A Blue Moon is one of the sky's rare treats, and in 2026 we get one. This is your guide to what a Blue Moon actually is, when it happens in 2026, and what this uncommon extra full moon is said to mean. You can always check tonight's exact moon phase in the Almanac.
When is the Blue Moon in 2026?
In 2026 the Blue Moon reaches fullness on Sunday 31 May 2026, 6:46 pm AEST, in the sign of Sagittarius. A full moon is the moment the moon is fully lit and directly opposite the sun, the brightest night of her cycle and, in tradition, a time of culmination and release. Watch her grow round night by night with our moon phase tool.
Why is it called the Blue Moon?
A Blue Moon is not about colour at all. In its most common modern meaning, it is the second full moon to fall within a single calendar month, which happens only every two or three years. That rarity is exactly where the saying 'once in a blue moon' comes from. An older definition calls it the third full moon in a season that has four.
The spiritual meaning of the Blue Moon
In free spirited, far seeing Sagittarius, this Blue Moon is a moon for the big picture. As a rare extra full moon, it feels like found time: a bonus round for a wish, an adventure, or a truth you have been meaning to chase. For more on working with any full moon, see our guide to what to do on a full moon and our full moon affirmations.
A Blue Moon ritual
Because it is rare, make it count. Name one bold thing you want, write it down, and take a single brave step toward it under the moon. Match the practice to the exact phase, or find a ritual for any night, with our moon phase ritual tool.
The Blue Moon in the southern hemisphere
In 2026 the Blue Moon is the second of May's two full moons, rising on 31 May. In Australia that places it in late autumn. Blue Moons are uncommon, so it is worth stepping outside to see this one.
A gentle note
The names and meanings we give the full moons are old, human traditions, ways of marking time and mood, not forecasts of fixed events. The one thing the moon reliably moves is the ocean tides. Take what feels true from the Blue Moon, and gently leave the rest. See every full moon of the year in our full moon calendar for 2026.
Frequently asked questions
In 2026 the Blue Moon rises on Sunday 31 May at 6:46 pm AEST, in Sagittarius. It is the second full moon in May, after the Flower Moon on 2 May.
A Blue Moon is most commonly the second full moon to fall in a single calendar month, which happens only every two or three years. It is not about the moon's colour.
No. The moon is not blue during a Blue Moon. The name refers to the rare timing, which is where the saying 'once in a blue moon' comes from.
