The Snow Moon is February'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 Snow Moon in 2026?
In 2026 the Snow Moon reaches fullness on Monday 2 February 2026, 8:10 am AEST, in the sign of Leo. 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 Snow Moon?
February often brings the heaviest snowfall of the year in the northern hemisphere, which is how the Snow Moon earned its name. Some peoples also called it the Hunger Moon, for the lean stretch of late winter when stored food ran low.
It has also been known as the Storm 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 Snow Moon
Rising in warm, bright Leo, the Snow Moon lights up the heart. It asks where you are ready to be seen, to be generous, and to let a little more of your own warmth show, even in a quiet season. 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 Snow Moon ritual
Light a single candle and name one thing you are proud of. Let yourself feel it fully, without shrinking. Match the practice to the exact phase, or find a ritual for any night, with our moon phase ritual tool.
The Snow Moon in the southern hemisphere
In Australia the Snow Moon rises over the last of summer rather than a snowfield. Read its name as a gentle nudge to rest and gather warmth before the turn toward autumn.
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 Snow Moon, and gently leave the rest. See every full moon of the year in our full moon calendar for 2026.
Frequently asked questions
The Snow Moon, February's full moon, is on Monday 2 February 2026, 8:10 am AEST, in the sign of Leo.
February often brings the heaviest snowfall of the year in the northern hemisphere, which is how the Snow Moon earned its name. Some peoples also called it the Hunger Moon, for the lean stretch of late winter when stored food ran low.
Rising in warm, bright Leo, the Snow Moon lights up the heart. It asks where you are ready to be seen, to be generous, and to let a little more of your own warmth show, even in a quiet season.
