# Meteor shower calendar 2026

> Every major meteor shower in 2026 with UK peak dates and times, moonlight at each peak and the best hour to watch from Britain.

URL: https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/2026
Updated: 2026-10-30

11 showers worth knowing in 2026, with peak times worked out for the UK. The moon is kindest for the Lyrids, Perseids and Geminids.

## 2026 at a glance

| Shower | Peak (UK) | Rate at best | Moon |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Quadrantids](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/quadrantids) | Sat 3 January, 12:48 GMT | about 80 an hour | 100% lit |
| [Lyrids](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/lyrids) | Wed 22 April, 11:41 BST | about 18 an hour | 32% lit |
| [Eta Aquariids](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/eta-aquariids) | Wed 6 May, 01:12 BST | about 50 an hour | 84% lit |
| [Southern Delta Aquariids](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/southern-delta-aquariids) | Thu 30 July, 04:05 BST | about 25 an hour | 100% lit |
| [Perseids](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/perseids) | Wed 12 August, 17:47 BST | about 100 an hour | 0% lit |
| [Draconids](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/draconids) | Thu 8 October, 17:13 BST | about 10 an hour | 4% lit |
| [Orionids](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/orionids) | Wed 21 October, 10:22 BST | about 20 an hour | 75% lit |
| [Taurids](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/taurids) | Mon 2 November, 10:08 GMT | about 5 an hour | 44% lit |
| [Leonids](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/leonids) | Tue 17 November, 14:52 GMT | about 15 an hour | 51% lit |
| [Geminids](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/geminids) | Mon 14 December, 04:52 GMT | about 150 an hour | 22% lit |
| [Ursids](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/ursids) | Tue 22 December, 13:20 GMT | about 10 an hour | 96% lit |

## Reading the table

Rates are for perfect skies with the radiant overhead; real counts from the UK are lower. Moonlight matters most: below about 25% lit the sky stays dark, while near full moon only bright meteors show. Our peak times come from the Sun's position, so treat them as a guide to within a few hours.

## The 2026 highlights

- **Quadrantids**: 3 January 2026. Bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
- **Lyrids**: 22 April 2026. Some moonlight, so fainter meteors will be lost for part of the night.
- **Eta Aquariids**: 6 May 2026. Bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
- **Southern Delta Aquariids**: 30 July 2026. Bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
- **Perseids**: 12 August 2026. A dark sky with little moonlight.
- **Orionids**: 21 October 2026. Bright moonlight, which will wash out all but the brighter meteors.
- **Geminids**: 14 December 2026. A dark sky with little moonlight.

## Questions

**What is the best meteor shower in 2026 for the UK?**

With dark skies at their peaks, the Lyrids, Perseids and Geminids look best in 2026.

**When are the Perseids in 2026?**

Around 12 August 2026.

**When are the Geminids in 2026?**

Around 14 December 2026.

## Related

- [Meteor showers 2027](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/meteor-showers/2027)
- [Moon calendar 2026](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/moon-calendar/2026)
- [Eclipses 2026](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/eclipses/2026)
- [Dark sky spots](https://www.starseeduk.co.uk/dark-skies)

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