Harvest Moon reaches peak on September 26

The September 2026 Harvest Moon reaches its fullest point on Saturday, September 26, at 5:49 p.m. British Summer Time, and is expected to rise shortly afterward over much of the United Kingdom. The Royal Observatory Greenwich says the Moon will still be below the horizon in much of the country at the moment of peak illumination, but should appear almost completely full through the evening. Local moonrise times vary. The full Moon takes the name Harvest Moon because it is the full Moon closest to the autumn equinox, which occurred on September 23 this year. The name reflects the added natural light that historically helped farmers continue gathering crops after sunset. The September full Moon is also commonly called the Corn Moon, though the Harvest Moon can fall in October when that month’s full Moon is closer to the equinox. Weather forecasts point to differing viewing prospects across the UK. Saturday could bring drier, brighter conditions in parts of England, with the best chance of clearer skies in some southern and eastern areas. Cloud further west and rain in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland may make viewing harder there.