Retrogrades › Mercury › 2026
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2026: Feb 26 – Mar 20 in Pisces; Jun 29 – Jul 23 in Cancer; Oct 24 – Nov 13 in Scorpio.
Mercury is retrograde right now, until Nov 13, 2026, 10:53 AM ET.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 11, 2026 | Feb 26, 2026, 1:47 AM ET | Mar 20, 2026, 3:35 PM ET | Apr 9, 2026 | 22°34′ ♓︎ Pisces 8°29′ |
| Jun 12, 2026 | Jun 29, 2026, 1:37 PM ET | Jul 23, 2026, 6:56 PM ET | Aug 6, 2026 | 26°15′ ♋︎ Cancer 16°19′ |
| Oct 4, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026, 3:14 AM ET | Nov 13, 2026, 10:53 AM ET | Nov 30, 2026 | 20°59′ ♏︎ Scorpio 5°02′ |
Feb 26, 2026 – Mar 20, 2026 · 23 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 22°34′ Pisces on Feb 26, 2026, 1:47 AM ET (2026-02-26 06:47 UTC) and direct at 8°29′ Pisces on Mar 20, 2026, 3:35 PM ET (2026-03-20 19:35 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to intuition, dreams and endings.
Shadow: Feb 11, 2026 – Apr 9, 2026.
Jun 29, 2026 – Jul 23, 2026 · 24 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 26°15′ Cancer on Jun 29, 2026, 1:37 PM ET (2026-06-29 17:37 UTC) and direct at 16°19′ Cancer on Jul 23, 2026, 6:56 PM ET (2026-07-23 22:56 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to home, family and old memories.
Shadow: Jun 12, 2026 – Aug 6, 2026.
Oct 24, 2026 – Nov 13, 2026 · 20 days
Mercury turns retrograde at 20°59′ Scorpio on Oct 24, 2026, 3:14 AM ET (2026-10-24 07:14 UTC) and direct at 5°02′ Scorpio on Nov 13, 2026, 10:53 AM ET (2026-11-13 15:53 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to shared money, secrets and emotional depth.
Shadow: Oct 4, 2026 – Nov 30, 2026.
Mercury rules communication, travel, technology and contracts. During its retrograde astrologers advise reviewing rather than launching: double-check messages and bookings, back up devices, and revisit old plans or conversations.
Retrograde motion is an optical effect: Earth and Mercury move at different speeds, so Mercury appears to drift backward against the stars for a while. Our dates are station times — when the apparent motion reverses — calculated with Astronomy Engine; see the methodology.
Same year: Venus retrograde 2026 · Jupiter retrograde 2026 · Saturn retrograde 2026 · All planets now
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2026: Feb 26 – Mar 20 in Pisces; Jun 29 – Jul 23 in Cancer; Oct 24 – Nov 13 in Scorpio.
About 67 days in total during 2026; each retrograde lasts 23 days, 24 days and 20 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 57 days.
The pre-shadow starts when Mercury first reaches the degree where it will turn direct; the post-shadow ends when it passes the degree where it turned retrograde. The dates are in the table above.
Astrology is a symbolic and cultural tradition. The planetary positions on this site are calculated with astronomical accuracy; the interpretations describe what astrologers associate with them and are not scientifically validated predictions about personality, relationships or the future.