Wolf moon will peak on 3 January 2026 as the year's first supermoon.

The wolf moon, the first supermoon of 2026, reaches its full peak on 3 January (about 10:03 UTC / 5:03 a.m. EST) and will look larger and brighter as the moon is near its closest point to Earth. The event overlaps with the Quadrantid meteor shower, though the bright moonlight is expected to reduce the number of meteors that are easily seen.

The moon reaches a full phase and is near its closest point to Earth on 3 January 2026. This makes the full moon a supermoon, traditionally called the wolf moon. Supermoons look larger and brighter because the moon follows an elliptical orbit and is closer at perigee. The timing is of interest because it coincides with the annual Quadrantid meteor shower. What we know so far: - Peak time: the full moon reaches its peak on 3 January at about 10:03 UTC (5:03 a.m. EST). - Size and brightness: a supermoon can appear up to about 14% larger and up to around 30% brighter than an average full moon, as noted by space agencies. - Name origin: the wolf moon name comes from Indigenous American and European seasonal naming traditions, linked historically to winter observations of wolves. - Meteor shower overlap: the Quadrantid meteor shower peaks around the same time, but the bright moonlight will likely reduce visible meteors per hour. - 2026 lunar calendar: this is the first of three supermoons in 2026; later supermoons are noted for 24 November and 24 December, and there are also two lunar eclipses expected in March and August. Summary: The wolf moon will provide a notably bright full moon on 3 January 2026, with a peak time in the early UTC morning. Because the moon is near perigee, it may appear larger than typical full moons. Its overlap with the Quadrantid meteor shower means fewer meteors will be visible under the bright sky. Later in 2026, two additional supermoons and two lunar eclipses are scheduled.