Astrologically speaking, 2026 is a reprieve from the frenetic energy of 2025. In the previous years, the planets darted around, moving in and out of signs faster than we were able to adjust. While there have been a few movements in 2026, most find their place and then stay put. It means 2026 is offering more stability or as astrologer Jules Ferrari put it, "it feels like last year was the prologue and this year is the first chapter, one in which the storylines can really get some momentum behind them."

Some of the more significant astrological moments of the year are the retrograde transits and 2026 will have a total of 11 – or 13 if you include Chiron. You're probably well aware of  Mercury Retrograde as it's certainly the most well-known and most frequent. But, all the planets in our Solar System will go into retrograde at some point, and right now there are three consecutive retrograde planets: Mercury, Pluto, and Neptune.

A planet moves into a retrograde motion when it appears to move backwards in the sky. This happens due to the specific angles when viewed from Earth. Each planetary retrograde has its own unique meaning and challenges to overcome. Some retrograde transits are there to slow us down, some help us grow and others just cause outright chaos.

Wondering what these retrogrades mean for you? Here, you'll find an explanation of every single planetary retrograde in 2026 and a list of the current and consecutive retrogrades happening right now.

Current consecutive retrogrades

Pluto Retrograde in Aquarius – 6 May – 15 October

Mercury Retrograde in Cancer – 9 June – 23 July

Neptune Retrograde in Aries — 7 July – 12 December

Every retrograde in 2026

11 November (2025) – 11 March: Jupiter Retrograde in Cancer

Our lady luck Jupiter is in a retrograde transit for roughly a third of the year, so this retrograde is certainly a slow burn. Ruler of both  fiery Sagittarius and dreamy Pisces, Jupiter is typically about outward expansion, think: good fortune, wisdom, generosity and all round abundance. When Jupiter flips from its direct motion to a retrograde, that expansion flips inwards. Put simply, this is a period of internal growth rather material. This often manifests itself as a pause, a period of hesitation as we wake up to the realities around. Consider a moment for some personal reflection and a chance to work on yourself before you make your next moves.

2 September (2025) – 4 February: Uranus Retrograde in Gemini finishing in Taurus

Uranus Retrograde is a time for recalibration. Remember, this planet spends nearly half the year in a retrograde transit, so this will not be like the short and sharp dash we might be used to feeling from other retrogrades. Think of Uranus's cycles like this: its direct transit is for looking outwards while its retrograde transit is for looking inwards.

Ruler of Aquarius, Uranus is considered the humanitarian planet. It is innovative, forward-thinking, technologically savvy and represents progressive ideas. This retrograde transit does not rush or push, this is a lengthy period that helps to smoothly transition you from your current phase to the next one. It's a period where you are asked to some internal work, shift your perspectives and grow into the next version of yourself. Fighting against this transition to maintain the status quo will only cause tensions and you will need to work on yourself if you wish to remove yourself from any potential 'ruts'.

26 February – 20 March: Mercury Retrograde in Pisces

Mercury is our messenger planet, it governs all forms of transit, travel and communication. This includes things like technology, air travel, communication in relationships and more. Any instance where something moves from A to B. During the three week period that Mercury is in retrograde, these areas of life can suffer disruption. Miscommunicated conversations, airport delays and software outages have all been blamed on Mercury Retrograde over the years.

The retrogrades of the outer planets are longer and far more languid, offering space and time for you to move through change and growth. Mercury Retrograde, on the other hand, is short and sharp. It blows through like a tornado and leaves you to pick up the pieces it left. Falling in Pisces weighted this transit with a heavy emotional fog that made the experience feel rawer than normal.

6 May – 15 October: Pluto Retrograde in Aquarius

Spectre of death and change, Pluto is a planet all about deeply and richly transformative change. But this is not the kind of change that happens inside of a year. Pluto's lengthy retrogrades are phases of a great shift in collective consciousness. As astrologer Sade Jackson said, "this particular retrograde is part of a massive 20-year cycle – lasting until 2043 – marking a long-term shift in how we handle technology, community, and personal freedom." This transit metaphorically pulls back the curtain to reveal what has been lingering in the shadows, each tug showing more and more until we can eventually see the full picture. Pluto retrograde periods can feel unsettling as they can expose us to ideas that we're not fully ready to accept. You will need to prepare to absorb its teachings if you wish to move through this period in a healthy way.

29 June – 23 July: Mercury Retrograde in Cancer

The narrative around Mercury Retrograde is well known at this point. A chaotic whirlwind sent to disrupt everything from your train time table to that job interview you have in the diary. But this iteration in Cancer will hit deeper into your relationships.

