Mercury Retrograde Calendar: Is Mercury Retrograde Today? All Dates for 2025–2030
"Mercury's retrograde, be careful" is probably the most quoted line in astrology. The retrograde itself is a real sky event, and each one can be calculated to the minute. Below is our Mercury retrograde calendar, calculated with an ephemeris engine, with all times in UTC, plus the shadow periods either side and the retrogrades of Venus and Mars.
Is Mercury retrograde right now?
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Was Mercury retrograde on your birthday?
All times are in UTC. The birthday check uses the UTC calendar date, so if you were born far from UTC on a day when a planet stationed, enter your birth time in the birth chart calculator to be sure.
Mercury retrograde calendar 2025–2030
| Year | Retrograde (UTC) | Sign and degree | Including shadows | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 15 – Apr 7 | Aries 9° → Pisces 26° | Mar 1 – Apr 26 | 23 days |
| 2025 | Jul 18 – Aug 11 | Leo 15° → Leo 4° | Jun 30 – Aug 25 | 24 days |
| 2025 | Nov 9 – Nov 29 | Sagittarius 6° → Scorpio 20° | Oct 21 – Dec 17 | 20 days |
| 2026 | Feb 26 – Mar 20 | Pisces 22° → Pisces 8° | Feb 11 – Apr 9 | 23 days |
| 2026 | Jun 29 – Jul 23 | Cancer 26° → Cancer 16° | Jun 13 – Aug 7 | 24 days |
| 2026 | Oct 24 – Nov 13 | Scorpio 20° → Scorpio 5° | Oct 4 – Nov 30 | 20 days |
| 2027 | Feb 9 – Mar 3 | Pisces 5° → Aquarius 20° | Jan 25 – Mar 23 | 22 days |
| 2027 | Jun 10 – Jul 4 | Cancer 6° → Gemini 27° | May 26 – Jul 19 | 24 days |
| 2027 | Oct 7 – Oct 28 | Scorpio 4° → Libra 19° | Sep 17 – Nov 13 | 21 days |
| 2028 | Jan 24 – Feb 14 | Aquarius 19° → Aquarius 3° | Jan 8 – Mar 5 | 21 days |
| 2028 | May 21 – Jun 14 | Gemini 16° → Gemini 7° | May 6 – Jun 29 | 24 days |
| 2028 | Sep 19 – Oct 11 | Libra 18° → Libra 3° | Aug 30 – Oct 26 | 22 days |
| 2029 | Jan 7 – Jan 27 | Aquarius 3° → Capricorn 17° | Dec 21, 2028 – Feb 16 | 20 days |
| 2029 | May 1 – May 25 | Taurus 26° → Taurus 17° | Apr 17 – Jun 10 | 24 days |
| 2029 | Sep 2 – Sep 25 | Libra 1° → Virgo 17° | Aug 13 – Oct 9 | 23 days |
| 2029 | Dec 22 – Jan 11, 2030 | Capricorn 17° → Capricorn 1° | Dec 4 – Jan 30, 2030 | 20 days |
| 2030 | Apr 13 – May 6 | Taurus 7° → Aries 27° | Mar 30 – May 24 | 24 days |
| 2030 | Aug 16 – Sep 8 | Virgo 14° → Virgo 1° | Jul 27 – Sep 22 | 23 days |
| 2030 | Dec 6 – Dec 25 | Capricorn 1° → Sagittarius 15° | Nov 17 – Jan 13, 2031 | 20 days |
Station times (retrograde and direct) were calculated to the minute by our engine and checked one by one against published calendars; dates are UTC, and the exact moments are shown in the live check above. "Including shadows" runs from the start of the pre-retrograde shadow to the end of the post-retrograde shadow; see below.
All three Mercury retrogrades of 2026 begin in water signs (Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio). That is no coincidence: Mercury turns retrograde about every 116 days, and consecutive retrogrades begin on average 114° apart, close to a trine (120°). So several retrogrades in a row tend to fall in the three signs of one element, slipping back a little each time until they move into the next element.
How often, and for how long
Every station from 1950 to 2030 calculated by our engine.
Mercury goes retrograde about every four months for about three weeks, more often than any other personal planet. So there is no need to treat it as special: Mercury is retrograde about a fifth of the time, every year.
What is the shadow period?
During a retrograde Mercury backs up over a stretch of the zodiac that it has already crossed once before turning, and will cross a third time after turning direct. Astrology calls these two stretches the shadow periods:
- Pre-retrograde shadow: from the day Mercury first reaches the degree where the retrograde will end, until it stations retrograde. Tradition says the things you end up revisiting during the retrograde often start here.
