The full moon in January 2026 occurs on Saturday, January 3, 2026, and is known as the Wolf Moon. The January Full Moon is the first of the year and the full moon in Cancer for 2025.
A full moon occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, so the moon looks completely illuminated. It happens about once a month or 29.53 days on average, also called a synodic month.
Keep reading below to learn more about the January Full Moon of 2026 including the moon’s nicknames and other facts.
Get ready for January 2026’s Full Moon
The full moon in January 2026 occurs on Saturday, January 3, and is known as the Wolf Moon. The January full moon is the first of the year.
When is the January Full Moon in 2025?
The peak of the Full January Moon will be at 5:03 a.m. EST on January 3rd. The moon will look fairly full the day before and after. The January 3 Wolf Moon will be the full moon in Cancer.
The January 3rd full moon is the first full moon of Winter as the first full moon after the Winter Solstice. Winter began on Sunday, December 21st at 10:03 a.m.
Depending on the year, the January Full Moon is either the first or second Winter Full Moon, depending on if the December full moon is before or after the Solstice.
Name of the January full moon
The January Full moon is known as the Wolf Moon. inspired by nature and the wolves howling at the moon.
Other names include the Ice Moon, Old Moon, Moon After Yule, and Snow Moon. Sometimes full moon names overlap, and the Snow Moon name is commonly used to refer to the February full moon.
Will there be a lunar eclipse in January?
No, there will not be a lunar eclipse in January 2026. March and August will each have a Total Lunar Eclipse, also called a Blood Moon.
Is there a full supermoon in January?
Yes, the January Full Moon will be the first of three supermoons in 2026. November and December will also be supermoons.
A full supermoon is a full moon that nearly coincides with the closest point at which the Moon comes to Earth in its orbit, called perigee. The moon will have a larger-than-usual appearance. There isn’t an official definition of the exact distance the moon needs to be to be called a supermoon. It’s approximately 360,000 kilometers or closer, depending on the definition.
Will January be a blue moon?
No, there will not be a blue moon in January. There will be a blue moon in 2026 with a second full moon in May.
There are two definitions of blue moons. The most common, and the one you likely know, is when two full moons occur in the same month. The second full moon is typically called a blue moon.
The second definition relates to having an extra full moon on the calendar during a season. When a season has four full moons, the third full moon is also called a blue moon or a seasonal blue moon. Seasonal blue moons only occur in May, August, November and rarely February.
Moon Phases for the January Full Moon
Below are the four core moon phases for the January full moon, including the new, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter. The lunar cycle for the full moon began in December and ends in January. The Wolf lunar month spanned two seasons.
| Date & Time | Phase | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, December 19, 8:43 p.m. EST | New | Autumn |
| Sat, December 27, 2:10 p.m. EST | First Quarter | Winter |
| Sat, January 3, 5:03 a.m. EST | Full | Winter |
| Sat, January 10, 10:48 a.m. EST | Last Quarter | Winter |