Mercury retrograde 2026

Three times: 26 Feb to 21 Mar (in Aquarius); 29 Jun to 24 Jul (from Cancer back into Gemini); 24 Oct to 13 Nov (in Libra).

The first retrograde begins at 12:17 pm on Thursday, 26 February 2026 and Mercury turns direct at 1:03 am on Saturday, 21 March 2026 (IST). The second retrograde begins at 11:04 pm on Monday, 29 June 2026 and Mercury turns direct at 4:28 am on Friday, 24 July 2026 (IST). The third retrograde begins at 12:42 pm on Saturday, 24 October 2026 and Mercury turns direct at 9:24 pm on Friday, 13 November 2026 (IST).

Before turning retrograde, Mercury moves forward over the stretch of the zodiac it will soon cover backwards: that is the pre-retrograde shadow, from when it first reaches the degree where it will later turn direct. After turning direct it covers the same stretch a third time, until it is back at the degree where it turned retrograde: the post-retrograde shadow. Each lasts about two weeks.

No. Seen from the Earth, which is also moving, Mercury appears to slow, stop and move back against the stars for about three weeks, three or four times a year. Astrology reads that apparent motion; the dates here are the moments the motion turns, computed to the minute.

Tradition counsels reviewing rather than starting: re-read the agreement, double-check dates and details, back up your data, allow for delays in travel and messages. Many muhurta rules avoid a signing while Mercury is retrograde. Your own chart can say more than a general rule: a KP timing check reads it for the task you have in mind.

A retrograde is about motion, so its dates and times are the same in every system. The sign it happens in is sidereal here (Lahiri ayanamsa, as in Vedic astrology), about 24° behind the tropical zodiac Western astrology uses, so Mercury retrograde "in Pisces" on a Western site is often in Aquarius here.