Moon Phases May 2026
The full moon in May 2026 is on 1 May at 17:23 UTC — traditionally called the Flower Moon. The new moon falls on 16 May at 20:00 UTC. May 2026 holds a second full moon on 31 May at 08:45 UTC — a Blue Moon. Times are UTC.
Why the May 2026 full moon is called the Flower Moon
Named for the abundance of flowers in late spring.
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 | Full Moon | 100% |
| 2 | Full Moon | 99% |
| 3 | Full Moon | 97% |
| 4 | Waning Gibbous | 93% |
| 5 | Waning Gibbous | 87% |
| 6 | Waning Gibbous | 80% |
| 7 | Waning Gibbous | 72% |
| 8 | Last Quarter | 63% |
| 9 | Last Quarter | 54% |
| 10 | Last Quarter | 44% |
| 11 | Last Quarter | 33% |
| 12 | Waning Crescent | 24% |
| 13 | Waning Crescent | 15% |
| 14 | Waning Crescent | 8% |
| 15 | New Moon | 3% |
| 16 | New Moon | 0% |
| 17 | New Moon | 1% |
| 18 | Waxing Crescent | 5% |
| 19 | Waxing Crescent | 11% |
| 20 | Waxing Crescent | 19% |
| 21 | Waxing Crescent | 29% |
| 22 | First Quarter | 40% |
| 23 | First Quarter | 51% |
| 24 | First Quarter | 61% |
| 25 | Waxing Gibbous | 71% |
| 26 | Waxing Gibbous | 80% |
| 27 | Waxing Gibbous | 87% |
| 28 | Waxing Gibbous | 93% |
| 29 | Full Moon | 97% |
| 30 | Full Moon | 99% |
| 31 | Full Moon | 100% |
Illumination at noon (UTC) for each day.
Frequently asked questions
When is the full moon in May 2026?
The full moon in May 2026 is on 1 May at 17:23 UTC, traditionally called the Flower Moon.
What time is the full moon in May 2026?
The moon reaches full phase at 17:23 UTC on 1 May. 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 May 2026 full moon called the Flower Moon?
Named for the abundance of flowers in late spring. 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 May 2026?
The new moon in May 2026 is on 16 May at 20:00 UTC.
Is there a Blue Moon in May 2026?
Yes. May 2026 holds two full moons — the second, on 31 May at 08:45 UTC, is a Blue Moon under the common "second full moon in a calendar month" definition. It is not actually blue.