Lunar calendar 2026: follow the phases of the Moon

How to use the 2026 lunar calendar

This online lunar calendar brings the days of the month and the gradual change of the Moon together in a single view. Use the arrows to move to the previous or next month, then select a date: the panel shows the phase, the percentage of illumination, the lunar day and a dedicated text.

1. Open the month you want to check.
2. Find the phase symbol next to the day.
3. Select the date to see the details.
4. Read the astronomical data before the symbolic interpretation.

The highlighted day matches the current date according to the time zone set on the site. If you are in another part of the world, the exact change from one phase to the next may appear on a different day or at a different time. This is normal: the Moon is the same, but the civil date depends on where you are.

How to recognise today’s Moon phase

The percentage of illumination shows how much of the lunar disc looks bright from Earth. A value close to zero goes with the new Moon; around 50 per cent we find the quarters; close to 100 per cent the full Moon is reached. On its own, however, the percentage does not tell a waxing phase from a waning one.

To understand which half of the cycle we are in, you need to see whether the light is increasing or decreasing. In the calendar this information appears in the name of the phase. As a practical rule of thumb, a waxing Moon is often visible mainly in the evening, while a waning Moon is easier to spot in the hours before dawn.

A single phase does not last exactly one day: the categories describe intervals of the cycle, and the main moments happen at a specific time. That is why the calendar shows a daily summary that helps you find your bearings without replacing a precise astronomical calculation.

New Moon and full Moon in 2026

The two most searched dates in the Moon phase calendar are the new Moon and the full Moon. The first occurs when the Moon, seen from Earth, lies in the same direction as the Sun and its lit side faces away from us. The second happens when the Sun and the Moon are in opposite directions and the disc appears fully lit.

Between these two extremes unfold the waxing and waning phases. The first quarter marks a moment of expansion; the last quarter introduces the closing part of the cycle. If you want to know when the next full Moon or the next new Moon falls, scroll through the calendar and look for the main symbols in the month.

In astrology these stages are interpreted as moments of beginning, emergence, review and release. They are symbolic associations: they can offer a framework for reflection, but they do not determine events and do not replace decisions based on verifiable information.

Moon phases: a practical and symbolic reading

You can use the calendar simply as an observation tool or keep a journal alongside it. At the new Moon, note what you want to give your attention to; as the Moon waxes, check which actions are truly sustainable; at the full Moon, notice what has become clear; in the waning phase, close, tidy up or review.

There is no need to organise every activity around the Moon. A mindful approach leaves room for reality, personal needs and reliable information. The value of the calendar lies in making a rhythm visible and suggesting questions, not in turning the sky into a set of commands.

To learn more about the eight stages of the synodic month, the meaning of the Moon in astrology and the difference between phase and sign, read our guide to the phases of the Moon.