Retrograde Calendar 2026

Within the SUTRA (astronomical calculation system) reference library on retrograde.pro, the 2026 calendar provides exact station dates and tropical ecliptic degrees for every planet. In 2026, Mercury turns retrograde three times, Venus reverses once in autumn, Jupiter spans two winter intervals, Saturn completes one summer-autumn arc, and Mars stays direct.

Apparent retrograde motion occurs when the orbital velocity vector of Earth alters the geocentric angle of observation toward another planet in the solar system. Because every planet maintains a steady forward orbit around the Sun, the dates of stationary reversal and direct resumption can be computed to the minute.

Complete 2026 Schedule by Planet

Mercury (three cycles): first loop from February 26 (Pisces 22°34′) to March 20 (Pisces 8°29′) lasting twenty-two days; second loop from June 29 (Cancer 26°16′) to July 23 (Cancer 16°19′) lasting twenty-four days; third loop from October 24 (Scorpio 20°59′) to November 13 (Scorpio 5°02′) lasting twenty days.

Venus (one cycle): stations retrograde on October 3 at 8°29′ Scorpio and stations direct on November 14 at 22°52′ Libra after forty-two days. The full transit loop including pre-retrograde and post-retrograde shadow arcs runs from August 31 through December 15, 2026.

Mars (zero cycles in 2026): travels in uninterrupted direct motion across the ecliptic throughout all twelve months of 2026. The pre-retrograde shadow of the subsequent cycle begins on November 5, 2026 at 20°56′ Leo ahead of the January 10, 2027 station.

Jupiter (two segments): completes the 2025–2026 loop from November 11, 2025 (Cancer 25°09′) to March 11, 2026 (Cancer 15°05′) over 120 days. A second loop begins on December 13, 2026 at 27°01′ Leo and ends on April 13, 2027 at 17°00′ Leo.

Saturn (one cycle): stations retrograde on July 26, 2026 at 14°45′ Aries and resumes direct motion on December 10, 2026 at 7°56′ Aries over 137 days. The shadow arc across those seven degrees of Aries extends from April 20, 2026 until March 15, 2027.

Outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto): Uranus completes its winter arc from September 6, 2025 (Mithuna, the Twins, 1°28′) to February 4, 2026 (Taurus 27°28′) and starts a new arc on September 10, 2026 at 5°42′ of Mithuna (the Twins). Neptune moves retrograde from July 7 (Aries 4°25′) to December 12 (Aries 1°37′), while Pluto moves retrograde from May 6 (Aquarius 5°31′) to October 16 (Aquarius 3°04′).

Quarter-by-Quarter Chronology

First quarter (January to March): January opens with Jupiter and Uranus in retrograde motion before Uranus turns direct in Taurus on February 4. Mercury stations retrograde in Pisces on February 26, Jupiter turns direct in Cancer on March 11, and Mercury resumes direct motion on March 20.

Second quarter (April to June): April is the only month of 2026 without a single planet in apparent retrograde motion across the entire ecliptic. Pluto stations retrograde in Aquarius on May 6, and Mercury begins its second retrograde loop at 26°16′ Cancer on June 29.

Third quarter (July to September): Neptune stations retrograde on July 7, Mercury turns direct on July 23, and Saturn stations retrograde in Aries on July 26. August continues with Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto in retrograde motion before Uranus joins them on September 10.

Fourth quarter (October to December): Venus stations retrograde in Scorpio on October 3, Pluto turns direct on October 16, and Mercury stations retrograde on October 24. Mercury and Venus turn direct on November 13 and November 14, Saturn and Neptune turn direct on December 10 and December 12, and Jupiter stations retrograde on December 13.

Simultaneous Overlap Windows

The highest concentration of simultaneous retrograde motion in 2026 occurs during October and the first half of November. Five planets move retrograde at the same time from October 3 to October 16 and again from October 24 to November 13.