On which nights does the 2026 Perseid meteor shower reach its peak?

The 2026 Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak overnight from August 12 into August 13.

Meteor-shower peaks are not single instant-long events for ordinary observers. Activity rises over several nights, reaches a broad maximum, and then declines. In 2026, the strongest viewing window is the night of August 12 and the pre-dawn hours of August 13, although nearby nights can also produce many meteors.

The Perseids recur because Earth crosses the debris stream of Comet Swift–Tuttle every year. The shower is generally active from mid-July through late August, while its greatest rates occur in mid-August. Exact hourly counts vary with location, sky darkness, weather, and the stream’s structure.

The date is a calendar date, not a guarantee that every location will see the same number of meteors. The radiant must be above the horizon, darkness is essential, and clouds or city light can sharply reduce the visible rate. In 2026, the peak also occurs close to a new Moon, making moonlight less troublesome.