The Pink Moon is April's full moon, one of the twelve named full moons of the year. This is your guide to when it rises in 2026, where its name comes from, what it is traditionally said to mean, and a simple ritual to mark it. You can always see tonight's exact moon phase in the Almanac.
When is the Pink Moon in 2026?
In 2026 the Pink Moon reaches fullness on Thursday 2 April 2026, 12:13 pm AEST, in the sign of Libra. 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 Pink Moon?
Despite the name, the Pink Moon is not pink. It is named for the moss pink, or wild ground phlox, one of the earliest wildflowers to carpet the ground in April. The name is a herald of full spring, not a description of the moon's colour.
You may also see it called the Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon. Different cultures kept different names for the same moon, each tied to what the land was doing that month.
The spiritual meaning of the Pink Moon
Falling in Libra, the sign of balance and relationship, the Pink Moon turns its light toward your connections. It is a beautiful moon for honesty in love and friendship, and for asking where your life is asking to be brought back into balance. 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 Pink Moon ritual
Reach out to someone who matters to you, or write down what a fair, balanced relationship would feel like, and one small step toward it. Match the practice to the exact phase, or find a ritual for any night, with our moon phase ritual tool.
The Pink Moon in the southern hemisphere
The Pink Moon flowers for the northern spring; in Australia it rises over mid autumn. Let it be a reminder that beauty and balance belong to every season.
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 Pink Moon, and gently leave the rest. See every full moon of the year in our full moon calendar for 2026.
Frequently asked questions
The Pink Moon, April's full moon, is on Thursday 2 April 2026, 12:13 pm AEST, in the sign of Libra.
Despite the name, the Pink Moon is not pink. It is named for the moss pink, or wild ground phlox, one of the earliest wildflowers to carpet the ground in April. The name is a herald of full spring, not a description of the moon's colour.
Falling in Libra, the sign of balance and relationship, the Pink Moon turns its light toward your connections. It is a beautiful moon for honesty in love and friendship, and for asking where your life is asking to be brought back into balance.
