Mercury retrograde 2026
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2026. Each period runs from the station that turns it retrograde to the one that turns it direct.
Three retrogrades
- 1 – 23 days · Aquarius
- 2 – 24 days · Cancer → Gemini
- 3 · next – 20 days · Libra
Mercury through 2026
The sign Mercury is in, by the Vedic (sidereal) zodiac, and when it turns back.
The stations, sign by sign
Times in UTC. Degree within the sign at each station.
| Turns retrograde | Turns direct | Days | Vedic (sidereal) | Western (tropical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 28°20′ Aquarius → 14°15′ Aquarius | 22°33′ Pisces → 8°29′ Pisces | ||
| 24 | 2°01′ Cancer → 22°05′ Gemini | 26°15′ Cancer → 16°18′ Cancer | ||
| Next | 20 | 26°44′ Libra → 10°47′ Libra | 20°58′ Scorpio → 5°02′ Scorpio |
Questions
Dates are computed with the Swiss Ephemeris.
When is Mercury retrograde in 2026?
Mercury is retrograde three times in 2026: from 26 February to 20 March, from 29 June to 23 July and from 24 October to 13 November (UTC dates).
How long is Mercury retrograde in 2026?
Each Mercury retrograde in 2026 lasts 20 to 24 days, from the station that turns it retrograde to the one that turns it direct.
Is Mercury retrograde in 2026 the same in Vedic and Western astrology?
The dates and times are the same, because a retrograde is an astronomical event. The signs can differ: the Vedic (sidereal) zodiac sits about 24° behind the Western (tropical) one, so the station of 26 February 2026 is at 22°33′ Pisces in the Western zodiac and 28°20′ Aquarius in the Vedic one.
How the dates are found
Read the methodology- Stations
- The moments Mercury’s geocentric longitude stops and turns, from the Swiss Ephemeris (NASA JPL’s DE441).
- Signs
- Vedic signs in the sidereal zodiac with the Lahiri ayanamsa; Western signs in the tropical zodiac.
- Time zones
- Times show in your own time zone; choose another at the top of the page.
- The year track
- Sign changes and stations in the year, by India time.
Swiss Ephemeris · sidereal (Lahiri) and tropical signs · your time zone · Swiss Ephemeris · Method