Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Full May 2026 Guide (Both Hemispheres)

Events Calendar — Both Hemispheres

EventDatesWho
May Day MazeApr 29 – May 7Both
Mother’s Day Nook ShoppingMay 1–31Both
Mushroom SeasonMay 1–31SH only
Maple Leaf SeasonMay 16–25SH only
International Museum DayMay 18–31Both

May Day: Collect your May Day Ticket from Tom Nook as early as April 29. Take it to the airport and use it for Orville to fly you to a maze island where all your items are temporarily removed. If you get stuck, call Rescue Services on your Nook Phone to reset the whole maze. Completing it earns you Rover’s Briefcase (first time) or Rover’s Photo (returning players).

Museum Day (May 18–31): The fossil, bug, and fish wings each have three stamp stations. After collecting three stamps from an exhibit, talk to Blathers to receive a Bug, Fish, Fossil, or Art Plaque. Stamp station locations change day to day but you get the same reward each time. This event can also be completed on other islands — speak to Blathers there to get the rewards.

SH Mushroom Season: Mushrooms spawn randomly around your island all month, usually near trees, especially hardwood trees.

SH Maple Leaf Season (May 16–25): Maple leaves float through the air — use your net to catch them. They’re crafting materials for exclusive fall-themed DIY items found in balloons or message bottles. This overlaps with Mushroom Season, so SH players will be collecting both mid-month.

BUGS — Northern Hemisphere

Arriving in May (8 New Bugs)

BugLocationHoursSell Price
Great Purple EmperorFlying4 AM – 7 PM3,000
Queen Alexandra’s BirdwingFlying8 AM – 4 PM4,000
Banded DragonflyFlying8 AM – 5 PM4,500
PondskaterOn ponds8 AM – 7 PM130
Diving BeetleOn ponds8 AM – 7 PM800
Violin BeetleOn tree stumpsAll day450
Rosalia Batesi BeetleOn tree stumpsAll day3,000
ScorpionOn the ground7 PM – 4 AM8,000 ⭐

Leaving After May — Catch Before June! (NH)

BugLocationHours
Mole CricketUndergroundAll day

High-Value NH Bugs Active All Month

BugLocationHoursSell Price
Peacock ButterflyNear hybrid flowers4 AM – 7 PM2,500
Agrias ButterflyFlying8 AM – 5 PM3,000
Atlas MothOn trees7 PM – 4 AM3,000
Orchid MantisOn flowers8 AM – 5 PM2,400
Giant Water BugOn ponds7 PM – 8 AM2,000
WaspInside trees (shake)All day2,500

BUGS — Southern Hemisphere

Arriving in May (3 New Bugs)

BugLocationHoursSell Price
DamselflyFlyingAll day500
Mole CricketUndergroundAll day500
TarantulaOn the ground7 PM – 4 AM8,000 ⭐

Leaving After May — Catch Urgently! (SH — 10 Bugs)

BugLocationHours
Monarch ButterflyFlying4 AM – 5 PM
Long LocustOn the ground8 AM – 7 PM
Migratory LocustOn the ground8 AM – 7 PM
Rice GrasshopperOn the ground8 AM – 7 PM
CricketOn the ground5 PM – 8 AM
MantisOn flowers8 AM – 5 PM
Orchid MantisOn white flowers8 AM – 5 PM
Walking StickOn trees4–8 AM / 5–7 PM
FleaOn villagersAll day
Violin BeetleOn tree stumpsAll day

SH Priority Alert: The Flea is one of the most elusive bugs — it only appears on villagers. Look for a slight sparkle on them and approach slowly. May is your last month. The Orchid Mantis requires patience — walk slowly near white flowers with your net ready.

FISH — Northern Hemisphere

Arriving in May (8 New Fish)

FishLocationHoursSell Price
FrogPondAll day120
CatfishPond4 PM – 9 AM800
Nibble FishRiver9 AM – 4 PM1,500
AngelfishRiver4 PM – 9 AM3,000
BettaRiver9 AM – 4 PM2,500
RainbowfishRiver9 AM – 4 PM800
Giant TrevallySea (Pier only)All day4,500
Mahi-MahiSea (Pier only)All day6,000 ⭐

Pier tip: Giant Trevally and Mahi-Mahi are Pier-exclusive. Fish spawns there only appear by random chance — stock up on fish bait for best results.

