The 2026 Perseid meteor shower’s listed activity begins on July 17.
This date marks the start of the shower’s broad annual observing window, not its busiest night. The Perseids remain active through August 29 in 2026, while the main peak is expected on the night of August 12–13. Meteors can therefore appear before and after the peak, although rates are usually lower.
The Perseids form when Earth passes through dust and small rocky particles spread along the orbit of Comet Swift–Tuttle. As these particles enter Earth’s atmosphere, they heat the surrounding air and create bright streaks commonly called shooting stars. The shower is named for Perseus because its meteors appear to come from that constellation’s general direction.
A common mix-up is treating the peak date as the shower’s starting date. July 17 is the beginning of the listed active interval; August 12–13 is the central high-activity period. Viewing is generally best from the Northern Hemisphere, especially during the hours before dawn.