is actually even better, as the Moon will be bright enough to add an eerie glow to Halloween night, yet not too bright to explore with a telescope if you want to do some Halloween stargazing.
When is the next Supermoon 2026?
The next Supermoon of 2026 will occur on November 24. Want to understand what makes a Supermoon special and keep track of all of them? Take a look at our infographic on upcoming Supermoons and their opposite, Micromoons.
Full Moon in October 2026: Conclusion
The Full Moon arrives on October 26, 2026, at 04:12 GMT. In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s called the Hunter’s Moon – the Full Moon that follows the Harvest Moon each year. It will shine mostly in the constellation Aries and may appear golden near the horizon. Want to know when the Full Moon rises exactly where you live or what else will be visible that night? Explore the sky with the Sky Tonight app!
Clear skies and happy Moon-watching!
