The planets are already visible side by side low in the western sky after sunset, with the Moon joining them from 19 to 21 May.
Astronomy expert Alan Jones said the pairing is easy to spot without specialist equipment, while binoculars or a small telescope can reveal Jupiter's moons, cloud bands and Venus's crescent phase.
The bright planets will remain visible together for the next few weeks from most locations, though clearer, darker horizons will give the best views.
Since similar alignments happen every few years, what makes this 2026 Venus-Jupiter meeting a truly unmissable spectacle?
How would ancient cultures have interpreted this powerful meeting of planets in the night sky without modern science?