from February 26 to March 20
Stops and turns back on February 26 at 06:48, at 22°33' Pisces
Moves forward again on March 20 at 19:32, at 8°29' Pisces
Shadow: from February 11 to April 9; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Retrogrades
Retrograde planets in 2026
In 2026, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from February 26 to March 20, from June 29 to July 23, from October 24 to November 13. Venus: from October 3 to November 14. Mars does not go retrograde this year. London time.
Mercury
from June 29 to July 23
Stops and turns back on June 29 at 18:35, at 26°15' Cancer
Moves forward again on July 23 at 23:57, at 16°19' Cancer
Shadow: from June 13 to August 7; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from October 24 to November 13
Stops and turns back on October 24 at 08:12, at 20°58' Scorpio
Moves forward again on November 13 at 15:53, at 5°02' Scorpio
Shadow: from October 4 to November 30; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Venus
from October 3 to November 14
Stops and turns back on October 3 at 08:15, at 8°29' Scorpio
Moves forward again on November 14 at 00:27, at 22°51' Libra
Shadow: from August 31 to December 15; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
Mars
No retrograde this year.
Jupiter
from November 11, 2025 to March 11
Stops and turns back on November 11, 2025 at 16:41, at 25°09' Cancer
Moves forward again on March 11 at 03:29, at 15°05' Cancer
from December 13 to April 13, 2027
Stops and turns back on December 13 at 00:56, at 27°01' Leo
Moves forward again on April 13, 2027 at 03:11, at 16°59' Leo
Saturn
from July 26 to December 10
Stops and turns back on July 26 at 20:56, at 14°45' Aries
Moves forward again on December 10 at 23:31, at 7°55' Aries
Uranus
from September 6, 2025 to February 4
Stops and turns back on September 6, 2025 at 05:51, at 1°27' Gemini
Moves forward again on February 4 at 02:33, at 27°27' Taurus
from September 10 to February 8, 2027
Stops and turns back on September 10 at 19:27, at 5°41' Gemini
Moves forward again on February 8, 2027 at 12:29, at 1°40' Gemini
Neptune
from July 7 to December 12
Stops and turns back on July 7 at 11:54, at 4°25' Aries
Moves forward again on December 12 at 22:17, at 1°36' Aries
Pluto
from May 6 to October 16
Stops and turns back on May 6 at 16:34, at 5°30' Aquarius
Moves forward again on October 16 at 03:40, at 3°04' Aquarius
Frequently asked questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2026?
In 2026, Mercury is retrograde 3 times: from February 26 to March 20, from June 29 to July 23, from October 24 to November 13. London time.
Is Venus retrograde in 2026?
Yes: from October 3 to November 14. London time.
Is Mars retrograde in 2026?
Mars does not go retrograde this year.
What it is
A planet never moves backwards. But Earth and the planet orbit the Sun at different speeds: when one overtakes the other, the planet, seen from here, seems to slow down, stop, back up for a few weeks, then move forward again. It's a perspective effect, regular and predictable centuries in advance.
In astrology, a retrograde planet invites you to go back over what it stands for: for Mercury, the planet of communication, it's a time to reread, review and repair rather than start something new. It's a symbolic reading: nothing proves that Mercury retrograde makes devices break down, but the advice to reread before you hit send always helps.
The shadow, for Mercury, Venus and Mars: the planet covers the same degrees three times, moving forward, backward, then forward again. Some astrologers already see the retrograde's theme in the shadow: a build-up before, a wrap-up after.
How it is calculated
A station is the moment the planet seems to stop in the sky, before backing up or moving forward again. We look for it day by day, then refine it to the second with the Swiss Ephemeris (NASA ephemerides); the dates are checked against a second, independent calculation (Skyfield).