Astrologer Sade Jackson says of this transit, "old memories, relationships, family stories, and emotional wounds may resurface, but not so that you can endlessly relive them. Rather, this is an invitation to become the author of a new narrative. The facts may not change, but your understanding of them can."

7 July – 12 December: Neptune Retrograde in Aries

Neptune is the planet of dreams, mysticism and imagination. It's true meaning and influence can feel shrouded, but offers a pathway to connect with the divine. This is possibly the least understood planet, so it makes sense that Neptune is the ruler of Pisces, the mystic of the zodiac. When Neptune takes its length backwards spin, we are able to cut through the fog and see things more clearly. We can feel some uncomfortable distance from our dreamy and creative sides, but this is not always a negative as it can offer the clarity we need to make decisions without a rose-coloured lens. Aries helms this particular transit, which challenges us to take action and really think about the way you view yourself and your relationships. This retrograde offers us a period to dispassionately evaluate the world around us and should be treated as such.

26 July – 10 December: Saturn Retrograde in Aries

Astrologer Nadine Jane called Saturn our "Great Teacher" for a reason. It is a task master and disciplinarian. This planet governs rules and responsibilities, karma and hard lessons. When Saturn shifts from its direct motion to a retrograde, it is an invitation to test the boundaries around you. As humans, it is natural to build structures and narratives for ourselves. Morals to live by, milestones to hit and guidelines to tread. Saturn retrograde invites us to ask a question: rules should be there for a reason, are yours? If you feel disconnected from the purpose behind the boundaries you've set yourself, now is the time to unpack that. This retrograde can be one of the most internally transformative if you allow it to be. Here, we can learn the lesson that life does not have to be lived according to a set of arbitrary parameters. As Saturn is retrograde through Aries, the lessons we may be dealt can feel sharper than normal, but do not let this stop you from fully exploring internal reinvention.

10 September – 8 February (2027): Uranus Retrograde in Gemini

Yes, Uranus will take another backwards spin. Uranus moves from its direct transit back into a retrograde motion in September. As laid out above, Uranus Retrograde is all about your movement from your current phase and into the next. Guided by Gemini, this transition is aided by the Air sign's adaptability. While this is a longer, gentler transit when compared with something like a Mercury Retrograde, Uranus Retrograde has been known to throw the odd curveball. Gemini's influence will allow us to shapeshift, tackling each and every challenge with intention.

3 October – 13 November: Venus Retrograde in Scorpio and finishing in Libra

Venus Retrograde is unusual. Other retrogrades happen predictably once (or sometimes more than once) a year. But for Venus? This planet has one retrograde every 18 months, so some years we can escape unscathed. This 41-day period isn't as sharp as a Mercury Retrograde, but is definitely not as easy going as an outer planet retrograde. Venus is a hedonist. This planet influences relationships (both platonic and romantic), money, taste and desire. When Venus flips from direct and takes a retrograde motion, our desires for outward indulgence turns inward. Astrologer Sade Jackson explained that "Venus retrogrades are always about matters of the heart—relationships, beauty, self-worth." If not managed carefully, this period can lead to regression and you could find yourself repeating old mistakes. Issues from the past can resurface forcing you to assess your own boundaries and test your sense of self-worth.

24 October – 13 November: Mercury Retrograde in Scorpio

Scorpio adds an extra spicy twist to this Mercury Retrograde. Enigmatic and guarded Scorpio throws a psychological cast over this transit that makes interpersonal communications all the more challenging. Difficult conversations are not easy during any Mercury Retrograde, but here you will almost need an in-built lie detector. Accept face value at your own risk – all is not what it seems. It would be better to leave challenging conversations for moments when you feel more trust in the people around you. If you feel uncertain, make sure you get everything in writing so no one can pull the rug from under where you stand.

12 December – 13 April (2027): Jupiter Retrograde in Leo

A second Jupiter Retrograde scrapes in before the end of the year. As the planet of good fortune, even in a retrograde transit, Jupiter can never be too negative. Coupled with its position in Leo – a sign of radiant positivity – this transit is certainly not anything to be concerned about. Thematically, Jupiter Retrogrades are all about internal and personal growth and Leo's influence sees us working on our confidence in particular. If the years have whittled down your faith in yourself, this transit arrives to help you rebuild it. You will have to do the work yourself, but here you're offered a helping hand.

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Feature image: Farzad Mohsenvand