ACNH May Events Guide 2026: May Day & Museum Day

May will arrive in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, bringing a fresh new season and plenty of limited-time events to enjoy on your island.

For players in the Northern Hemisphere, cherry blossom season is now over, making way for lush early summer greenery. Meanwhile, Southern Hemisphere players can enjoy the cool beauty of autumn, with falling maple leaves and mushroom season just around the corner.

Let's take a look at everything happening on your island this month.

Major May events such as May Day (May 1–7) and International Museum Day (May 18–31) return on their usual annual schedule.

Major Island Events in May

May is packed with seasonal activities, with three major event themes taking center stage.

1. May Day Maze Adventure

Event Dates: May 1 – May 7

The first week of May brings back the fan-favorite May Day Tour.

During this event, Tom Nook gives players a special May Day Ticket that can be used at the airport for a one-time trip to a unique island.

Unlike regular Mystery Islands, this destination is a giant hedge maze puzzle island.

Players must collect limited tools, materials, and fruit found inside the maze to carefully plan their route and reach the goal. Once completed, you'll meet the classic series character Rover, who rewards you with exclusive limited items such as:

Rover's Briefcase
Rover's Photo (for repeat completions)

The event runs from May 1 to May 7 every year.

Pro Tip: Empty your inventory before leaving. Items found inside the maze cannot be taken back, and the ticket can only be used once.

2. International Museum Day Stamp Rally

Event Dates: May 18 – May 31

In the second half of May, Blathers hosts the annual Stamp Rally inside the museum.

Players can explore all four museum wings:

Fish
Bugs
Fossils
Art

Each section contains three random stamp stations.

Collect all stamps in one wing and return to Blathers to receive a special commemorative plaque.

This is one of the best seasonal events for players who enjoy collecting exclusive decorative items and revisiting the museum.

The event dates are officially May 18–31 every year.

3. Nature Day (Cross-Month Event)

Event Dates: April 23 – May 4

If you missed the late-April content, don't worry—Nature Day continues into early May.

During this event, Leif appears in the plaza selling:

rare flower seeds
shrub starters
seasonal bushes

Special Nook Miles+ nature tasks also become available, making it a great time to farm extra miles by planting trees and flowers.

Northern vs Southern Hemisphere Seasonal Changes

May brings completely different scenery depending on your hemisphere.

Northern Hemisphere

Spring → Early Summer

Your island becomes greener as temperatures rise.

Key seasonal content includes:

Young Spring Bamboo season continues until May 31
seasonal shrubs rotate in bloom
new summer fish and bugs begin to appear

Southern Hemisphere

Autumn → Early Winter

Southern islands enter one of the most beautiful seasonal transitions.

Key limited-time materials include:

Mushroom Season (all month)
Maple Leaf Season (May 16–25)

During maple leaf season, leaves float through the air and can be caught with a net for exclusive DIY recipes.

Critter Changes in May

May is also an important month for completing your Critterpedia.

For Northern Hemisphere players, warmer weather brings new arrivals such as:

Mahi-Mahi
Napoleonfish
rare butterflies

At the same time, some seasonal fish will disappear at the end of the month.

For Southern Hemisphere players, autumn bugs and fish rotate in, so make sure to check what is leaving before month-end.

Limited-Time Shopping Items

Don't forget to check Nook Shopping daily.

Special May items often include:

Thank-you Mom Mug
Carnations
seasonal Mother's Day gifts

These items are usually available throughout May.

Recommended May To-Do List

May 1–7

complete May Day Maze
claim Rover rewards
buy shrubs from Leif

Mid-May

Southern Hemisphere: farm maple leaves and mushrooms

May 18–31

finish Museum Stamp Rally
complete Critterpedia before monthly rotations

May is one of the most content-rich months in ACNH, offering puzzle events, seasonal materials, and major museum rewards.

Whether you're solving the May Day maze or collecting stamps with Blathers, there's plenty to enjoy on your island this month.