Date
Friday, May 1 & Sunday, May 31, 2026
Full Moon May 2026
The Full Moon in May 2026 occurs on Friday, May 1 & Sunday, May 31, 2026 and is in the sign of Scorpio ♏ & Sagittarius ♐.
Full Moon May 2026 — All Details
Moon Name
Flower Moon & Blue Moon
Zodiac Sign
Scorpio ♏ & Sagittarius ♐
Next New Moon
May 16 & June 15, 2026
Full Moon May 2026: Highlights and Observation
What makes this Full Moon special
This Full Moon is a micromoon: on May 1, 2026 the Moon is about 402,000 km away, close to the farthest point of its orbit (apogee of this orbit about 406,000 km). That makes it the 11th closest, i.e. one of the most distant Full Moons of 2026; the Full Moon of April (394,000 km) was about 8,000 km closer. A Full Moon at apogee appears about 11 percent smaller than a supermoon. May 2026 has two Full Moons: on May 1 and on May 31. The second Full Moon in a calendar month is popularly called a "Blue Moon", a purely calendrical quirk with no traditional name of its own.
Traditional name
By tradition the May Full Moon is called the Flower Moon; the German folk name is Blumenmond. May is in full bloom, with meadows covered in flowers. These names come from farming almanacs and North American traditions; astronomically there are no official Full Moon names.
Observing from London
In London the Moon rises on May 1 at 20:50 BST and sets the following morning at 05:20; the Sun sets at 20:23 and rises the next morning at 05:31. The Full Moon is therefore above the horizon all night long. Other locations in the UK differ by a few minutes.
Meteor showers and eclipses
The Eta Aquariids peak (May 5–6) falls into the Full Moon period, 4 days from the peak: bright moonlight washes out the shower, poor conditions, only the brightest meteors remain visible.
Observing Full Moon May 2026
Best Timing
Shortly after moonrise, the full moon is close to the horizon — ideal for photos with a foreground. City skylines, trees, or bodies of water yield impressive compositions. The live view shows the exact moonrise for your location.
Photography Tip
Short exposure (1/250s–1/500s), low ISO (100–400), telephoto range. Smartphone: tap the moon manually, slide exposure control down. Use a tripod for sharpness at long focal lengths.
Special Note
Double Full Moon in May: Flower Moon on May 1 and Blue Moon on May 31.
Frequently Asked Questions about Full Moon May 2026
When is the Full Moon in May 2026?
Friday, May 1 & Sunday, May 31, 2026. The exact local moonrise is shown in the live view on the homepage.
In which zodiac sign is the Full Moon of May 2026?
The Full Moon is in the sign of Scorpio ♏ & Sagittarius ♐.
When is the next New Moon after the Full Moon of May 2026?
The next New Moon after the Full Moon in May is on May 16 & June 15, 2026.
Is the Full Moon of May 2026 a supermoon?
This Full Moon is a micromoon: on May 1, 2026 the Moon is about 402,000 km away, close to the farthest point of its orbit (apogee of this orbit about 406,000 km). That makes it the 11th closest, i.e. one of the most distant Full Moons of 2026; the Full Moon of April (394,000 km) was about 8,000 km closer. A Full Moon at apogee appears about 11 percent smaller than a supermoon. May 2026 has two Full Moons: on May 1 and on May 31. The second Full Moon in a calendar month is popularly called a "Blue Moon", a purely calendrical quirk with no traditional name of its own.
Can I see meteors around the Full Moon of May 2026?
The Eta Aquariids peak (May 5–6) falls into the Full Moon period, 4 days from the peak: bright moonlight washes out the shower, poor conditions, only the brightest meteors remain visible.