Leaving After May (NH — 3 Fish)

FishLocationHours
LoachRiverAll day
Golden TroutRiver – Clifftop4 PM – 9 AM
OarfishSeaAll day

NH Priority: The Golden Trout sells for 15,000 bells and is clifftop-river only. Use fish bait at the clifftop river between 4 PM and 9 AM for best results.

High-Value NH Fish Active All Month

FishLocationHoursSell Price
KoiPond4 PM – 9 AM4,000
Ranchu GoldfishPond9 AM – 4 PM4,500
CharRiver – Clifftop4 PM – 9 AM3,800
Snapping TurtleRiver9 PM – 4 AM5,000
Barred KnifejawSeaAll day5,000
Red SnapperSeaAll day3,000

FISH — Southern Hemisphere

Arriving in May (5 New Fish)

FishLocationHoursSell Price
BitterlingRiverAll day900
BlowfishSea9 PM – 4 AM5,000
TunaSea (Pier only)All day7,000 ⭐
Blue MarlinSea (Pier only)All day10,000 ⭐
Football FishSea4 PM – 9 AM2,500

Pier tip: Tuna and Blue Marlin are Pier-exclusive for SH players. Use fish bait at the pier for best results. Blue Marlin at 10,000 bells is one of the best money-makers in the game.

Leaving After May (SH — 10 Fish)

FishLocationHours
Cherry SalmonRiver – Clifftop4 PM – 9 AM
CharRiver – Clifftop4 PM – 9 AM
Golden TroutRiver – Clifftop4 PM – 9 AM
Mitten CrabRiver4 PM – 9 AM
GuppyRiver9 AM – 4 PM
Neon TetraRiver9 AM – 4 PM
SeahorseSeaAll day
Zebra TurkeyfishSeaAll day
Barred KnifejawSeaAll day
RaySeaAll day

SH Priority: Golden Trout, Cherry Salmon, and Char are all clifftop-only and available 4 PM – 9 AM only. These three won’t return until September — hit those clifftop rivers every night this month.

SEA CREATURES

Northern Hemisphere — Arriving in May (5 New)

Sea CreatureNotes
Sea UrchinSmall, slow
Slate Pencil UrchinMedium
Gigas Giant ClamLarge, fast — hardest to catch
Vampire SquidMedium, fast
Spotted Garden EelTiny, very fast

Northern Hemisphere — Leaving After May (3)

Sea Creature
Turban Shell
Umbrella Octopus
Dungeness Crab

Southern Hemisphere — Arriving in May (5 New)

Sea Creature
Sea Cucumber
Sea Pig
Dungeness Crab
Snow Crab
Red King Crab

Southern Hemisphere — Leaving After May (3 Priority)

Sea Creature
Turban Shell
Umbrella Octopus
Spider Crab

Master Priority Checklist

Northern Hemisphere

  • Do the May Day Maze at the airport (before May 7)
  • Catch Golden Trout & Oarfish before June (leaving!)
  • Catch Mole Cricket before June (underground, all day)
  • Hunt Scorpion at night — 7 PM–4 AM, worth 8,000 bells
  • Pier fish: Giant Trevally + Mahi-Mahi (new this month)
  • Sea: Vampire Squid + Gigas Giant Clam (new, leaving soon)
  • Museum stamp rally daily May 18–31
  • Order Mother’s Day items from Nook Shopping before May 31

Southern Hemisphere

  • Do the May Day Maze at the airport (before May 7)
  • Unlock Kapp’n Mushroom Island (May 1) + Maple Leaf Island (May 16)
  • URGENT: Catch all 10 leaving bugs — especially Orchid Mantis, Flea, Violin Beetle
  • URGENT: Golden Trout, Cherry Salmon, Char — clifftop river nightly 4 PM–9 AM (gone after May)
  • Pier fish: Tuna + Blue Marlin (new this month, high value)
  • Farm mushrooms near hardwood trees daily all month
  • Catch maple leaves with net May 16–25
  • Museum stamp rally daily May 18–31
  • Order Mother’s Day items from Nook Shopping before May 31

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