Is Mercury in Retrograde Right Now?
Yes. Mercury is retrograde until Nov 13, 2026. Mercury retrograde dates for this year and next are below, with shadow periods, so you can plan around them.
Mercury retrograde dates
Swipe sideways to see the whole table
| Shadow begins | Turns retrograde | Turns direct | Shadow ends | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 11, 2026 | Feb 26, 2026 | Mar 20, 2026 | Apr 9, 2026 | Pisces 22° to Pisces 8° |
| Jun 13, 2026 | Jun 29, 2026 | Jul 23, 2026 | Aug 7, 2026 | Cancer 26° to Cancer 16° |
| Oct 4, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | Scorpio 20° to Scorpio 5° |
| Jan 25, 2027 | Feb 9, 2027 | Mar 3, 2027 | Mar 23, 2027 | Pisces 5° to Aquarius 20° |
| May 26, 2027 | Jun 10, 2027 | Jul 4, 2027 | Jul 19, 2027 | Cancer 6° to Gemini 27° |
| Sep 17, 2027 | Oct 7, 2027 | Oct 28, 2027 | Nov 13, 2027 | Scorpio 4° to Libra 19° |
Dates are shown in UTC. A date can differ by a day between time zones.
Common questions
How long does Mercury retrograde last?
About three weeks, usually three or four times a year. The shadow periods before and after add about two more weeks on each side.
What is a shadow period?
Mercury crosses the same stretch of the zodiac three times: before it turns back, while it moves backward, and after it turns forward again. The first and last crossings are the shadow periods.
What should I pay attention to during Mercury retrograde?
Astrologers link Mercury with thinking, messages, learning and short trips, so they suggest extra care with plans, details and messages, and time to review things you started earlier.
Is Mercury really moving backward?
No. It is an optical effect. Mercury moves faster than Earth, and when it passes us on the inside of its orbit it appears to move backward against the stars for a few weeks.
Does Mercury retrograde affect everyone the same way?
In astrology, it matters most when it passes over a point in your birth chart. Once you enter your birth date, this page shows which retrogrades do that for you.