The 9 major showers worth staying up for — the peaks fall on the same dates every year. In calendar order.
⭐ Which are actually worth it in 2026? We ranked all 9 by their real peak-night Moon — two clearly beat the rest. See the best meteor showers of 2026 →
📅 This year, night by night. Dated 2026 guides with the exact peak, the Moon and the best hours:
Quadrantids — peaks ~January 3
A brief, brilliant start to the year · up to ~110/hrLyrids — peaks ~April 22
Spring's oldest shower, sharp and bright · up to ~18/hrEta Aquariids — peaks ~May 6
Halley's fast, glowing gift before dawn · up to ~50/hrSouthern Delta Aquariids — peaks ~July 30
A broad summer plateau worth staying up for · up to ~25/hrPerseids — peaks ~August 12
Summer's reliable, fast-moving favorite · up to ~100/hrOrionids — peaks ~October 21
Halley's swift autumn gift to both hemispheres · up to ~20/hrLeonids — peaks ~November 17
The fastest meteors of the annual calendar · up to ~15/hrGeminids — peaks ~December 14
The year's richest, most reliable shower · up to ~150/hrUrsids — peaks ~December 22
A quiet winter shower for night owls · up to ~10/hr
A brief, brilliant start to the year · up to ~110/hrLyrids — peaks ~April 22
Spring's oldest shower, sharp and bright · up to ~18/hrEta Aquariids — peaks ~May 6
Halley's fast, glowing gift before dawn · up to ~50/hrSouthern Delta Aquariids — peaks ~July 30
A broad summer plateau worth staying up for · up to ~25/hrPerseids — peaks ~August 12
Summer's reliable, fast-moving favorite · up to ~100/hrOrionids — peaks ~October 21
Halley's swift autumn gift to both hemispheres · up to ~20/hrLeonids — peaks ~November 17
The fastest meteors of the annual calendar · up to ~15/hrGeminids — peaks ~December 14
The year's richest, most reliable shower · up to ~150/hrUrsids — peaks ~December 22
A quiet winter shower for night owls · up to ~10/hr
Which one is next? The live sky tool shows the next shower from your location and whether the moon and clouds will cooperate this year.
More to explore: Constellations · Planets · Lunar eclipses