The sky · The whole year

The sky in 2026

Four eclipses, three Mercury retrogrades, Jupiter into Leo, Saturn into Aries, Uranus into Gemini and Neptune into Aries, and every new and full Moon of 2026, each to the minute in your own time.

Where the slow planets stand

Jupiter stays about a year in a sign, Saturn two to three, and the three outer planets many years: their sign is the year’s backdrop.

Jupiter
In Cancer, then into Leo on June 30.
Retrograde November 11, 2025 to March 11, in Cancer and December 13 to April 13, 2027, in Leo.
Jupiter in Cancer · Jupiter in Leo
Saturn
Into Aries on February 14.
Retrograde July 26 to December 10, in Aries.
Saturn in Aries
Uranus
Into Gemini on April 26.
Retrograde September 6, 2025 to February 4, from Gemini back into Taurus and September 10 to February 8, 2027, in Gemini.
Uranus in Gemini
Neptune
Into Aries on January 26.
Retrograde July 7 to December 12, in Aries.
Neptune in Aries
Pluto
In Aquarius all year.
Retrograde May 6 to October 16, in Aquarius.
Pluto in Aquarius

Retrogrades through the year

Each bar is a planet seeming to turn back against the stars. Mars does not turn back in 2026.

MercuryFebruary 26 to March 20, in Pisces, June 29 to July 23, in Cancer and October 24 to November 13, in Scorpio
VenusOctober 3 to November 14, from Scorpio back into Libra
JupiterNovember 11, 2025 to March 11, in Cancer and December 13 to April 13, 2027, in Leo
SaturnJuly 26 to December 10, in Aries
UranusSeptember 6, 2025 to February 4, from Gemini back into Taurus and September 10 to February 8, 2027, in Gemini
NeptuneJuly 7 to December 12, in Aries
PlutoMay 6 to October 16, in Aquarius

The eclipses

An annular solar eclipse in Aquarius
Tuesday February 17, 12:12 p.m. UTC, at 28° Aquarius
A total lunar eclipse in Virgo
Tuesday March 3, 11:34 a.m. UTC, at 12° Virgo
A total solar eclipse in Leo
Wednesday August 12, 5:46 p.m. UTC, at 20° Leo
A partial lunar eclipse in Pisces
Friday August 28, 4:13 a.m. UTC, at 4° Pisces

Month by month

January
Full Moon in CancerNew Moon in Capricorn
- January 23: Mars enters Aquarius
- January 26: Neptune enters Aries
February
Full Moon in LeoNew Moon in Aquarius, an eclipse
- February 4: Uranus turns direct in Taurus
- February 14: Saturn enters Aries
- February 26: Mercury turns retrograde in Pisces
March
Full Moon in Virgo, an eclipseNew Moon in Pisces
- March 2: Mars enters Pisces
- March 11: Jupiter turns direct in Cancer
- March 20: Mercury turns direct in Pisces
April
Full Moon in LibraNew Moon in Aries
- April 9: Mars enters Aries
- April 26: Uranus enters Gemini
May
Full Moon in ScorpioNew Moon in TaurusFull Moon in Sagittarius
- May 6: Pluto turns retrograde in Aquarius
- May 18: Mars enters Taurus
June
New Moon in GeminiFull Moon in Capricorn
- June 28: Mars enters Gemini
- June 29: Mercury turns retrograde in Cancer
- June 30: Jupiter enters Leo
July
New Moon in CancerFull Moon in Aquarius
- July 7: Neptune turns retrograde in Aries
- July 23: Mercury turns direct in Cancer
- July 26: Saturn turns retrograde in Aries
August
New Moon in Leo, an eclipseFull Moon in Pisces, an eclipse
- August 11: Mars enters Cancer
September
New Moon in VirgoFull Moon in Aries
- September 10: Uranus turns retrograde in Gemini
- September 28: Mars enters Leo
October
New Moon in LibraFull Moon in Taurus
- October 3: Venus turns retrograde in Scorpio
- October 16: Pluto turns direct in Aquarius
- October 24: Mercury turns retrograde in Scorpio
November
New Moon in ScorpioFull Moon in Gemini
- November 13: Mercury turns direct in Scorpio
- November 14: Venus turns direct in Libra
- November 25: Mars enters Virgo
December
New Moon in SagittariusFull Moon in Cancer
- December 10: Saturn turns direct in Aries
- December 12: Neptune turns direct in Aries
- December 13: Jupiter turns retrograde in Leo

Days are Universal Time’s; each month’s page gives the minute in your own time. Every moment is measured from NASA JPL’s ephemeris.

Add to your calendar

New and full Moons, eclipses, retrograde turns and the Sun’s new signs, each at its minute in your own time.

Year ahead analysis

Your own year, from your birthday

Your chart cast again for your birthday and read against the chart you were born with, month by month, as a PDF to download.

See the year ahead analysis

Questions

What are the big astrological events of 2026?

Four eclipses, three Mercury retrogrades, Jupiter into Leo, Saturn into Aries, Uranus into Gemini and Neptune into Aries, and every new and full Moon of 2026, each to the minute in your own time. Pluto stays in Aquarius all year.

When is Mercury retrograde in 2026?

Three times: February 26 to March 20, in Pisces, June 29 to July 23, in Cancer and October 24 to November 13, in Scorpio.

Is Venus retrograde in 2026?

Yes: October 3 to November 14, from Scorpio back into Libra. Venus turns back about every eighteen months, for about six weeks.

When is the total solar eclipse in 2026?

Tuesday March 3, 2026, with the Sun at 12° Virgo. It is seen as total only along a narrow path; a local astronomy guide shows where.

How does 2026 touch my sign?

The sky is the same for everyone; where it lands is not. Each eclipse, turn and change of sign passes through a different part of every chart, and your Sun sign is only one part of yours. Your whole chart shows which part of your life each one touches.