Mars retrograde · 2026
Is Mars retrograde in 2026? No: here are the nearest dates
Is Mars retrograde in 2026? No, and this page explains why, lists the nearest retrogrades on either side, and says whether Mars is in a shadow period during the year.
There is no Mars retrograde in 2026: Mars is direct all year. The previous retrograde ended on February 24, 2025, and the next runs January 10 – April 1, 2027, from 10° Virgo back to 20° Leo. Mars is retrograde only about every 26 months, so some calendar years pass without one.
Is Mars retrograde right now?
Computed in your browser from NASA JPL Horizons positions (UTC dates). The app adds your own chart: which of these retrogrades touch your planets.
Key sky dates, late 2026 – early 2027
The transits most people feel in decisions, relationships and money.
Mars retrograde 2026: the short answer
No. Mars does not turn retrograde in 2026. The pre-retrograde shadow of the next one begins on November 5, 2026, when Mars first crosses 20°56′ Leo, the degree where it will later turn direct. Astrologers treat that as the first hint of the themes to come.
Why there is no Mars retrograde in 2026
Mars is retrograde about every 26 months, for 9 to 12 weeks: about 9% of the time. Because the cycle is longer than a year, the retrogrades do not land in every calendar year. The previous one ran December 6, 2024 – February 24, 2025 (Leo back into Cancer); the next one runs January 10 – April 1, 2027 (Virgo back into Leo). In between, Mars moves forward the whole time.
What a year without one means
In astrology Mars stands for drive, desire, anger and how you go after things. With no retrograde in 2026, there is no scheduled review of those themes: matters ruled by Mars tend to move forward at their ordinary pace. It does not make the year lucky or unlucky. The guides to the nearest retrogrades are Mars retrograde 2024 and Mars retrograde 2027; the meaning and the full how-to are in the Mars retrograde guide.
Mars retrograde dates around 2026
| Retrograde (UTC dates) | Stations retrograde at | Stations direct at | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30, 2022 – Jan 12, 2023 | 25° Gemini | 8° Gemini | 74 days |
| Dec 6, 2024 – Feb 24, 2025 | 6° Leo | 17° Cancer | 79 days |
| Jan 10 – Apr 1, 2027 | 10° Virgo | 20° Leo | 81 days |
| Feb 14 – May 5, 2029 | 13° Libra | 24° Virgo | 80 days |
Computed from NASA JPL Horizons (geocentric positions in the tropical zodiac). Dates are UTC.
Mars retrograde 2026: questions
Is there a Mars retrograde in 2026?
No. Mars is direct for the whole of 2026. The previous retrograde ended on February 24, 2025 and the next begins on January 10, 2027.
When is the next Mars retrograde after 2026?
January 10 – April 1, 2027. Mars stations retrograde at 10°26′ Virgo and direct at 20°56′ Leo.
Why is there no Mars retrograde in 2026?
Mars is retrograde about every 26 months, for 9 to 12 weeks. Since that cycle is longer than a year, some calendar years fall entirely between two retrogrades, and 2026 is one of them.
Is Mars in a shadow period in 2026?
The pre-retrograde shadow of the next one begins on November 5, 2026, when Mars first crosses 20°56′ Leo, the degree where it will later turn direct. Astrologers treat that as the first hint of the themes to come.
Sources
The checkable facts on this page come from these external sources. The astrological interpretation is our own.
- Horizons System (planetary ephemeris service) · NASA Jet Propulsion LaboratoryMars in 2026, computed from JPL Horizons positions: no retrograde in this year
- Mars: Facts · NASA ScienceA year on Mars lasts 687 Earth days
- What does it mean for Mercury to be in retrograde? · NASARetrograde motion is an apparent change in a planet's movement through the sky; the planet does not physically move backwards in its orbit
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AstraLink content is written by our editorial team, reviewed for astrological accuracy, and refreshed as the sky moves. Interpretations are for reflection and entertainment; they are not medical, legal or financial advice.