This page documents wildfires across the United States during 2026, that have burned more than 1,000 acres (400 hectares), produced significant structural damage or casualties, or otherwise been notable. Acreage and containment figures may not be up to date.
While most wildfires in the United States occur from May to November, wildfires can occur at any time of the year. Peak fire season typically occurs in August, when temperatures are at their highest and the driest. Wildfires outside of the fire season are becoming more common due to climate change and changing weather patterns. Rising temperatures are leading to earlier snowmelt and later fall and winter precipitation. Drought and hot, dry weather events are becoming more common. Forest pests, such as bark beetles, and invasive species, such as cheatgrass, kill trees and make forests more vulnerable. Areas with dense vegetation or tree cover provide ample fuel for fires.
In January 2026, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), issued its National Seasonal Fire Outlook. This forecast projected above-normal wildfire risk for much of Texas, Florida, Georgia, Carolinas, and the southeastearn United States. The elevated risk was linked primarily to persistent atmospheric patterns resembling La Niña, which typically reduce precipitation and increase temperatures in these regions. The outlook considered factors such as expected temperature and precipitation anomalies, soil moisture, and vegetation dryness to predict fire activity for the upcoming season.
In January 2026, the U.S. Drought Monitor reported that 69% of the United States was under drought conditions, with the South being the hardest-hit region. On January 6, for the first time since 2000, California was drought-free. Drought did improve across the South during March, however.
Firefighting efforts in 2026 required record mobilization of personnel and resources. Incident management teams, ground crews, and aerial firefighting assets were extensively deployed to manage numerous large and complex fires. However, prescribed burning and mechanical fuel reduction strategies faced limitations due to narrow windows of safe weather conditions and ongoing drought, constraining mitigation options during the critical peak season.