When does Mercury Retrograde 2026 end? How long the astrological event will last and its meaning explained

THE second Mercury Retrograde of the year is finally drawing to a close, and astrology followers will be relieved to hear it is almost over. Here is everything you need to know about when it ends, what it means, and when the next one is due. When Mercury is in Retrograde, astrologers believe it causes problems on Earth Credit: Alamy An illustration showing how Mercury Retrograde occurs from Earth’s perspective How long does Mercury Retrograde 2026 last? This Retrograde period began on June 29 and is due to end on July 23. Precise astronomical calculations put the exact moment Mercury “turns” at around 11.57pm that night, meaning the planet remains in Retrograde for virtually the entire day. Sign up for the Fabulous newsletter Thank you! Even once Mercury turns, astrologers say its effects do not disappear overnight. A so-called shadow period follows, during which Mercury retraces the same path it covered while Retrograde. read more on relationships This particular post-shadow phase – the time Mercury takes to return to the celestial position it occupied when the retrograde began – is expected to run until the early hours of August 7. What does Mercury Retrograde mean? Astrologers believe Mercury is the planet of communication, thinking, travel, and technology. It matches up to Hermes, the messenger of the gods in Greek mythology, who was prone to trickery. When Mercury appears to move backwards in the sky, it is said to play tricks on us too. Most read in Fabulous The current Mercury Retrograde has been blamed by believers for a run of mixed-up messages, delayed journeys and general chaos since the end of June. It is taking place in the sign of Cancer, with astrologers suggesting its themes lean towards family, home and emotional matters in particular, on top of the problems and glitches traditionally associated with Mercury Retrograde. Believers are often advised to avoid signing major contracts, launching new projects or making big purchases during a Retrograde. They are instead urged to use the time to review, reflect and double-check details rather than push forward with new plans. But Mercury Retrograde doesn’t actually create problems – it is just believed to expose what’s already fragile. In astronomical terms, Mercury does not actually physically stop or change direction in space. The apparent backward movement is an optical illusion caused by Mercury moving faster in its inner orbit around the sun than Earth. It is similar to how a faster car overtaking you on a motorway can briefly seem to slip backward against the distant scenery as it draws level, before pulling ahead again. When are the other Mercury Retrogrades in 2026? This is the second of three Mercury Retrogrades in 2026. The first ran from February 26 to March 20 in the sign of Pisces. Meanwhile, the third and final of the year is due to begin on October 24 and end on November 13, this time in Scorpio. All three of this year’s Retrogrades fall in water signs, which astrologers say happens periodically as Mercury’s Retrograde cycles move through the zodiac. Some suggest this may add an emotional undercurrent to the year’s three Retrograde periods, particularly around relationships and self-understanding. Comment now