When is the full moon in September 2026? The full Harvest Moon — the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox — will turn full on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 at 12:49 p.m. EDT. It’s traditionally associated with extra evening light for farmers bringing in crops because it does something unique — it rises close to sunset for a few consecutive evenings. As with every full moon, however, the exact moment of peak illumination is not the best time to observe it. The most compelling views depend on moonrise relative to sunset. Here’s everything you need to know about exactly when to see the Harvest Moon at its best.

September’s full moon is traditionally known as the Harvest Moon when it is the full moon nearest the September equinox, which occurs on Sept. 22 in 2026.

Unlike most full moons, which rise about 50 minutes later each night, the Harvest Moon rises at nearly the same time for several evenings in a row as seen from the Northern Hemisphere.

This effect is caused by the shallow angle of the moon’s orbit relative to the eastern horizon in early fall, allowing extended moonlight shortly after sunset — a practical advantage for pre-industrial agriculture.

According to Timeanddate.com , the effect is reversed in the Southern Hemisphere, where the gap between successive moonrises around September’s full moon is greater than the usual 50 minutes, producing the opposite of the Harvest Moon effect.

Best Time To See The Full ‘Harvest Moon’ Rise

As befits a Harvest Moon, there are two successive nights when you’ll be able to see the full (or near-full) moon rise close to sunset, placing it squarely in blue hour, the ideal window for contrast and color.

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 — the day of the full moon

  • New York City: moonrise at 6:34 p.m. EDT, sunset at 6:46 p.m. EDT — just 12 minutes after moonrise.
  • Los Angeles: moonrise at 6:39 p.m. EDT, sunset at 6:43 p.m. EDT — just 6 minutes after moonrise.

Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026 — the night after the full moon

  • New York City: sunset at 6:44 p.m. EDT, moonrise at 7:00 p.m. EDT — just 16 minutes after sunset.
  • Los Angeles: sunset at 6:42 p.m. PDT, moonrise at 7:10 p.m. PDT — just 28 minutes after sunset.

For exact timings for where you live, check a moon calculator .

The Harvest Moon will be the tenth of 13 full moons in 2026, a year with an extra full moon. That can happen because the lunar year is about 10 or 11 days shorter than the solar year. A “Blue Moon” — the second of two full moons in a single calendar month — occurred on May 31.

The Harvest Moon follows August’s Sturgeon Moon, which was accompanied by a deep partial lunar eclipse . The next full moon after the Harvest Moon will be the Hunter’s Moon on Saturday, Oct. 24, the first of a trio of supermoons.

A Run Of Supermoons Follows

After September’s Harvest Moon, the final three full moons of 2026 will all be supermoons, occurring when the full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth, known as perigee. A supermoon is typically defined as a full moon that occurs within about 10% of the moon’s minimum orbital distance, making it appear slightly larger and brighter than an average full moon. In 2026, those supermoons arrive in quick succession:

  • Hunter’s Supermoon on Oct. 24
  • Beaver Supermoon on Nov. 24
  • Cold Supermoon on Dec. 24

While the size difference is subtle — only a few percent — supermoons enhance the moon illusion at moonrise and tend to produce especially striking horizon views, closing out the year with some of its most visually impressive full moons. Moreover, supermoons tend to bring more people outside to watch the rising of the full moon, one of the most beautiful views nature provides.

The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium .