Retrogrades › Neptune › 2026
Neptune is retrograde once in 2026: Jul 7 – Dec 12 in Aries.
Neptune is retrograde right now, until Dec 12, 2026, 5:13 PM ET.
| Pre-shadow begins | Retrograde | Direct | Post-shadow ends | Signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 16, 2026 | Jul 7, 2026, 7:21 AM ET | Dec 12, 2026, 5:13 PM ET | Apr 2, 2027 | 4°25′ ♈︎ Aries 1°37′ |
Jul 7, 2026 – Dec 12, 2026 · 158 days
Neptune turns retrograde at 4°25′ Aries on Jul 7, 2026, 7:21 AM ET (2026-07-07 11:21 UTC) and direct at 1°37′ Aries on Dec 12, 2026, 5:13 PM ET (2026-12-12 22:13 UTC).
Astrologers link this retrograde to impulsive decisions, independence and new starts.
Shadow: Mar 16, 2026 – Apr 2, 2027.
Neptune is associated with dreams, imagination, spirituality and blurred boundaries. Its retrograde lasts about five months every year. Astrologers describe it as a time when illusions are easier to see through and old ideals come back for review.
Retrograde motion is an optical effect: Earth and Neptune move at different speeds, so Neptune 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: Mercury retrograde 2026 · Venus retrograde 2026 · Jupiter retrograde 2026 · Saturn retrograde 2026 · Uranus retrograde 2026 · Pluto retrograde 2026 · All planets now
Neptune is retrograde once in 2026: Jul 7 – Dec 12 in Aries.
About 158 days in total during 2026; each retrograde lasts 158 days. Including the pre- and post-shadow, each cycle spans roughly 382 days.
The pre-shadow starts when Neptune 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.
A station is one instant worldwide, but its calendar date depends on the time zone. This calendar displays Eastern Time, including daylight-saving changes, and the event cards also show UTC. A station shortly after midnight UTC can fall on the previous date in the Americas. Compare full timestamps before concluding that two calendars disagree.
No. The retrograde phase ends at the direct station. During the post-shadow, Neptune moves direct through the degrees it covered while retrograde, until it passes the earlier retrograde-station longitude. The direct date and post-shadow end date describe different events.
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.