Welcome to your August 2026 sky. Winter is beginning to loosen its grip here in Australia, with the first hints of spring stirring in the light, and the heavens are busy: a bold new moon in Leo, the dreamy Sturgeon Moon, Venus coming home to Libra, and the shift from Leo season into Virgo season. Here is everything worth knowing this month, with a short horoscope for every sign further down. Best of all, there is no Mercury retrograde in August, so it is a clear run for plans and conversations.
Bookmark this page and check back through the month. You can always see tonight's exact moon phase in the Almanac.
August 2026 moon phases (AEST)
All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time. The moon carries us from a fiery new beginning to a soft, watery full moon at the month's end.
- Last quarter, Thursday 6 August. The waning half moon: a time to release, forgive and make a little space.
- New moon in Leo, Thursday 13 August, 3:37 am. The dark moon and the month's fresh start, warm and big hearted. The night to set a bold intention.
- First quarter, Thursday 20 August, 12:47 pm. The waxing half moon: a checkpoint that asks you to act on what you began.
- Full moon in Pisces, the Sturgeon Moon, Friday 28 August, 2:19 pm. The month's emotional high tide. More on this just below.
New to the phases? Our guide to the eight moon phases explains what each one is for.
The Sturgeon Moon: August's full moon
August's full moon is traditionally called the Sturgeon Moon, named for the large sturgeon fish once caught most easily in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain at this time of year. For the peoples who fished those waters, it marked a season of plenty.
In 2026 the Sturgeon Moon reaches fullness on Friday 28 August at 2:19 pm AEST, in dreamy, compassionate Pisces, opposite the Sun in Virgo. A Pisces full moon softens everything: it is a tender, intuitive culmination that asks you to feel your feelings, forgive, and let something go with grace. A bath or a quiet moment by water suits it beautifully. Read the full story of the moon on our Sturgeon Moon page, and see our guide to what to do on a full moon.
The new moon in Leo
On Thursday 13 August, the new moon rises in Leo, the sign of the heart, confidence and creative fire. New moons are for beginnings, and a Leo new moon is a warm, courageous one: think about where you want to shine, what you want to create, and how you might let yourself be seen. It is a wonderful night to set a bold, joyful intention. Our beginner's guide to new moon rituals and our piece on setting new moon intentions will walk you through it.
Planets on the move in August
A lively month for the planets, with several changing signs.
- Venus enters Libra, Friday 7 August. Venus comes home to one of the signs she rules, a genuine glow up for love, beauty and harmony. Relationships feel sweeter and fairer. See Venus in astrology.
- Mercury enters Leo, Monday 10 August. Words turn warm, dramatic and generous, before Mercury moves into Virgo on the 25th for a more precise, practical voice. See Mercury in astrology.
- Mars enters Cancer, Tuesday 11 August. Drive and energy turn toward home and feeling. You may fight harder for the people you love, though watch for a shorter fuse. See Mars in astrology.
- The Sun enters Virgo, Sunday 23 August. Virgo season begins, more below.
Saturn, Neptune and Pluto remain retrograde this month, in Aries and Aquarius, as they are for part of every year, so there is nothing to read into that. And with no Mercury retrograde, the way ahead is unusually clear.
Leo season into Virgo season
August carries us across a shift in the zodiac. Until 23 August we are still in Leo season, bold, warm and expressive, a time to play and be seen. Then the Sun moves into Virgo, and Virgo season begins: quieter, more grounded and practical, a lovely time to tidy, tend and take care of the details. It is a gentle arc, from the courage of the heart to the care of the hands. Explore all twelve signs in our zodiac and astrology hub.
Your August 2026 horoscope, sign by sign
Here is a short horoscope for the month for every sign, grounded in the actual movements above. For the fullest picture, read three: your sun sign for the overall month, your moon sign for your emotional world, and your rising sign, or ascendant, for how the month plays out day to day. Not sure of your moon and rising? Our free birth chart calculator reveals all three in a moment, or find your moon sign and rising sign directly.
Aries
The Leo new moon on the 13th sparks your fifth house of romance, creativity and play, a joyful, heartfelt fresh start. When Virgo season begins on the 23rd, your focus turns to work, health and daily habits. The Pisces full moon on the 28th asks you to rest and quietly let something go behind the scenes.
Taurus
Home and family light up with the Leo new moon in your fourth house, a warm moment to nurture your nest. Virgo season from the 23rd brings your creativity and romance to life. The Pisces full moon on the 28th brings a friendship or a long-held hope to a head.
