The meteor showers that will light up the sky in 2026 require little more than patience. an open dark skyA comfortable chair is also essential. Here are nearly a dozen events worth noting on your calendar. Each one offers a low-effort and high-reward way to exchange a few hours of sleep for nature’s most spectacular night sky displays.
April 15-29, the Lyrid Meteor Shower
Peak: April 22-23
Moon Impact:
Lyrid meteors are created from debris left by Comet Thatcher, which last orbited the sun around 1861. They average between 10 and 20 fireballs every hour. The best viewing is in the Northern Hemisphere. But, Southerners can still see some of them under dark skies. A waxing crescent will set shortly after midnight on the 22nd of April, making early morning viewing ideal.
Find Vega (one of the brightest stars) to get the best view. The radiant is in the constellation Lyra. The shower is not expected to be particularly strong until 2042. However, it is known to produce unexpected outbursts that can sometimes produce up to 100 meteors an hour.
The Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower will take place between April 15 and May 27
Peak: 5-6 May
Moon Impact High
These fireballs can be spotted by Northern Hemisphere observers (10 meteors an hour), though they are more common in the Southern Hemisphere (50 meteors). Halley’s Comet is responsible for the celestial debris field that creates this nighttime display. It last visited us in 1986, and it will again do so in 2061. Unfortunately, the peak of the eta Aquariids will occur on the morning of 6 May only five days following a full-moon. This makes viewing conditions for all but bright fireballs unfavorable. Look for the bright star Eta Aquarii near the constellation Aquarius to spot them.
The Alpha Capricornids shower takes place between July 3 and August 15
Peak: July 31,
Moon Impact High
Alpha Capricornids originate from Comet 169P/NEAT and are known to produce slow-moving but spectacular fireballs. This year, the peak will be in the early morning hours of July 31. Only the most spectacular of the Capricornids are expected to make a splash. A waning gibbous (98 percent illumination of the moon) will ruin the dark skies. The radiant will be visible in the constellation Capricornus.
Meteor shower for July 12-20: Southern Delta Aquariids
Peak: July 30,
Moon Impact High
Southern Delta Aquariids have peak rates up to 25 per hour and are best seen from the Southern Hemisphere. These faint meteors can be affected by the almost full moon of July 30. It’s possible that a bright, fiery fireball is actually the Alpha Capricornids. These meteors peak around the time of the full moon. Even so, you should keep your fingers crossed, and look toward the southern skies after midnight where the radiant is located in the constellation Aquarius.
Perseid Meteor Shower: July 14-Sept. 1
Peak: Aug. 12-13
Moon Impact:
The peak of Perseids, which was severely affected by a near-full moon in 2025, returns to 2026 with a new Moon and extremely dark skies. Unless there are adverse weather conditions, even the faintest shooting-stars should be visible between 50 and75 meteors per minute. A coinciding total solar eclipse on Aug. 12 Viewers in IcelandPerseids can be seen during the day in Greenland and Spain.
You can catch this radiant shower by looking at the constellation Perseus during the early hours of the morning on August 12/13.
Oct. 6-10, The Draconid Meteor Shower
Peak: Oct. 9
Moon Impact: Low
The Draconids are the exception to the rule. They offer the best viewing conditions around dinnertime. The radiant of Draco’s Dragon is at its brightest point just before nightfall. This shower will produce an average of 8-10 meteors per hour under dark skies, thanks to the waning crescent.
If the convenience of nighttime viewing was not enough, EarthSky is once again hinting In 2026, the Draconids debris stream Earth passes could be dense and create a “meteorstorm.” Last time it happened, observers in Europe witnessed the event in 2018. reporting a brief surge More than 100 meteors an hour.
The Orionid Meteor Shower takes place between Sep. 26 and Nov. 22
Peak: Oct. 23
Moon Impact: Variable
The Orionids, like the Eta Aquariids of spring, are also debris from Halley’s Comet. At peak activity, the shower can produce 10 to 20 meteors per hour—with many leaving long, glowing trails and occasionally dazzling fireballs. The waxing gibbous (93 percent illuminated), which will be visible early on 23rd will cause some interference, but it will disappear a few hours prior to dawn. This will allow for a short window of unobstructed views. Look for the radiant of the Orionids in the constellation Orion to have the best chance at spotting them.
Taurid Meteor Shower: Sep. 23-Dec. 2,
Peak: Nov. 5-9
Moon Impact:
The Taurids is a long-duration, meteor shower that is composed of two distinct debris streams. These are the South Taurids (or North Taurids) and the South Taurids. The meteors of these showers can be bright and slow moving, but they are usually very bright. Late October is when the activity increases. This gives them their nickname: “Halloween fireworks.” The peak of both showers is in early-November, when you may be able to see as many as ten shooting stars per minute. The new moon of November 9 will enhance the characteristic brightness of the Taurids against dark skies. This shower’s radiant will be visible in the constellation Taurus during the early morning.
The Leonids Meteor shower is from Nov. 3 to Dec. 2.
Peak: Nov. 17-18
Moon Impact: Low
The Leonids, known for their ability to create celestial showers, are distinguished by bright, fast-moving meteors. They can be seen at rates ranging from 14 to 20 per minute during the peak. Comet 55P/Tempel Tuttle, the shower’s parent, makes a complete orbit around our sun every 33-years, introducing new material to debris streams that cause this annual display. The meteor storms are rare but can be spectacular. An 1833 event was responsible for up to 100,000 shooting stars per hour.
The shower is best seen under cool, clear skies. The faintest Leonids will be blocked by a first-quarter moon (53 percent illumination), but the sky will darken after midnight. You can find the radiant of this shower in Leo.
Geminids Meteor shower, Dec. 4-20
Peak: Dec. 13-14
Moon Impact: Low
Geminids are at their most colorful and beautiful on Dec. 14. A waxing crescent will provide dark skies for the best viewing. Light pollution is not an issue. stargazers One can expect up to 120 shooting star displays per hour.
Although the meteor shower emanates from Gemini’s constellation, it can appear anywhere in the sky, flashing brilliant colours without leaving behind any trails. Conditions should be good for the days leading up to and following peak. So grab a blanket, a hot drink, and settle in a comfortable chair and enjoy one the most spectacular meteor displays of the entire year.
Dec. 13-24: Ursids Meteorshow
Peak: Dec. 21-22
Moon Impact High
The Ursids shower, which peaks near the winter solstice and averages 10 meteors an hour, is a modest show. The Ursids are unpredictable, which is why they’re so fascinating. In some annual displays such as 1946 and 1986, there were up to 100 meteors an hour. The brightest Ursids will be spoiled by a nearly full moon, but you can still find the radiant if the Little Dipper, or Ursa Minor, is visible after midnight.
