Starhour
Mercury retrograde 2026
2026 2027
Mercury is retrograde 3 times in 2026: to in Pisces; to in Cancer; to in Scorpio.
| Retrograde | Starts | Ends | Sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ♓ Pisces | ||
| 2 | ♋ Cancer | ||
| 3 | ♏ Scorpio |
What Mercury retrograde means
About three times a year, Mercury appears to move backwards across the sky for around three weeks. It doesn't really reverse: Earth is overtaking it. Mercury rules messages, travel, contracts and technology. When it's retrograde, plans slip, emails go astray and old contacts reappear.
Back up your phone, read contracts twice and leave extra time for travel. It's a great window for anything with "re" in front: review, revise, reconnect.
The shadow is the stretch of sky Mercury covers three times: once going forward before the retrograde (pre-shadow), once backwards, and once forward again after it (post-shadow). Many astrologers treat the shadow weeks as a softer version of the retrograde itself.
The 2026 Mercury retrogrades in detail
First Mercury retrograde: February 26 to March 20, in Pisces
- Pre-shadow begins:
- Stations retrograde: at 22° Pisces
- Stations direct: at 8° Pisces
- Post-shadow ends:
In Pisces, thinking turns dreamy and vague. Wonderful for art and reflection; write the facts down for everything else.
Second Mercury retrograde: June 29 to July 23, in Cancer
- Pre-shadow begins:
- Stations retrograde: at 26° Cancer
- Stations direct: at 16° Cancer
- Post-shadow ends:
In Cancer, family conversations and old memories come back. Good for reconnecting with relatives; bad for moving house.
Third Mercury retrograde: October 24 to November 13, in Scorpio
- Pre-shadow begins:
- Stations retrograde: at 20° Scorpio
- Stations direct: at 5° Scorpio
- Post-shadow ends:
In Scorpio, secrets and shared money come up for review. Conversations go deep; choose your words with care.
More for 2026
Questions
When is Mercury retrograde in 2026?
February 26, 2026 to March 20, 2026 (Pisces); June 29, 2026 to July 23, 2026 (Cancer); October 24, 2026 to November 13, 2026 (Scorpio).
When does the first Mercury retrograde of 2026 end?
Mercury stations direct on March 20, 2026, and its post-shadow ends on April 9, 2026.
How long does Mercury retrograde last?
Around three weeks. In 2026 the retrogrades last 23, 24, 20 days.
What should I avoid during Mercury retrograde?
Astrologers suggest not signing important contracts or buying electronics without checking twice, leaving extra time for travel, and backing up your data. It's a good time to review, revise and reconnect.
Dates and times are calculated by Starhour from the real positions of the planets (tropical zodiac). Times are shown in UTC. Updated November 2, 2026.