Full Moon May 2026: Flower Moon 2026

The May Full Moon is traditionally known as the Flower Moon, a name associated with the widespread blooming of flowers during late spring in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2026, the Flower Moon reaches peak illumination on May 31 at 08:45 UTC. It is also the second Full Moon of May, making it a Blue Moon.

For a complete list of upcoming Full Moons, see the Full Moon Calendar.

When is the Flower Moon 2026?

The Flower Moon reaches its full phase on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 08:45 UTC.

The exact local date and time depend on your time zone. In India, the Full Moon occurs at approximately 2:15 PM IST on May 31, so the Moon will rise later that evening after sunset.

The Moon can still appear essentially full on the nights immediately before and after the exact peak.

You can check the Moon’s exact details for May 31, including illumination, moon age, distance from Earth, azimuth, and other lunar data, on Moon Age Today.

Why Is It Called the Flower Moon?

The name “Flower Moon” refers to the abundance of flowers that bloom during May in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

The name is commonly associated with traditions recorded in North America and was popularized through modern Full Moon calendars. May is a period of rapid plant growth in many temperate regions, making flowers a natural seasonal marker for the month’s full moon.

The Flower Moon does not appear different from other Full Moons because of its name. Its color and apparent size depend on atmospheric conditions, its position in the sky, and its distance from Earth.

How to watch the Flower Moon

The Flower Moon is easy to observe without a telescope.

• Find a location with a clear view toward the eastern horizon.
• Look shortly after sunset as the Moon rises.
• Choose an area away from tall buildings, trees, and hills.
• Binoculars can reveal lunar craters and bright and dark regions across the surface.
• A telescope will provide a closer view of lunar features.
• For photography, use trees, buildings, or mountains in the foreground to give the moon a sense of scale.

For exact local moonrise and moonset times, use the Moonrise & Moonset Time Calculator.

Why is the May Full Moon also a Blue Moon in 2026?

The May 2026 full moon is unusual because it is the second full moon in the same calendar month.

The first May Full Moon occurs on May 1, while the second occurs on May 31. Under the modern calendar definition, the second Full Moon in a calendar month is called a Blue Moon.

The Moon does not actually turn blue during a Blue Moon. The term describes the timing of the full moon rather than its color.

Is the Flower Moon a supermoon?

No. The May 31, 2026, Flower Moon is not a supermoon.

A supermoon occurs when a full moon happens close to the moon’s perigee, the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit. The Flower Moon does not meet the commonly used criteria for a supermoon.

Other Traditional Names of the May Full Moon

The May Full Moon has several traditional names connected with spring, agriculture, plants, and wildlife.

• Corn Planting Moon: Associated with the seasonal planting of corn.
• Milk Moon: Connected with the availability of milk during spring.
• Hare Moon: Associated with hares and spring activity.
• Dragon Moon: A seasonal name used in some traditions.
• Budding Moon: Refers to plants beginning to develop and bloom.
• Frog Moon: Associated with the return and increased activity of frogs.
• Egg-Laying Moon: Connected with seasonal bird activity.

These names come from different cultural and regional traditions and were not used universally.

Lunar Eclipse

There is no lunar eclipse during the May 2026 Flower Moon.

You can track upcoming lunar eclipses with the Lunar Eclipse Calendar.

Moon Phases for May 2026

The May 1 full moon occurs at approximately 17:23 UTC, the last quarter on May 9 at approximately 21:10 UTC, the new moon on May 16 at approximately 20:01 UTC, the first quarter on May 23 at approximately 11:11 UTC, and the second full moon on May 31 at approximately 08:45 UTC.

To follow the moon’s daily phases throughout May, use the Moon Phase Calendar.

Other Must-Watch Sky events in May 2026

• Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower, May 5 to 6: The Eta Aquariids reach their annual peak in early May. The shower is produced by debris from Halley’s Comet and is best observed during the hours before sunrise.
• Moon and Saturn, May 14: The waning crescent Moon passes close to Saturn in the morning sky.
• New Moon, May 16: The New Moon creates darker skies, providing better conditions for observing faint stars and deep-sky objects.
• Moon and Venus, May 17: A thin crescent Moon appears near bright Venus shortly after sunset.
• First Quarter Moon, May 23: The half-illuminated Moon provides good conditions for observing craters and mountains along the lunar terminator.
• Moon and Jupiter, May 20: The Moon passes near Jupiter, creating a bright pairing visible in the evening sky.
• Flower Moon, May 31: The second Full Moon of May reaches peak illumination at 08:45 UTC, making it both the Flower Moon and a calendar Blue Moon.

Sources

1. NASA SkyCal: 2026 Sky Events
2. NASA Science: May 2026 Skywatching
3. Time and date: May 2026 Moon Phases
4. The Old Farmer’s Almanac: Full Moon Names

Note: All dates and times in this article are given in UTC unless otherwise stated. Local moonrise, moonset, and visibility vary by location.