Moon Phases January 2026
The full moon in January 2026 is on 3 January at 10:02 UTC — traditionally called the Wolf Moon. The new moon falls on 18 January at 19:52 UTC. Times are UTC.
Why the January 2026 full moon is called the Wolf Moon
Named for wolves heard howling in midwinter.
These are the traditional Colonial and Native American names popularised by the farmers’ almanacs. They are folklore, not astronomy — the phase dates and times on this page are computed and verifiable, the names are naming convention.
Moon phase day by day
| Day | Phase | Illumination |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waxing Gibbous | 95% |
| 2 | Full Moon | 99% |
| 3 | Full Moon | 100% |
| 4 | Full Moon | 98% |
| 5 | Waning Gibbous | 94% |
| 6 | Waning Gibbous | 88% |
| 7 | Waning Gibbous | 80% |
| 8 | Waning Gibbous | 71% |
| 9 | Last Quarter | 61% |
| 10 | Last Quarter | 51% |
| 11 | Last Quarter | 42% |
| 12 | Last Quarter | 33% |
| 13 | Waning Crescent | 24% |
| 14 | Waning Crescent | 17% |
| 15 | Waning Crescent | 10% |
| 16 | Waning Crescent | 5% |
| 17 | New Moon | 2% |
| 18 | New Moon | 0% |
| 19 | New Moon | 1% |
| 20 | New Moon | 3% |
| 21 | Waxing Crescent | 8% |
| 22 | Waxing Crescent | 14% |
| 23 | Waxing Crescent | 22% |
| 24 | First Quarter | 32% |
| 25 | First Quarter | 43% |
| 26 | First Quarter | 54% |
| 27 | First Quarter | 65% |
| 28 | Waxing Gibbous | 76% |
| 29 | Waxing Gibbous | 85% |
| 30 | Waxing Gibbous | 92% |
| 31 | Full Moon | 97% |
Illumination at noon (UTC) for each day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the full moon in January 2026?
The full moon in January 2026 is on 3 January at 10:02 UTC, traditionally called the Wolf Moon.
What time is the full moon in January 2026?
The moon reaches full phase at 10:02 UTC on 3 January. It looks full to the naked eye for about a day either side of that instant, so the nights before and after are both worth watching.
Why is the January 2026 full moon called the Wolf Moon?
Named for wolves heard howling in midwinter. These names come from Colonial and Native American tradition and were popularised by the farmers' almanacs — they are naming convention rather than astronomy, while the phase dates and times on this page are computed and verifiable.
When is the new moon in January 2026?
The new moon in January 2026 is on 18 January at 19:52 UTC.