2026 Retrograde Dates -- Complete Calendar for All Planets

Mercury retrogrades three times in 2026. The first runs approximately February 25 to March 20, starting in Pisces and moving back into Aquarius. The second runs approximately June 25 to July 18, starting in Cancer. The third runs approximately October 20 to November 10, starting in Scorpio and moving back into Libra. Each lasts about three weeks.

Venus retrogrades once in 2026, approximately July 23 to September 3, moving through Virgo back into Leo. This is the big one for relationships and finances -- 40 days of re-examining what and who you value.

Mars does not retrograde in 2026. Its last retrograde ended in February 2025, and the next begins in late 2027. This gives a clear runway for action-oriented initiatives all year.

Jupiter retrogrades approximately July 11 to November 11, moving from Cancer back through Gemini. Four months of reassessing growth, beliefs, and educational pursuits.

Saturn retrogrades approximately June 20 to November 4, moving through Pisces. Four and a half months of structural review, karmic recalibration, and patience-building.

The impact of each retrograde depends on which house the retrograde planet transits in your chart. Mercury retrograde in Pisces/Aquarius affects your communication and thinking in whatever houses those signs occupy in your birth chart. If Pisces is your 10th house, expect career communications to require extra care. If Aquarius is your 7th house, partnership discussions may need revisiting.

Venus retrograde through Virgo/Leo lands in two consecutive houses of your chart, creating a six-week review of both areas. If these signs fall in your 2nd and 1st houses, your finances and self-image undergo simultaneous reassessment.

Jupiter and Saturn retrogrades are long enough that their house-by-house effects unfold gradually. These are not sudden disruptions -- they are slow turns of the wheel. Track which house Jupiter and Saturn occupy in your chart, then read those house themes for the retrograde period. Kaala shows your current transits mapped to your birth chart houses so you do not have to guess.

Quick reference dates for 2026 (approximate -- exact station times depend on your timezone):

Mercury Rx 1: Feb 25 - Mar 20 (Pisces/Aquarius) -- 23 days
Mercury Rx 2: Jun 25 - Jul 18 (Cancer) -- 23 days
Mercury Rx 3: Oct 20 - Nov 10 (Scorpio/Libra) -- 21 days
Venus Rx: Jul 23 - Sep 3 (Virgo/Leo) -- 42 days
Jupiter Rx: Jul 11 - Nov 11 (Cancer/Gemini) -- 123 days
Saturn Rx: Jun 20 - Nov 4 (Pisces) -- 137 days

Notice the summer pileup: from late June through early September, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are all retrograde simultaneously at various points. July 2026 is the most retrograde-heavy month of the year. If you need to launch something major, the first half of the year offers cleaner windows.

Do plan major launches, contracts, and purchases for the retrograde-light months: January through May 2026 is your cleanest window for forward-moving action. March has Mercury retrograde, but that is manageable compared to the July-August pileup.

Do use the July-September retrograde cluster for strategic review. This is the year's built-in pause button -- use it to audit your finances (Venus Rx), communication systems (Mercury Rx), growth strategy (Jupiter Rx), and structural foundations (Saturn Rx).

Do not freeze all activity for four months. Life continues during retrogrades. Billions of transactions, relationships, and decisions happen every retrograde period without incident. The key is to add an extra layer of review and diligence, not to stop moving entirely.

Do not treat all retrogrades equally. Mercury retrograde for three weeks is a minor tune-up. Saturn retrograde for four and a half months is a deep structural audit. Scale your attention to the planet's weight and duration.