When Is the Next Lunar Eclipse in 2026? Date, Time and Where It Will Be Visible

The next lunar eclipse will arrive on Aug. 28, 2026, with a deep partial eclipse set to darken much of the Moon, but skywatchers in India will miss the event because the Moon will be below the horizon throughout it.

The eclipse will be the second lunar eclipse of 2026, following the total lunar eclipse of March 3.

Unlike that March event, the August eclipse will be partial, although it will be unusually deep- about 96% of the Moon’s disk will pass into Earth’s darkest shadow, according to timeanddate.

When Is The August 2026 Lunar Eclipse?

The eclipse begins globally with the penumbral phase at 1:23 a.m. UTC on Aug. 28.

The partial phase starts at 2:33 a.m. UTC, reaches its maximum at 4:12 a.m. UTC and ends at 5:52 a.m. UTC. The final penumbral phase ends around 7:02 a.m. UTC.

The entire eclipse process lasts about 5 hours and 38 minutes, while the partial phase lasts approximately 3 hours and 18 minutes.

At maximum eclipse, about 96.2% of the Moon’s area will be covered by Earth’s umbral shadow.

For viewers in the United States, the timing falls mainly on the night of August 27 into August 28, depending on location.

In New York, for example, the partial eclipse begins at 10:33 p.m. and reaches maximum at 12:12 a.m.

Where Will The Lunar Eclipse Be Visible?

The August eclipse will be visible, at least in part, across North and South America, Europe, Africa and parts of western Asia, as well as portions of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans and Antarctica.

The best views will depend on local moonrise and moonset.

In some regions, the Moon will already be eclipsed when it rises, while in others the event will be underway before the Moon sets.

Clear skies and an unobstructed view of the horizon will therefore matter as much as location.

What Makes This Eclipse Different?

Although it is not a total lunar eclipse, this event is expected to look striking because it is an exceptionally deep partial eclipse.

NASA explains that during a partial lunar eclipse, the Moon passes through only part of Earth’s umbra, so the planet’s shadow grows across the lunar surface without completely covering it.

As NASA puts it, “Earth’s shadow obscures the Moon” during a lunar eclipse.

Because most of the lunar disk will enter the umbra in August, observers in the visibility zone may see the Moon take on a noticeably reddish or orange appearance even though a small portion remains outside the darkest shadow.

Why India Is Missing This One

The key issue is not that the eclipse is geographically passing over a particular country.

Lunar eclipses are visible only from the portion of Earth experiencing nighttime while the event is underway.

That is why an eclipse can be visible across large parts of the world while being completely invisible from another region.

India’s most recent lunar-eclipse opportunity came on March 3, 2026, when a total lunar eclipse was visible from much of the country, although visibility varied by location and was limited by moonrise timing.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences said the March eclipse began at 3:20 p.m. IST, with totality from 4:34 p.m. to 5:33 p.m. IST.

The ministry also noted that the next lunar eclipse visible from India will be a partial eclipse on July 6, 2028.

How To Watch The August Eclipse

Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse can be viewed safely with the naked eye.

No special eye protection is required.

For people within the visibility zone, the best approach is to find a location with a clear view of the Moon and check local moonrise and moonset times before the event.

Binoculars or a small telescope can make the changing shadow easier to observe, but they are not necessary.

Weather will ultimately determine whether the eclipse is visible from any particular location.

2026 Eclipse Calendar

The August 12 total solar eclipse occurs roughly two weeks before the August 28 lunar eclipse, forming the second eclipse pair of the year.

For readers in India, however, the most important takeaway is that the next lunar eclipse visible from India is expected on July 6, 2028.