Mercury retrograde dates for 2026 are February 26 to March 20 in Pisces, June 29 to July 23 in Cancer, and October 24 to November 13 in Scorpio. Each retrograde lasts about three weeks, and each one has a shadow period of several weeks on either side. This page gives the full table, with station dates, signs, shadow periods and the number of days, so you can check at a glance whether Mercury is retrograde today — and what to expect if it is.
All dates are given for the United States (Eastern time). In other time zones, a station can fall on the neighbouring day, so if a date matters to you, check it against your local time. The dates come from ephemeris calculations — the same tables astronomers use to track the planets — and they are consistent across the major sources.
The complete table for 2026
| Retrograde | Stations retrograde | Stations direct | Sign | Shadow period | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 26 | March 20 | Pisces | February 11 – April 9 | 23 days |
| 2 | June 29 | July 23 | Cancer | June 12 – August 6 | 25 days |
| 3 | October 24 | November 13 | Scorpio | October 4 – November 30 | 21 days |
Mercury is retrograde for 69 days in total in 2026, about a fifth of the year. The first retrograde begins on Thursday, February 26, and ends on Friday, March 20. The second begins on Monday, June 29, and ends on Thursday, July 23. The third begins on Saturday, October 24, and ends on Friday, November 13. The next retrograde after 2026 begins on February 9, 2027.
Reading the table: stations and shadows
The table has two kinds of date, and the difference matters. A station is the moment Mercury appears to stop and reverse direction — "stations retrograde" at the start, "stations direct" at the end. These are the boundaries of the retrograde itself. The shadow period is longer: it begins when Mercury first crosses the degree where it will later turn direct, and it ends when Mercury returns to the degree where it turned retrograde. During the shadow, Mercury covers the same stretch of sky three times — once forward, once back, once forward again — and the tradition reads the shadow as a time when the retrograde's themes are present but milder.
For the first retrograde, the shadow runs from February 11 to April 9. For the second, from June 12 to August 6. For the third, from October 4 to November 30. If you count the shadows, Mercury's retrograde season covers much of the year — but the retrograde itself, the three-week window, is the part most people mean when they ask for the dates.
Is Mercury retrograde right now?
As of early November 2026, yes. Mercury turned retrograde on October 24 in Scorpio, and it stations direct on November 13. The post-shadow period runs until November 30, when Mercury returns to the degree where the retrograde began. After that, the next retrograde begins on February 9, 2027, moving from Pisces into Aquarius.
If you are reading this page during the current retrograde, the practical advice is the same as for any retrograde: slow down, double-check messages before sending, back up important work, leave extra time for travel, and read contracts twice. If a decision involves serious money, speak to a qualified financial adviser rather than relying on the stars. None of this requires believing that a planet is causing the problems. It only requires noticing that a little extra care is useful when things feel unsettled.
The three retrogrades in detail
The first retrograde of 2026, February 26 to March 20 in Pisces, is the longest of the three in its shadow, running from February 11 to April 9. Pisces is a water sign linked with feeling, dreams and compassion, and the tradition reads this retrograde as a time of blurred boundaries — when it is easy to misunderstand someone, or to be misunderstood, and when old feelings can resurface. The Pisces way through it is gentle: listen more than you speak, and do not make big decisions while the water is murky.
The second retrograde, June 29 to July 23 in Cancer, runs through the height of summer. Cancer is the sign of home, family and the past, and the tradition reads this retrograde as a time for revisiting family matters, old memories, and the home itself. Its shadow runs from June 12 to August 6, the longest shadow of the year. The Cancer approach is to tend to the people and places that matter, and to let the rest wait.
The third retrograde, October 24 to November 13 in Scorpio, is the one happening now. Scorpio is the sign of depth, truth and transformation, and the tradition reads this retrograde as a time when hidden things come to light — an old secret, a buried feeling, a conversation that has been avoided. Its shadow runs from October 4 to November 30. It is the most intense of the three, and the one that most rewards honesty, spoken carefully and with kindness.
What retrograde actually is
Retrograde is an apparent motion, not a real one. Mercury never stops or reverses; it continues on its orbit, but because the Earth moves faster on the inside track, Mercury appears from Earth to slow, stop, and move backwards for a few weeks — in the same way a faster car appears to move backwards when you overtake it. The effect is geometry, and it happens three or four times a year, every year.
Astrology treats the apparent reversal as meaningful, and astronomy treats it as perspective. Both can be true at once: the geometry is real, and the meaning is a tradition. What matters is how you use it. If a retrograde prompts you to slow down, to check your work, and to listen more carefully, it has done something useful — whether or not you believe a planet was involved.
Planning around the dates
The dates are most useful as a planning aid, not as a rule. If you have a choice about when to sign a contract, launch a project, or make a large purchase, and a retrograde is coming, it is sensible to do it before the retrograde begins or after it ends — not because the stars demand it, but because the extra care the tradition recommends is easier to give when you are not in a rush. If you cannot wait, read everything twice, and get advice from a qualified professional for anything involving serious money or legal consequences.
Travel is the other area where the dates are useful. During a retrograde, the tradition says, delays and changes are more likely. The practical version is simpler: leave early, confirm bookings, keep copies of important documents, and carry a charger. These are good habits at any time of year, and a retrograde is a useful reminder to practise them. The horoscope hub has more on Mercury and the planets, and the moon calendar tool shows the month's phases alongside the retrograde dates.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Mercury retrograde dates for 2026?
Mercury is retrograde February 26 to March 20 in Pisces, June 29 to July 23 in Cancer, and October 24 to November 13 in Scorpio. The shadow periods are February 11 to April 9, June 12 to August 6, and October 4 to November 30.
Is Mercury retrograde right now?
Yes. As of early November 2026, Mercury is retrograde in Scorpio, and it stations direct on November 13. The post-shadow period runs until November 30, and the next retrograde begins on February 9, 2027.
How long does Mercury retrograde last?
Each retrograde lasts about three weeks. In 2026, the three retrogrades last 23, 25 and 21 days, for a total of 69 days. The shadow periods add several weeks on either side.
What is a Mercury retrograde shadow period?
The shadow is the stretch before and after the retrograde when Mercury passes over the same degrees of the sky. It begins when Mercury first reaches the degree where it will turn direct, and ends when it returns to the degree where it turned retrograde.
How many times is Mercury retrograde in 2026?
Three times. Mercury is retrograde three or four times a year, and in 2026 it is three: in Pisces, in Cancer, and in Scorpio. All three fall in water signs.
Where can I check the current Mercury retrograde status?
The horoscope hub has more on Mercury and the planets, and the moon calendar tool shows the month's phases. The full table of 2026 dates, with stations and shadow periods, is at the top of this page.