Retrograde Calendar 2026–2027
Every planetary retrograde of 2026–2027 for Mercury, Venus, Mars and the outer planets — to the minute. Start and end moments, the signs they move through, and the shadow periods for Mercury, Venus and Mars, all on one page.
In the sky right now
- ✦Venus is retrograde — 24 days leftends: November 14, 2026, 00:27 UTC
- ✦Saturn is retrograde — 50 days leftends: December 10, 2026, 23:31 UTC
- ✦Uranus is retrograde — 110 days leftends: February 8, 2027, 12:29 UTC
- ✦Neptune is retrograde — 52 days leftends: December 12, 2026, 22:18 UTC
- ✦Mercury retrograde starts in 3 daysstarts: October 24, 2026, 07:12 UTC
At a glance
- Mercury retrograde 2026: Feb 26 – Mar 20 (Pisces); Jun 29 – Jul 23 (Cancer); Oct 24 – Nov 13 (Scorpio)
- Mercury retrograde 2027: Feb 9 – Mar 3 (Pisces → Aquarius); Jun 10 – Jul 4 (Cancer → Gemini); Oct 7 – Oct 28 (Scorpio → Libra)
- Venus retrograde: October 3, 2026 – November 14, 2026 (Scorpio → Libra)
- Mars retrograde: none in 2026; January 10, 2027 – April 1, 2027 (Virgo → Leo)
Timeline
Each bar is one retrograde period. The gold line marks today; hover a bar to see its dates.
Mercury retrograde 2026 and 2027
Mercury is associated with speech, writing, travel, contracts and technology. It usually turns retrograde three times a year for about three weeks. Tradition reads these periods as a time to review, revise and finish what was left undone rather than to start something new.
| Starts (stations retrograde) | Ends (stations direct) | Length | Shadow period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pisces 22°34 | Pisces 8°29 | 22 days | February 11, 2026 – April 9, 2026 |
| Cancer 26°15 | Cancer 16°19 | 24 days | June 13, 2026 – August 7, 2026 |
| Scorpio 20°59 | Scorpio 5°02 | 20 days | October 4, 2026 – November 30, 2026 |
| Pisces 5°59 | Aquarius 20°55 | 22 days | January 25, 2027 – March 23, 2027 |
| Cancer 6°22 | Gemini 27°28 | 24 days | May 26, 2027 – July 19, 2027 |
| Scorpio 4°56 | Libra 19°19 | 21 days | September 17, 2027 – November 13, 2027 |
Venus retrograde 2026
Venus is associated with relationships, values, money and beauty. It turns retrograde roughly every 18 months, for about forty days. There is no Venus retrograde in 2027.
| Starts (stations retrograde) | Ends (stations direct) | Length | Shadow period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scorpio 8°29 | Libra 22°52 | 42 days | August 31, 2026 – December 15, 2026 |
Mars retrograde 2027
Mars describes energy, drive, courage and how we handle conflict. It turns retrograde about every two years, for two to two and a half months. There is no Mars retrograde in 2026; the next one begins on January 10, 2027.
| Starts (stations retrograde) | Ends (stations direct) | Length | Shadow period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgo 10°26 | Leo 20°56 | 81 days | November 5, 2026 – June 8, 2027 |
Jupiter, Saturn and the outer planets
Jupiter and Saturn are retrograde for four to four and a half months every year, and Uranus, Neptune and Pluto for about five months. These periods affect a whole generation together; personally, they are said to be felt when the retrograde degrees touch an important point in your birth chart.
| Planet | Starts | Ends | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| ♃︎ Jupiter | Cancer 25°09 | Cancer 15°05 | 120 days |
| ♃︎ Jupiter | Leo 27°01 | Leo 16°00 | 121 days |
| ♄︎ Saturn | Aries 14°45 | Aries 7°56 | 137 days |
| ♄︎ Saturn | Aries 27°53 | Aries 21°01 | 136 days |
| ♅︎ Uranus | Gemini 1°28 | Taurus 27°28 | 151 days |
| ♅︎ Uranus | Gemini 5°42 | Gemini 1°41 | 151 days |
| ♅︎ Uranus | Gemini 9°57 | Gemini 5°56 | 151 days |
| ♆︎ Neptune | Aries 4°25 | Aries 1°37 | 158 days |
| ♆︎ Neptune | Aries 6°40 | Aries 3°51 | 158 days |
| ♇︎ Pluto | Aquarius 5°31 | Aquarius 3°04 | 162 days |
| ♇︎ Pluto | Aquarius 7°11 | Aquarius 4°45 | 163 days |
What is a retrograde, and what is the shadow period?
A retrograde is not a planet actually moving backwards — it only looks that way from Earth. Because Earth and the planet move along their orbits at different speeds, the planet appears to slow down, stop (station), drift backwards for a while, then stop again and resume its forward motion.
The shadow period is the stretch before and after the retrograde. In the pre-shadow, the planet passes for the first time over the degrees it will later retrace; in the post-shadow, it walks the same path a third time until it returns to the degree where the retrograde began. That is why the effect of a Mercury retrograde is said to stretch over about two months including the shadows.
What tradition suggests during retrogrades, in more detail: Retrograde periods guide.
How does a retrograde affect your chart?
The same retrograde is not the same for everyone. If Venus retrogrades between 8° Scorpio and 22° Libra and you have a planet or house cusp near those degrees in your birth chart, its effect is read as more pronounced. The house it moves through sets the theme too: a Venus retrograde through your 7th house highlights relationships, through your 2nd house, money.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Mercury retrograde last?
About three weeks. The Mercury retrogrades of 2026–2027 last between 20 and 24 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow periods, the window stretches to roughly two months.
How many times a year is Mercury retrograde?
Usually three times, in some years four. Both 2026 and 2027 have three Mercury retrogrades.
When does Venus retrograde end?
The 2026 Venus retrograde ends on November 14, 2026, 00:27 UTC (UTC). Its post-shadow period lasts until December 15, 2026.
What should you avoid during a retrograde?
The traditional approach suggests postponing major contracts, big electronics purchases and new beginnings during Mercury retrograde, and using the time to review, correct and finish unfinished work instead. This reflects tradition and is not professional advice.
Why do retrograde times differ between websites?
Sources use different time zones, and because a planet's speed is extremely close to zero at a station, times can vary by a few minutes depending on the calculation method. The times on this page are in UTC and were calculated with the ALVEM ephemeris engine, agreeing with an independent reference to within a few minutes.