Cold Moon 2026 in December
The Cold Moon 2026 is on Wednesday, December 23. It will be the last full moon of 2026.
A full moon occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, so the moon looks completely illuminated. It happens about once a month or 29.53 days on average, also called a synodic month.
Ready to dive a little deeper into the Full Cold Moon of 2026? Learn more about the moon’s nicknames and other facts about it.
Get ready for 2026’s Cold Moon in December
The December Cold Moon is on Wednesday, December 23rd. The Cold Moon will be the last full moon of the year.
The December 23 Cold Moon is the first full moon of Winter as the first to occur after the Winter Solstice. Depending on the year, the December Cold Moon can either be the last full moon of Autumn or occur just after the start of Winter.
When is the Full Cold Moon in 2026?
The peak of the Full Cold Moon is 8:28 PM EST on December 23rd. The moon will look fairly full the day before and after. The December 23 Cold Moon will be the full moon in Cancer.
Related: Learn more about the Cold Moon in 2027.
Names for the December Full Moon
The December full moon is commonly called the Full Cold Moon, which is unsurprising as the temperatures get colder with the official start of Winter.
Other nicknames for the December Full Moon are the Long Nights Moon and the Oak Moon.
Will there be a lunar eclipse during the Cold Moon?
No, there will not be a lunar eclipse during the Cold Moon in 2026. The Worm Moon and Sturgeon Moon will each have a Total Lunar Eclipse, also called a Blood Moon.
Will there a full supermoon during the full moon?
Yes, the Cold Moon will the last and closest of the three supermoons in 2026. The other super full moons will be during the Wolf Moon, and Beaver Moon.
A full supermoon is a full moon that nearly coincides with the closest point at which the Moon comes to Earth in its orbit, called perigee. The moon will have a larger-than-usual appearance. There isn’t an official definition of the exact distance the moon needs to be to be called a supermoon. It’s approximately 360,000 kilometers or closer, depending on the definition.
Moon Phases for the Cold Moon
Below are the four core moon phases for the December Cold Moon, including the new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter. The lunar cycle for the full moon will start and end in December.
| Phase | Date & Time | Season |
|---|---|---|
| New Cold Moon | Tue, December 8, 7:52 p.m. EST | Autumn |
| First Quarter | Thu, December 17, 12:43 a.m. EST | Autumn |
| Full Cold Moon | Wed, December 23, 8:28 p.m. EST | Winter |
| Last Quarter | Wed, December 30, 1:59 p.m. EST | Winter |
Full Moons this Year in 2026
The Cold Moon is one of the thirteen full moons this year. The others are
- Wolf Moon 2026 was in January
- Snow Moon 2026 was in February
- Worm Moon 2026 was in March
- Pink Moon 2026 is in April
- Flower Moon 2026 is in May
- Blue Moon 2026 is at the end of May
- Strawberry Moon 2026 is in June
- Buck Moon 2026 is in July
- Sturgeon Moon 2026 is in August
- Harvest Moon 2026 is in September
- Hunter’s Moon 2026 is in October
- Beaver Moon 2026 is in November
Sources
The dates and times provided by NASA are set to United States (USA) Eastern Time for states including New York and Florida, adjusted for Daylight Saving Time for part of the year. Since you may be in a different time zone, the exact dates may shift for your calendar.