New moon

The start of the lunar cycle

At a new moon Sun and Moon form a conjunction — they merge. Because there is nothing to see, the phase traditionally reads as a time for sowing rather than harvesting: naming an intention, starting, trying. Two weeks later, at the full moon in the opposite sign, you find out what became of it.

Why new-moon rituals are so common

The cycle is short, repeats twelve or thirteen times a year and can be observed without any prior knowledge — which makes it astrology's most accessible rhythm. You need no birth chart for it; knowing the date and writing down what you want to begin is enough.

New moon dates: the next new moons

The next new moon is on November 9, 2026 at 08:02 (CET) in Scorpio. The new moons that follow are listed below with time, sign and degree. At a new moon the Sun and Moon share the same degree, so it always falls in the Sun's sign.

How often is there a new moon? 12 in 2026

New moon to new moon takes 29.5 days on average. 2026 has 12 of them. Because the Moon cannot be seen that night, most people only know the date from a calendar — which is exactly what this list is for.

Falling in the Sun's sign means the new moon in Leo comes in late summer and the one in Libra in autumn. Know your birthday and you roughly know the new moon in your own sun sign.

Using a new moon: three things to try

The new moon reads as a starting point. Whether that works for you is easiest to find out with a small test:

• On the new moon evening, write down one sentence about what you want to begin over the next two weeks. One sentence, not ten.
• Read it again at the following full moon. Those dates are under next full moon.
• Look at which house of your chart the new moon falls in — your birth chart shows it. That is where the beginning applies.

New moons and zodiac signs

Each new moon takes its theme from its sign: one in Taurus leans towards money and possessions, one in Gemini towards conversations and learning. What the next new moon's sign is about is in the Scorpio sign profile. Every other event of the year is in the 2026 astrology calendar.

From new moon to full moon: the cycle in four weeks

After the new moon the lit crescent grows a little every evening. After just over a week the Moon is half lit — the first quarter — and after almost 15 days it is full. Then it wanes again until, after 29.5 days, it disappears once more. Follow the rhythm on your phone calendar for one month and you will recognise it in the evening sky without looking anything up.

Astrologically the first half reads as a building phase and the second as a sorting phase. That is an interpretation, not a measurement — check for yourself whether it fits your month.

New moon — common questions

When is the next new moon?

The next new moon is on November 9, 2026 at 08:02 (CET, Berlin time) in Scorpio.

How many new moons are there in 2026?

2026 has 12 new moons, one every 29.5 days on average.

Can you see a new moon?

No. The Moon sits between Earth and Sun and turns its unlit side towards us. The thin crescent only appears in the evening sky a day or two later.

What does a new moon mean in astrology?

It reads as the start of the lunar cycle — a moment to begin something before it is visible. The sign of the new moon sets the theme.

Every date

• November 9New Moon in Scorpio
• December 9New Moon in Sagittarius
• January 7New Moon in Capricorn
• February 6New Moon in Aquarius
• March 8New Moon in Pisces
• April 7New Moon in Aries
• May 6New Moon in Taurus
• June 4New Moon in Gemini
• July 4New Moon in Cancer
• August 2New Moon in Leo
• August 31New Moon in Virgo
• September 30New Moon in Libra
• October 29New Moon in Scorpio
• November 28New Moon in Sagittarius
• December 27New Moon in Capricorn
• October 10New Moon in Libra
• September 11New Moon in Virgo
• August 12New Moon in Leo
• July 14New Moon in Cancer
• June 15New Moon in Gemini
• May 16New Moon in Taurus
• April 17New Moon in Aries
• March 19New Moon in Pisces
• February 17New Moon in Aquarius
• January 18New Moon in Capricorn