- Post-retrograde shadow: from the direct station until Mercury passes the degree where the retrograde began. This is the wrap-up, when delayed matters gradually get back on track.
Take the first Mercury retrograde of 2026: the retrograde itself runs from Feb 26 to Mar 20, but the pre-shadow starts on Feb 11 and the post-shadow doesn't end until Apr 9, about two months in all.
What tradition says about Mercury retrograde
In astrology Mercury governs communication, thinking, paperwork, travel and trade, so its retrograde is associated with mix-ups, delays and do-overs in those areas. Common astrological advice:
- Read important documents and contracts twice, and check the terms and dates.
- Leave extra time for travel and confirm plans in advance.
- Back up your files, and reread important messages before sending.
- Favor the "re-" things: reorganizing, reviewing, reconnecting with old friends all fit the backward-looking nature of the retrograde.
All of this is good practice at any time. It is worth saying plainly that no research shows more mistakes happen during Mercury retrograde; putting off something that needs doing because of a retrograde can cost more than the retrograde ever would.
Venus and Mars retrogrades
Venus and Mars go retrograde too, but far less often than Mercury: Venus about every 19.2 months for about 42 days; Mars about every 25.6 months for 60–81 days. Astrological tradition links Venus retrograde with reassessing love, money and taste, and Mars retrograde with blocked action and drive turned inward.
| Planet | Retrograde (UTC dates) | Sign and degree | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venus | Mar 2, 2025 – Apr 13, 2025 | Aries 10° → Pisces 24° | 42 days |
| Venus | Oct 3, 2026 – Nov 14, 2026 | Scorpio 8° → Libra 22° | 42 days |
| Venus | May 10, 2028 – Jun 22, 2028 | Gemini 19° → Gemini 3° | 43 days |
| Venus | Dec 16, 2029 – Jan 26, 2030 | Capricorn 24° → Capricorn 8° | 41 days |
| Mars | Dec 6, 2024 – Feb 24, 2025 | Leo 6° → Cancer 17° | 79 days |
| Mars | Jan 10, 2027 – Apr 1, 2027 | Virgo 10° → Leo 20° | 81 days |
| Mars | Feb 14, 2029 – May 5, 2029 | Libra 13° → Virgo 24° | 80 days |
Born with Mercury retrograde
The tool above tells you whether Mercury was retrograde on your birthday. About a fifth of people are born with Mercury retrograde; tradition says they think more inwardly, turn things over repeatedly, and often need to get it straight in their own heads before speaking. A full birth chart shows this too: planets marked R were retrograde at your birth.
A straight word: Mercury retrograde is astronomy; "everything goes wrong" is tradition
Mercury retrograde is a real, calculable event: seen from Earth, Mercury appears to move backward for three or four stretches a year. But "communication breaks down, gadgets fail, don't sign contracts" is astrological tradition with no scientific research behind it. Mercury is retrograde about a fifth of the year; if every retrograde really ruined everything, you would lose more than two months a year. Treat it as a reminder to double-check, and don't let it delay decisions that need making. Everything on this site is for reference and entertainment only.
See which planets were retrograde in your own chart
Cast your full birth chart to see the sign and house of every planet at your birth, and which of them were retrograde.
Mercury retrograde FAQ
When is Mercury retrograde in 2026?
There are 3 Mercury retrogrades in 2026 (UTC): Feb 26 to Mar 20, Jun 29 to Jul 23, Oct 24 to Nov 13. Each also has a shadow period of two or three weeks either side; see the full calendar above.
How many times a year is Mercury retrograde?
Three or four times a year, averaging about 22.2 days each. Between 1950 and 2030, 13 years had four Mercury retrogrades and the rest had three.
Does Mercury really move backward?
No. Mercury always travels the same way around the Sun; it just goes round faster than Earth, and when it passes between Earth and the Sun it looks, from here, as if it is moving backward. It is the same illusion as a car you are overtaking seeming to roll backward.
Should I avoid signing contracts or buying things during Mercury retrograde?
That is astrological tradition, with no scientific evidence behind it. Mercury is retrograde about a fifth of the year, so avoiding it every time isn't realistic anyway. The practical approach is to treat it as a reminder: read the contract twice and double-check what matters.
Does Mercury retrograde have anything to do with BaZi or the Chinese almanac?
No. Mercury retrograde is a Western astrology idea; BaZi works with stems and branches, and the good and bad days in the Chinese almanac come from traditional date-selection rules such as the Twelve Day Officers. For choosing a day, see date selection.