Gemini
Your words and ideas shine as the Leo new moon lands in your third house, perfect for launching a conversation, a piece of writing or a local plan. Virgo season turns you toward home from the 23rd. The Pisces full moon on the 28th brings a career matter to fruition.
Cancer
Money and self worth get a confident reset with the Leo new moon in your second house. Mars enters your sign on the 11th, handing you real drive and initiative, though do watch a shorter fuse. The Pisces full moon on the 28th lights up travel, study or a big belief.
Leo
Happy birthday season, Leo: the new moon on the 13th lands in your own sign, one of the most powerful fresh starts of your year, so set a bold intention for the person you are becoming. As Virgo season arrives on the 23rd, attention turns to money and security. The Pisces full moon stirs your deep, shared and intimate world.
Virgo
August asks you to rest and reflect before your big moment, with the Leo new moon quiet in your twelfth house. Then Virgo season begins on the 23rd, your own season and a personal new beginning, so use the pause well. The Pisces full moon on the 28th brings a relationship to a meaningful turning point.
Libra
Friendship and community sparkle under the Leo new moon in your eleventh house. Even better, Venus, your ruler, comes home to Libra on the 7th, a real glow up for your charm, your relationships and your sense of beauty. The Pisces full moon on the 28th brings a work or health matter to completion.
Scorpio
Career and public life take the spotlight with the Leo new moon at the top of your chart, a strong time to set a professional intention. Virgo season lights up your friendships from the 23rd. The Pisces full moon on the 28th brings romance or a creative project to a beautiful peak.
Sagittarius
The Leo new moon opens your ninth house of travel, study and meaning, a lovely time to plan a trip or begin learning something. Virgo season elevates your career from the 23rd. The Pisces full moon on the 28th brings something at home to a head, so tend to your foundations.
Capricorn
Intimacy, trust and shared resources get a fresh start with the Leo new moon in your eighth house. Virgo season from the 23rd reawakens your love of travel and big ideas. The Pisces full moon on the 28th brings a conversation or a piece of news to completion.
Aquarius
Partnership is your headline, with the Leo new moon lighting your relationship house, a fresh start with a significant other or a business partner. Virgo season deepens your focus on shared resources from the 23rd. The Pisces full moon on the 28th brings a money matter to fruition.
Pisces
Work, health and routine reset with the Leo new moon in your sixth house, a good time to build a kinder rhythm. Then the month's full moon on the 28th, the Sturgeon Moon, lands in your own sign, a tender, dreamy culmination and a moment to honour your feelings. Virgo season turns your attention to partnership.
Rituals for August
A few practices that suit this month's sky:
- A Leo new moon intention ritual, around 13 August. Light a candle, and write down something bold and heartfelt you want to create or become. Our rituals hub has more to borrow from.
- A Venus in Libra beauty ritual, from the 7th. Tend to a relationship, or to your own sense of beauty and pleasure, in whatever way feels good.
- A Sturgeon Moon release, around 28 August. Under the dreamy Pisces full moon, take a warm bath or sit quietly by water, and let go of something with compassion rather than force.
You can match any night's practice to the exact phase with our moon phase ritual tool.
Tarot spreads for August
Two layouts that fit the month's energy:
- For the Leo new moon and the month ahead, try the month ahead spread.
- For the reflective Pisces full moon, our spreads for self discovery are a gentle fit. Read any of them interactively in our tarot reading helper, or browse the whole tarot spreads library.
A gentle note
Astrology and moon lore are traditions for reflection, not forecasts of fixed events. The one thing the moon reliably moves is the ocean tides; the meanings we hang on her phases, and on the planets, are old, human and symbolic, meant to help you pause and pay attention rather than to tell you what will happen. Take what feels true this month, and gently leave the rest.
Frequently asked questions
August's full moon, the Sturgeon Moon, is on Friday 28 August 2026 at 2:19 pm AEST, in the sign of Pisces.
The new moon is on Thursday 13 August 2026 at 3:37 am AEST, in Leo, a bold and heartfelt time to set intentions.
No. Mercury is direct all month, moving through Leo and then into Virgo on 25 August, so it is a clear month for plans and communication.
August begins in Leo season and shifts into Virgo season when the Sun enters Virgo on 23 August 2026.
It is an old almanac name for August's full moon, from the sturgeon fish that were most easily caught in the Great Lakes in late summer. It is also called the Grain Moon.
