January full moon 2026: See the Wolf supermoon
The first Full Moon of 2026 is keeping the supermoon streak alive. After a string of them to end 2025, we get one more to kick off the new year. October, November, and December all saw beautiful, large moons in the sky, and January will be no different.
A supermoon is really what the name suggests, a Full Moon that appears bigger and brighter in the sky than usual, perfect for late-night stargazing. There's lots happening with the January Full Moon, so keep reading to find out what it means.
When is the January Full Moon?
January's full Moon will occur on Saturday, Jan. 3. Time and Date estimates it will peak at 5:02 a.m. ET.
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What is the January full Moon called?
Full Moons all have their own names, and January's is traditionally known as the 'Wolf Moon'. Time and Date explains that this is because wolves were typically thought to be more active, and howling, in January.
January's Full Moon is also another supermoon, the fourth in a row. It will appear bigger and brighter in the sky because it sits closer to Earth in its orbit. A supermoon occurs when the Moon reaches its full phase at or near lunar perigee, the point where it comes closest to our planet, which creates a noticeably larger view, Royal Museums Greenwich tells us.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon is predicted to occur on Feb. 1, 2026.
What are the lunar phases?
The Full Moon is just one of eight phases in the Moon’s 29.5-day orbit around Earth. All of the different phases show how much of its surface is lit up from our point of view. We always see the same side of the Moon, but as it moves around Earth, the sunlight falls on it differently, so that's why sometimes we see it looking full, sometimes half, and sometimes it looks like it has disappeared completely.
The phases are:
New Moon — The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).
Waxing Crescent — A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter — Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.
Waxing Gibbous — More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon — The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous — The moon starts losing light on the right side.
Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) — Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent — A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
Lois Mackenzie is a freelance reporter at Mashable. Over the years she has written for many publications, covering everything from the local news to the best pair of running shoes. You can find bylines in publications including Fit&Well, Metro, and Coach magazine, usually covering deals on everything from earbuds to TVs, or guides on how to beat your half marathon time.
Lois also holds a Master's degree in Digital Journalism from Strathclyde University and obtained a Master of Arts in English Literature at the University of Aberdeen.
