Wolf Moon 2026 in January

The Wolf Moon 2026 was on Saturday, January 3. It was the first 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 Wolf Moon of 2026? Learn more about the moon’s nicknames and other facts about it.

Take a look back at 2026’s Wolf Moon in January

The January Wolf Moon wass on Saturday, January 3rd. The Wolf Moon was the first full moon of the year.

The January 3 Wolf Moon was the first full moon of Winter as the first to occur after the 2025 Winter Solstice. Depending on the December Cold Moon in the previous year, the January Wolf Moon is either the first or second full moon of Winter.

When was the Full Wolf Moon in 2026?

The peak of the Full Wolf Moon was 5:03 AM EST on January 3rd. The moon looked fairly full the day before and after. The January 3 Wolf Moon was the full moon in Cancer.

Related: Learn more about the Wolf Moon in 2027.

Names for the January Full Moon 

The January full moon is commonly referred to as the Full Wolf Moon, named for wolves howling at the moon.

It’s also been referred to as the Ice Moon, Old Moon, Moon After Yule, and Snow Moon. Sometimes full moon names overlap, and the Snow Moon name is commonly used to refer to the February full moon.

Was there a lunar eclipse during the Wolf Moon?

No, there was not a lunar eclipse during the Wolf Moon in 2026. The Worm Moon and Sturgeon Moon will each have a Total Lunar Eclipse, also called a Blood Moon.

Was there a full supermoon during the full moon?

Yes, there was a full supermoon in January. The other 2026 super full moons will be during the Beaver Moon, and Cold 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 Wolf Moon

Below are the four core moon phases for the January Wolf Moon, including the new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter. The lunar cycle for the full moon started in December and ends in January.

Moon Phase	Date & Time	Season
New Wolf Moon	Fri, December 19, 8:43 p.m. EST (2025)	Autumn
First Quarter	Sat, December 27, 2:10 p.m. EST (2025)	Winter
Full Wolf Moon 2026	Sat, January 3, 5:03 a.m. EST	Winter
Last Quarter	Sat, January 10, 10:48 a.m. EST	Winter