Mercury retrograde 2026

Mercury on 22 October, seen from the Earth: 35 % of the disc is lit.

Retrograde Planets 2026: All Dates

In 2026 Mercury is retrograde three times: from 26 February to 20 March, from 29 June to 24 July and from 24 October to 13 November (Bulgarian time). The next period begins on 24 October at 10:15 (20°59′ Scorpio) and ends on 13 November at 17:52 (5°02′ Scorpio).

Vrachka editorial team calculated for 2026 and 2027 Editorial Policy

Mercury's periods by year

The day of every station is checked; the hour is Bulgarian time and may differ by a few minutes.
Start	End	Days
2026
Past: from 26 February to 20 March and from 29 June to 24 July.
24 October10:15, 20°59′ Scorpionext	13 November17:52, 5°02′ Scorpio	20
2027
9 February19:36, 5°59′ Pisces	3 March14:35, 20°55′ Aquarius	22
10 June21:19, 6°22′ Cancer	4 July22:41, 27°28′ Gemini	24
7 October17:40, 4°56′ Scorpio	28 October17:11, 19°19′ Libra	21

By tradition, contracts, tech and conversations get a double check. Each period lasts from 20 to 24 days.

Personal Yearly Horoscope, 29.99 €: Solar Return, profections, key dates and a month-by-month forecast for the whole year.See the year

Venus

Venus Retrograde

In 2026 Venus is retrograde from 3 October to 14 November. In 2027 Venus is not retrograde. Its next retrograde period is from 11 May to 23 June 2028. By tradition, no new relationship is started and no marriage is made.

Venus on 22 October, seen from the Earth: 1 % of the disc is lit.

The stations of Venus, in Bulgarian time; the hour may differ by a few minutes.
Start	End	Days
2026
3 October10:10, 8°29′ Scorpionow	14 November02:21, 22°52′ Libra	42
2027
Venus is not retrograde this year.

Suitable dates for a wedding

Mars to Pluto

The Other Retrograde Planets in 2026

The periods that touch the year, even when they began in the year before or end in the next.

The hours are calculated in Bulgarian time. Around a station the outer planets hardly move for days, so their hour is approximate.
Start	End
MarsBy tradition, what is started now moves slowly, and finishing is better than starting.
No retrograde period in 2026.The next one begins on 10 January 2027.
JupiterBy tradition, a time to reassess plans and goals.
11 November 202518:45, 25°09′ Cancer	11 March05:27, 15°05′ Cancer
13 December02:59, 27°01′ Leo	13 April 202705:13, 17°00′ Leo
SaturnBy tradition, a time to review responsibilities and boundaries.
26 July22:58, 14°45′ Aries	11 December01:23, 7°56′ Aries
UranusBy tradition, changes brew inside before they become visible.
6 September 202507:42, 1°28′ Gemini	4 February04:18, 27°28′ Taurus
10 September21:40, 5°42′ Gemini	8 February 202714:23, 1°41′ Gemini
NeptuneBy tradition, a sober look at dreams and illusions.
7 July14:21, 4°25′ Aries	13 December00:14, 1°37′ Aries
PlutoBy tradition, a slow reassessment of power and control.
6 May18:45, 5°31′ Aquarius	16 October05:23, 3°04′ Aquarius

The motion

How to Read Retrogrades

No planet actually moves backward. A retrograde is an optical illusion: Earth and the other planet orbit at different speeds, and when one overtakes the other, the planet appears to drift backward across our sky, the same way a neighboring train seems to roll back when yours pulls ahead. That is the science, and it is worth saying plainly.

The astrological tradition reads these periods as time for review: finish, re-check, revisit. One more honest note: the outer planets (Jupiter through Pluto) are retrograde for 4–5 months every single year. That is normal background. By tradition, what is felt in daily life are the personal planets: Mercury, Venus and Mars.

Mercury along the zodiac around the period from 24 October to 13 November: the degree every 6 hours. Between the two stations it falls.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Mercury retrograde in 2026?

In 2026 Mercury is retrograde three times: from 26 February to 20 March, from 29 June to 24 July and from 24 October to 13 November, in Bulgarian time. The next period begins on 24 October at 10:15 (20°59′ Scorpio) and ends on 13 November at 17:52 (5°02′ Scorpio). The table has the hour and the degree of every station of the periods that have not ended.

What does a retrograde planet mean?

Physically, nothing moves backward: retrograde motion is an optical illusion caused by Earth and the planet orbiting at different speeds. In astrological tradition, retrograde periods are read as time for review and finishing: re-check contracts, revisit old projects, back up your data.

Does a retrograde affect all zodiac signs?

The dates are the same for everyone: a retrograde is an astronomical event, the same for every sign. Tradition holds that how strongly you feel it depends on where the retrograde falls in your personal natal chart: which house it transits and which of your planets it touches.

How often is Mercury retrograde?

Mercury goes retrograde 3–4 times a year, about three weeks each time. It is the most frequent retrograde because Mercury has the shortest orbit, which is also why it gets the most attention.