Every skygazer understands that special feeling when the moon appears a little closer to Earth in the night sky. The spectacular phenomenon is known as a supermoon, but, sadly, it isn’t frequent. So, keep your skywatching calendars up-to-date with all the upcoming supermoons of 2026. You won’t want to miss any.
But first, what is a supermoon exactly? A supermoon is a type of full moon that occurs when the natural satellite is at or near perigee (the closest point in its elliptical orbit to Earth), which makes it look noticeably bigger and brighter than an ordinary full moon. According to NASA, perigee full moons appear about 14% larger and 30% brighter than full moons that occur near apogee (the farthest point) in the moon’s orbit.
But did you know that the term “supermoon” is not an official astronomical term? The popular term was initially coined in 1979 by astrologer Richard Nolle. In technical lexicon, the phenomenon is called the “perigee-syzygy of the Earth-moon-sun system” or simply the perigee full moon.
In 2026, the full moon is set to coincide with the perigee three times.
So, if you want to experience the moon’s luminous beauty in 2026, these three upcoming supermoons are your golden opportunities.
A guide to all the upcoming supermoons of 2026
1. Wolf Supermoon – 2 January
The new year will begin on a bright note as the first full supermoon of 2026 is set to arrive on 2 January, with the moon alongside Jupiter. This will be known as the Wolf Supermoon.
According to the Bergen Record, the Wolf Supermoon will rise on the eastern horizon around sunset in the Gemini constellation. This supermoon will be at its brightest at 5:03 am ET (6:03 pm SGT), casting a yellow glow in the sky before entering the western horizon.
Wondering where the Wolf Supermoon gets its name from? According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, full moon names have always been associated with Native American and European folklore. Since wolves are usually the most active during cold winter nights in those regions, the year’s first full moon is also known as the Wolf Moon.
2. Beaver Supermoon – 24 November
Expect a long wait after the Wolf Moon because the next full supermoon of 2026 does not arrive until the end of November. The Beaver Supermoon will be at its peak visibility at 9:53 am EST (10:53 pm SGT).
Much like the Wolf Supermoon, the Beaver Supermoon, too, has an interesting story behind its name. Since beavers are spotted frequently during this month as they begin to prepare for the cold winter, November’s supermoon was rightly named after these furry animals!
Additionally, this supermoon is also known as the Frost Supermoon.
Also read: Best wildlife experiences in Singapore all nature lovers should visit
3. Cold Supermoon – 23/24 December
A month after the Beaver Supermoon, skygazers will get to witness the closest full supermoon of 2026 – in the form of the Cold Supermoon. This one arrives on 23 December at 8:28 pm EST (9:29 am SGT on 24 December) and will be visible alongside Jupiter and Saturn.
The Cold Supermoon is named after the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere. Because this supermoon is at its closest point to Earth, the sight is dazzling to say the least.
