2026 METEOR SHOWER CALENDAR
When will 2026's
meteor showers peak?
Twelve major showers peak in 2026. The darkest-sky conditions belong to the Perseids (Aug 12–13) and the Geminids (Dec 13–14), both peaking near a new Moon.
Peaks July 30 · ZHR 25 · Moon conditions: Unfavorable
All 12 major showers in 2026
ZHR is the ideal hourly rate under a clear, dark sky. Real counts are usually lower.
| Shower | Active | Peak | ZHR | Moon conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quadrantids | December 28 – January 12 | January 4 | 120 | Unfavorable |
| Lyrids | April 14 – April 30 | April 22 | 18 | Favorable |
| Eta Aquariids | April 19 – May 28 | May 5 | 50 | Unfavorable |
| Southern Delta Aquariids | July 12 – August 23 | July 30 | 25 | Unfavorable |
| Alpha Capricornids | July 3 – August 15 | July 30 | 5 | Unfavorable |
| Perseids | July 17 – August 24 | August 12 | 100 | Favorable |
| Orionids | October 2 – November 7 | October 21 | 20 | Moderate |
| Southern Taurids | September 20 – November 20 | November 4 | 5 | Favorable |
| Northern Taurids | October 20 – December 10 | November 11 | 5 | Favorable |
| Leonids | November 6 – November 30 | November 16 | 15 | Moderate |
| Geminids | December 4 – December 17 | December 13 | 150 | Favorable |
| Ursids | December 17 – December 26 | December 21 | 10 | Unfavorable |
This year's two best showers
Perseids · August 12, 2026
ZHR 100. The Moon is essentially absent at the peak, so skies stay dark all night.
Geminids · December 13, 2026
ZHR 150 — usually the strongest shower of the year. A young crescent Moon keeps the sky dark.
Get away from city lights
The same shower shows far more meteors under a darker sky. After midnight is usually more productive.
No equipment needed
Meteor showers favor the naked eye and a wide view over any telescope. Around midnight on the peak date, note the general direction of the radiator constellation and then look broadly across the sky. Give your eyes 15–20 minutes to adapt to the dark, and keep phone screens away.
Sources
Peak dates and ZHR: International Meteor Organization / American Meteor Society 2026–2027 calendar. Moon conditions are a reference estimate based on proximity to this site's USNO-sourced full-Moon calendar.
AMS Meteor Shower Calendar ↗2026 solar & lunar eclipses →