Last updated 12 November
Mercury retrograde 2026: dates and what it means for meetings, contracts and conversations
Mercury retrograde 2026 describes periods when its apparent geocentric motion turns backward. Traditionally, this can feel like a time to revisit communication and unfinished conversations, not a reason to avoid a meeting or decision.
| Cycle / event | Brussels | UTC |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Pre-shadow | 11 Feb 2026, 23:13:29 CET | 11 Feb 2026, 22:13:29 UTC |
| 1 · Retrograde station | 26 Feb 2026, 07:47:42 CET | 26 Feb 2026, 06:47:42 UTC |
| 1 · Direct station | 20 Mar 2026, 20:36:32 CET | 20 Mar 2026, 19:36:32 UTC |
| 1 · Post-shadow ends | 9 Apr 2026, 13:41:28 CEST | 9 Apr 2026, 11:41:28 UTC |
| 2 · Pre-shadow | 13 Jun 2026, 02:54:34 CEST | 13 Jun 2026, 00:54:34 UTC |
| 2 · Retrograde station | 29 Jun 2026, 19:37:25 CEST | 29 Jun 2026, 17:37:25 UTC |
| 2 · Direct station | 24 Jul 2026, 00:54:49 CEST | 23 Jul 2026, 22:54:49 UTC |
| 2 · Post-shadow ends | 7 Aug 2026, 05:36:53 CEST | 7 Aug 2026, 03:36:53 UTC |
| 3 · Pre-shadow | 4 Oct 2026, 11:10:52 CEST | 4 Oct 2026, 09:10:52 UTC |
| 3 · Retrograde station | 24 Oct 2026, 09:11:15 CEST | 24 Oct 2026, 07:11:15 UTC |
| 3 · Direct station | 13 Nov 2026, 16:55:11 CET | 13 Nov 2026, 15:55:11 UTC |
| 3 · Post-shadow ends | 30 Nov 2026, 07:16:56 CET | 30 Nov 2026, 06:16:56 UTC |
What the dates mean
A station is a change in apparent motion, not the planet physically reversing its orbit. Pre-shadow begins at the longitude of the later direct station; post-shadow ends when the planet returns to its retrograde-station longitude.
A practical lens
Before a meeting, read the brief and clarify the question. For a contract, use your normal professional review; a planetary date cannot replace legal advice. After a conversation, record what was actually agreed.
During the return through the shadow, try a small next step and leave room to adjust. Your calendar, evidence and judgment remain the basis for decisions.
A few questions
Should I cancel a meeting?
No. Use the dates as a reflection on preparation and communication, not as instructions to cancel or move anything.
What is the shadow period?
It is the longitude range crossed before and after the backward motion. It is not another retrograde, and momentum can feel like it returns gradually.
Are the times exact?
The times are refined against Knowingli’s shared astronomical engine and displayed to the second. Stations use its apparent daily-motion convention; the precision does not make the symbolic meaning a fact.