☿ Retrograde dates
Mercury retrograde 2026 & 2027
℞ Mercury is retrograde right now until November 13, 2026 (Scorpio).
Mercury retrograde dates
Station dates are calculated from planetary positions and shown in UTC. A planet “stations” when it appears to stop before changing direction.
| Starts | Ends | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Scorpio | Scorpio | 20 |
| Pisces | Aquarius | 22 |
| Cancer | Gemini | 24 |
| Scorpio | Libra | 21 |
| Aquarius | Aquarius | 21 |
| Gemini | Gemini | 24 |
| Libra | Libra | 22 |
| Aquarius | Capricorn | 20 |
| Taurus | Taurus | 24 |
| Libra | Virgo | 23 |
What Mercury retrograde means
Mercury is the quickest planet, so it retrogrades most often, and its stalls are the ones people notice. In astrology Mercury is linked with communication, travel, technology, contracts and daily plans, so a retrograde is read as a stretch for reviewing those areas rather than pushing ahead. It happens about three times a year, for roughly three weeks each time.
A practical approach: Back up files, re-read messages before sending, leave extra time for travel and avoid signing big agreements in a rush if you can.
Astrology is for reflection and entertainment, not a prediction of events.
Mercury retrograde: questions
Is Mercury retrograde right now?
Yes. Mercury stationed retrograde on October 24, 2026 in Scorpio and stations direct on November 13, 2026 in Scorpio (all times UTC).
When is the next Mercury retrograde?
The next Mercury retrograde starts on February 9, 2027 in Pisces and ends on March 3, 2027 in Aquarius, about 22 days later.
How often does Mercury go retrograde?
Mercury goes retrograde about three times a year, for roughly three weeks each time.
How long does Mercury retrograde last?
Over the windows listed on this page it lasts about 22 days on average, counted from the retrograde station to the direct station.
Does Mercury really move backwards?
No. Retrograde motion is an optical effect: as Earth overtakes or is overtaken by Mercury in its orbit, Mercury appears to slow, stop and drift backwards against the stars for a while before moving forward again.
Other retrogrades
Which planets were retrograde when you were born?
See my birth chartAstrology is offered for reflection and entertainment. It is not a substitute for professional medical, legal, financial or psychological advice.