Mars Retrograde
About every two years Mars appears to move backwards through the zodiac for two to two and a half months — the retrograde astrologers tie to drive, anger and ambition. Here are the exact dates in your own time zone, the shadow period on either side, what Mars retrograde means, and everything our astrologers have written about it.
Is Mars retrograde right now?
No
Next: – , in Virgo and Leo.
Every Mars retrograde, 2026–2027
Mars turns retrograde about every 26 months and stays retrograde for around ten weeks, so most years have one Mars retrograde or none. Times are shown in your own time zone with the exact degree of each station; where a cycle crosses a sign boundary, the arrow shows it.
2026
2027
| Signs | Turns retrograde | Turns direct |
|---|---|---|
| VirgoLeoNext | , · 10°26′ VirgoPre-shadow from | , · 20°56′ LeoPost-shadow until |
What our astrologers wrote about Mars retrograde
Our astrologers are writing about Mars retrograde now — their pieces will appear here as they publish.
Mars never actually moves backwards
What you see is an optical effect, not a real reversal. Mars sits outside Earth's orbit and takes almost two years to circle the Sun. Every 26 months Earth, on the faster inside track, catches up with Mars and overtakes it — and for about ten weeks around that pass Mars appears to stop, slide backwards against the stars and then move forward again. The motion is real and predictable; what it means for your drive is a matter of belief.
Mars retrograde is also when Mars is closest to Earth and brightest in the night sky: the overtaking happens at opposition, when Mars rises at sunset and glows red all night.
So why does it look like it does?
Because we watch Mars from a moving Earth. As we overtake it on our smaller, faster orbit — like passing a slower car on the motorway — our line of sight to Mars runs forward, doubles back, then runs forward again. Here is the same motion drawn out.
The Mars retrograde shadow period
Every retrograde has a shadow on either side: the stretch of zodiac Mars crosses three times. The pre-retrograde shadow begins when Mars first reaches the degree where it will later turn direct; the post-retrograde shadow ends when it gets back to the degree where it turned retrograde. For Mars each shadow lasts about two months, so the whole cycle runs around seven months. Many astrologers feel the slowdown begin in the pre-shadow and momentum return in the post-shadow.
- 1. Pre-shadow begins,
- 2. Turns retrograde,
- 3. Turns direct,
- 4. Post-shadow ends,
What to expect during Mars retrograde
Mars retrograde is traditionally a time to redirect energy rather than push harder. Plans stall, tempers run shorter and old conflicts can flare up again; motivation may dip just when you want to charge ahead.
Astrologers usually suggest finishing projects you've already started, rethinking strategy before launching something new, and channelling frustration into steady effort — training, repairs, the long job you keep postponing. Hold off on picking fights you don't need to win.
Which house Mars retrograde falls in for you
The same retrograde lands in a different house of every birth chart, and the house shows which part of life it stirs up — work, home, money, love, friendships. This time Mars turns retrograde at 10°26′ Virgo and backs up to 20°56′ Leo. Build your birth chart and find the house that holds those degrees: that is where this retrograde asks you to slow down and review.
Mars retrograde by sign
Each Mars retrograde falls in one or two signs, and each sign stirs up slightly different things. The date shows the next time Mars is retrograde there.
| Sign | What tends to come up | Next time |
|---|---|---|
| Aries | Impatience, rash moves and fights over who goes first | Sep 2052 |
| Taurus | Stubborn stand-offs, money pressure and slow progress | Oct 2037 |
| Gemini | Scattered energy, sharp words and too many projects | Oct 2037 |
| Cancer | Family tension, moods at home and passive anger | Nov 2039 |
| Leo | Bruised pride, creative blocks and power plays | Jan 2027 |
| Virgo | Overwork, nit-picking and routines that wear you out | Jan 2027 |
| Libra | Relationship friction and conflict avoided until it boils over | Feb 2029 |
| Scorpio | Power struggles, grudges and all-or-nothing pushes | Mar 2031 |
| Sagittarius | Restless plans, overreach and heated debates | May 2033 |
| Capricorn | Career ambition, clashes with authority and grinding effort | May 2033 |
| Aquarius | Group tension, rebellion and causes that stall | Jul 2050 |
| Pisces | Low energy, avoidance and quiet resentment | Aug 2035 |
Mars retrograde FAQ
When does this Mars retrograde end?
Mars isn't retrograde right now. The next Mars retrograde runs from , to , , with its shadow from to .
What does Mars retrograde mean?
In astrology Mars is drive, courage and anger. When it turns retrograde that energy is read as turning inward: action slows, frustrations from the past resurface, and the weeks favour strategy over force. Astronomically, it simply means Earth is overtaking Mars.
How often does Mars go retrograde, and how long does it last?
About every 26 months, for roughly two to two and a half months, with a shadow of about two months on either side. It is the least frequent retrograde of the planets on these pages.
Is Mars retrograde a bad time to start a new project or workout?
It's traditionally a better time to rework and finish than to launch, and to train for endurance rather than records. If a new start can't wait, give it a slower ramp-up and expect to revisit the plan once Mars turns direct.
What is the Mars retrograde shadow period?
The shadow is the stretch of zodiac Mars covers three times: once before it turns retrograde (the pre-retrograde shadow), once retrograde, and once after it turns direct (the post-retrograde shadow). For Mars the whole cycle runs around seven months.
Why does Mars look so bright during its retrograde?
Because Mars is retrograde exactly when Earth passes it — the point where the two planets are closest. Around the middle of every Mars retrograde, Mars reaches opposition: it rises at sunset, stays up all night and shines brighter than at any other time in its cycle.
Why do different sites show different dates?
Two reasons: time zones, and whether a site counts the shadow period. A station that falls near midnight lands on different calendar days around the world, and sites that include the shadow show a longer window. Our dates are computed from planetary ephemerides to the minute and shown in your own time zone.