2026 Retrograde Calendar: Including relevant Shadow Periods  

When planets go retrograde, they appear to move backward in the sky, creating a cosmic slowdown that affects different areas of our lives. But did you know that the effects of a retrograde don’t just start and stop with the official dates? The pre-shadow and post-shadow periods are just as important, setting the stage for what’s to come and helping us integrate the lessons afterward .

In this blog, we’ll break down every retrograde of 2026 , including Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and even Chiron. Whether you’re looking to plan ahead, avoid major decisions during tricky times, or simply align yourself with the cosmic flow, this guide will help you navigate the planetary shifts with clarity .

Here’s your retrograde calendar for 2026 with monthly planetary overview!

These dates are based on UTC/GMT. The maximum time difference between two countries is 26 hours. Which means these dates may only have one day difference depending on your timezone, so it isn't that significant.

If you still want more precise timings, you can go this this website, fill in your location to calculate more precise dates for your location.

✨ January 2026 Planetary Overview 

Summary:

January 2026 unfolds with a deep, introspective current. Both Jupiter and Uranus remain in retrograde motion through the entire month, creating a sense that time itself has slowed — not in stagnation, but in sacred suspension. The outer world softens while the inner world hums with potential.

This is a month to listen rather than act, to integrate rather than expand. The energy feels like the hush before a dawn — a collective inhale before new growth begins.

February 2026 Planetary Overview 

Summary:

February 2026 is a month of transition between inner reflection and outer movement — a cosmic threshold between quiet introspection and the first stirrings of renewal.

The energy begins in stillness but doesn’t stay there. Uranus, the planet of awakening, moves forward early in the month, sending a ripple of change through the collective current. Yet Jupiter’s retrograde continues to hold us in an inner classroom, reminding us that wisdom must settle before it can be shared.

And as the month ends, Mercury joins the dance of reversal, asking us to pause and listen before speaking, to review before deciding.

This month hums with reorientation — a shifting compass of mind, heart, and direction.

March 2026 Planetary Overview 

Summary:

March 2026 is a month of awakening motion — a slow unfurling from inner reflection into outward expression.Two retrogrades unwind like old knots: Jupiter’s long inward gaze ends on the 10th, and Mercury’s mental haze clears on the 20th.

At first, the energy still feels suspended — foggy at the edges — but by the final stretch of the month, everything begins to hum with forward flow. The universe exhales, and with it, so do you.

This is the moment when reflection meets readiness.

April 2026 Planetary Overview 

Summary:

April arrives like a breath of clean air after months of review and recalibration.The fog has lifted. The machinery of the cosmos hums in harmony — every planet moving forward, every pathway open.

What was once delayed or uncertain now begins to unfold naturally. There’s a sense of alignment — inner and outer worlds finally in rhythm.

This is not chaotic acceleration; it’s clarity in motion. The air is crisp, decisions flow more easily, and energy feels responsive rather than resistant.

May 2026 Planetary Overview 

Summary:

After April’s clarity and momentum, May arrives with a subtle shift in vibration — a quiet undertow beneath the forward current.Every planet still moves direct, except one: Pluto, who begins its retrograde on the 6th, marking the start of a collective inward turning at the deepest level of transformation.

It’s not a slowing down of outer progress, but a reminder that true evolution begins from the unseen layers.

June 2026 Planetary Overview 

Summary:

This month carries a dual-layered energy — outward movement continues, but the inner world asks attention.With Pluto retrograde ongoing, there is a steady undercurrent of deep transformation. As the month progresses, Mercury enters its pre-shadow, preparing the mind for a reflective pause, culminating in its retrograde at month’s end.

The energy is both intense and introspective, encouraging conscious thought, careful communication, and awareness of subtle shifts in power or perception.

July 2026 Planetary Overview 

Summary:

July 2026 carries a multi-layered, introspective energy.With four outer planets in retrograde at various points — Pluto ongoing, Neptune from the 7th, Saturn from the 26th, and Mercury until the 24th — the month feels like a deep, slow unfolding of insight and internal adjustment.

This is a month of mental clarity emerging through review, emotional depth, and structural reassessment. Outward life continues, but beneath the surface, the cosmos is inviting recalibration.

August 2026 Planetary Overview 

Summary:

August 26 carries a dense, introspective energy. With four major bodies in retrograde — Saturn, Neptune, Pluto, and Chiron — the day is primed for internal review, emotional insight, and healing at a structural level.

The outer world may feel steady, but internally there is a quiet pressure to examine, release, and integrate. It’s a day for turning inward, addressing what’s been lingering, and preparing for lasting transformation.

September 2026 Planetary Overview 

Summary:

September 2026 carries layers of introspection and transformation. With four slow-moving planets already retrograde — Saturn, Chiron, Neptune, and Pluto — and Uranus joining the retrograde motion on September 10, the month emphasizes internal restructuring, subtle revelation, and awakening beneath the surface.

Outward life may continue with rhythm, but the inner landscape is active, stirring profound insights and prompting reassessment in multiple areas of life.

October 2026 Planetary Overview 

Summary:

October 2026 is a month of layered introspection and subtle transformation, marked by multiple retrogrades and the pivotal shift of Pluto moving direct mid-month.

The first half of the month is heavy with review and inner recalibration: Venus retrograde encourages reflection on relationships and values, while Saturn, Uranus, Chiron, and Neptune continue their deep, internal work. Pluto’s direct station on the 15th signals the first stirrings of external empowerment and long-term transformation, but the energy remains measured and deliberate.

By the final week, Mercury retrograde begins on the 24th, creating a reflective mental atmosphere that overlaps with the ongoing emotional and structural retrograde energies.

November 2026 Planetary Overview 

Summary:

November 2026 carries a shift from reflection toward emerging forward motion, tempered by ongoing retrogrades of Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Chiron.The first part of the month still resonates with introspection and review, but mid-month brings a release of mental and relational blocks: Mercury and Venus both turn direct on November 13, clearing communication, relationships, and values for smoother flow.

Meanwhile, Mars enters its pre-shadow, signaling the mind and energy are preparing for future review and adjustment, particularly around action, ambition, and initiative.

The month is about integration of past lessons while readying for the next phase of activity.

December 2026 Planetary Overview 

Summary:

December 2026 is a month of energetic shifts and recalibration, bridging the introspective lessons of the year with opportunities for clarity and forward motion.

The first part of the month carries the lingering retrograde energies of Uranus and Chiron, keeping attention on internal innovation, subtle awakenings, and healing work. By mid-month, Saturn and Neptune return to direct motion, restoring structural and spiritual clarity. Meanwhile, Jupiter turns retrograde on December 12, signaling a pause in expansion and growth for reflection before the new year.

The month balances forward movement, internal reflection, and preparation for the next cycle, making it ideal for review, integration, and intentional planning.