Quick Answer: Venus turned retrograde on October 3, 2026 at 8°29′ Scorpio and stations direct on November 14, 2026 at 00:30 UTC (the evening of November 13 in the Americas) at 22°51′ Libra. During the retrograde Venus meets the Sun on October 24 and slips back into Libra on October 25. The shadow period began on August 31 and ends on December 16, 2026. Venus retrogrades about every 18 months; the next one runs from May 10 to June 22, 2028 in Gemini.
Mercury retrograde gets talked about three or four times a year, but Venus retrograde is far rarer. Venus turns backward roughly once every 584 days, about every 18 months, and the retrograde lasts around forty days. The 2026 Venus retrograde is happening right now: it began in the deep water of Scorpio and will end in the balancing air of Libra. This guide gives the dates day by day and degree by degree, and explains why love, values, and money come back to the table during these forty days.
Venus Retrograde 2026 at a Glance
The dates come from an ephemeris calculation of planetary positions in the tropical zodiac, cross-checked against published calendars, and are given in UTC. In American time zones the direct station falls on the evening of November 13.
| Phase | Date (2026) | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| Shadow period begins | August 31 | 22°51′ Libra |
| Venus enters Scorpio | September 10 | 0° Scorpio |
| Retrograde begins | October 3 | 8°29′ Scorpio |
| Conjunction with the Sun | October 24 | 0°44′ Scorpio |
| Venus moves back into Libra | October 25 | 29° Libra |
| Stations direct | November 14 (00:30 UTC) | 22°51′ Libra |
| Venus re-enters Scorpio | December 4 | 0° Scorpio |
| Shadow period ends | December 16 | 8°29′ Scorpio |
What stands out in this calendar is the overlap of two retrogrades: Mercury also turns retrograde in Scorpio on October 24 and stations direct on November 13. You can find the details in the Mercury retrograde 2026 calendar. From late October to mid-November, both the planet of communication and the planet of relationships move backward at the same time.
Why Does Venus Appear to Move Backward?
Venus never actually reverses. It orbits on a track closer to the Sun than ours and periodically overtakes the Earth on the inside. During that pass, seen from Earth, the planet appears to slide backward against the stars for a few weeks. At the midpoint of the retrograde Venus passes between the Sun and the Earth; this is called the inferior conjunction, and in 2026 it falls on October 24. Around these days Venus vanishes from the evening sky and, a few days later, reappears in the east as the morning star.
Astrology reads this astronomical cycle as the topics Venus rules turning inward: love, attraction, harmony, pleasure, values, and money.
The Scorpio Phase: October 3 to 25
The first three weeks of the retrograde unfold in Scorpio. Scorpio is the sign of intimacy, trust, shared resources, and buried feelings. As Venus moves backward here, what lies beneath the surface comes into view: an unspoken hurt, jealousy, who controls what in a relationship, or questions of shared money.
This period is famous for the return of an ex, but the real subject is not the person who returns; it is the mark that relationship left on you. It is a good time to see what you are still carrying and why.
The Libra Phase: October 25 to November 14
Venus moves back into Libra on October 25. Libra is Venus’s own sign and stands for fairness, balance, partnership, and beauty. In this second half of the retrograde the question shifts to: is what I give in this relationship in balance with what I receive? Agreements, the terms of partnerships, the ways you compromise, and how you present yourself all come up for review.
Venus stations direct on November 14 at 22°51′ Libra. That is the very degree where the shadow period began on August 31. Venus retraces the path it walked in early September, then walks it a third time, and the cycle closes on December 16 when it reaches 8°29′ Scorpio, the degree where the retrograde began.
What to Do and What to Avoid
Venus retrograde is not a list of prohibitions; it is a period of reassessment. An approach that works in practice:
Good uses of this time
- Talking openly about the balance in your current relationships and having a conversation you have put off.
- Reviewing your budget, shared expenses, and what you actually spend money on.
- Returning to an old hobby or an unfinished creative project.
- Reflecting on how you value yourself, your boundaries, and what you say yes to.
Better to postpone
- Big aesthetic changes that are hard to undo: a radical haircut, a tattoo, a cosmetic procedure.
- Expensive luxury purchases made on impulse.
- Major relationship decisions made in a hurry; your perspective may shift once the retrograde ends.
These suggestions reflect astrological tradition, not obligations. If a real-life decision is needed, make it; simply give it more thought.
Where Does Venus Retrograde Fall in Your Birth Chart?
The retrograde is not expected to touch the same area for everyone. Whichever house of your birth chart holds the zone from 8° Scorpio back to 22° Libra is where the retrograde is felt most. If you have natal planets near these degrees, especially Venus, the Sun, the Moon, or the Ascendant, the effect is more personal. When relationships are the question, reading two charts side by side says more; the synastry guide is a good place to start.
The Next Venus Retrograde: 2028
Venus’s next retrograde begins on May 10, 2028 at 19°41′ Gemini and ends on June 22, 2028 at 3°10′ Gemini. Its shadow period runs from April 7 to July 26, 2028. This Gemini retrograde will bring communication, curiosity, and the weight of words in relationships to the foreground.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Venus retrograde 2026 end?
Venus stations direct on November 14, 2026 at 00:30 UTC at 22°51′ Libra. In American time zones that moment falls on the evening of November 13. The shadow period ends on December 16, 2026, when Venus reaches 8°29′ Scorpio, the degree where the retrograde began.
How often does Venus go retrograde?
Venus turns retrograde about once every 584 days, roughly every 18 months, and each retrograde lasts 40 to 43 days. The 2025 retrograde ran between Aries and Pisces, the 2026 one between Scorpio and Libra, and the 2028 one will be in Gemini.
Do exes come back during Venus retrograde?
That is the theme most associated with Venus retrograde, but it is not a rule. The retrograde brings past relationships and the feelings they left behind back to the surface. If someone does return, the healthiest use of this time is to remember honestly why that relationship ended.
Is it bad to get married or engaged during Venus retrograde?
Astrological tradition advises against starting new commitments during the retrograde, because expectations can change once Venus turns direct. It is not a prohibition, though. If the date is already set, talking openly about balance and expectations in the relationship is a preparation very much in the spirit of this period.
Are Venus retrograde and Mercury retrograde happening at the same time?
Partly, yes, in 2026. Venus turns retrograde on October 3 and Mercury on October 24; Mercury stations direct on November 13 and Venus on November 14. For about three weeks both planets move backward together. The Mercury retrograde survival guide can help you meet that stretch calmly.
Venus retrograde is a rare pause in which you ask again what you love and why. It looks deep in Scorpio, weighs the balance in Libra, and by mid-December leaves you with a clearer heart. Mark the dates on your calendar, let big decisions sit a little longer, and use these forty days not as lost time but as a season for refreshing your values.
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