KosmosThe October full moon has long been known as the Hunter’s Moon. In 2026, it will be full at 5:12 a.m. on the night into Monday, 26 October. That means the best views will be on the evening of 25 October, when the nearly full Moon rises above the eastern horizon shortly after sunset, and in the early morning of the 26th, when it sets in the west as dawn breaks in the east.
A side note: The clocks were turned back to standard time the night before. The time shown is therefore already Central European Time (CET).
Why is it called the Hunter’s Moon?
The Hunter’s Moon follows the Harvest Moon. After the harvest, the fields were bare, wildlife was easy to spot, and game was well-fed after the summer. For hunters, the moonlight on October nights was an opportunity to stock up for winter. The name appears in both European and North American traditions. Other names for the October full moon include the Wine Moon and the Blood Moon, the latter referring to the autumn hunting season, not an eclipse.
Like the Harvest Moon, the Hunter’s Moon rises at almost the same time for several evenings in a row. This is due to the Moon’s shallow path across the sky in autumn. In practice, this means that if you miss the moonrise on 25 October, you’ll get another almost equally good chance on the 26th.
When is the 2026 Hunter’s Moon?
| Full moon | Monday, 26 October 2026, 5:12 a.m. CET |
| Best view | Evening of 25 October, from sunset, looking east |
| Moon’s zodiac sign | Taurus |
| Sun | Scorpio |
| Special feature | First full moon after the time change |
Five days later, on the night into 1 November, comes Samhain. Find out more in Samhain 2026.
Full moon in Taurus: the astrological meaning
On 26 October, the Sun is in Scorpio and the Moon is in Taurus. This is one of the zodiac’s most intense axes: Taurus wants to preserve, enjoy, and feel secure. Scorpio wants to transform, let go, and go deeper. The full moon in Taurus asks what can stay and what needs to go.
The Taurus full moon is traditionally considered grounding. It brings our attention to the body, possessions, money, and the things we can touch. After an intense October, with Mercury and Venus retrograde, this full moon can feel like a chance to catch your breath: What’s really here, beyond the circular thoughts and relationship questions?
The Sun in Scorpio provides a counterpoint. It doesn’t allow for superficiality. So the message of this full moon is: Enjoy yourself, but be honest. Seek security, but not at the expense of the truth.
Two retrograde planets as companions
What makes this Hunter’s Moon special is the astrological backdrop. Since 3 October, Venus has been retrograde and is now back in Libra. Since 24 October, Mercury has also been retrograde in Scorpio, the Sun’s sign. A full moon under this configuration often brings something to light that has been under the surface in recent weeks: an unspoken truth, a money issue, or an old feeling. Find out more in the articles Venus Retrograde 2026 and Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio.
What does the Hunter’s Moon mean for you?
Like every full moon, this one falls in a different part of each person’s birth chart. People with the Sun, Moon, or Ascendant in Taurus, Scorpio, Leo, or Aquarius will feel it most strongly. For everyone else, it depends on which house the Taurus/Scorpio axis falls in: For some, it’s about money, while for others, it’s about relationships, home, or career.
If you’d like to find out where this full moon falls in your birth chart and what it brings into focus in the weeks that follow, a book about your next month offers a clear, personal interpretation. Your personal Yearly Horoscope looks at the whole year ahead.
Three ideas for the full moon night
- Watch the moonrise. On 25 October, look east shortly after sunset. The large, golden Moon just above the horizon is the Hunter’s Moon at its best.
- Take stock. Taurus asks what holds steady. What in your life is solid, and what only looks that way?
- Finish something concrete. A full moon is a culmination. Bring something to a close before the new moon in Scorpio opens a new cycle on 9 November.
All times are in CET. We see astrological interpretations as prompts for self-reflection, not predictions.
KosmosGenie treats astrology, numerology, and tarot as tools for self-reflection and entertainment: as a mirror, not a prediction. None of this replaces medical, legal, or financial advice.