Updated October 19, 2026. Positions calculated with astronomy-engine and checked against Swiss Ephemeris.
What Is Venus Retrograde?
Venus retrograde is the period of about six weeks, once every 19 months, when Venus appears to move backward through the zodiac as seen from Earth.
Venus never actually reverses. It orbits inside Earth's orbit and moves faster, so roughly every 584 days it catches up with us and passes between Earth and the Sun. For the weeks around that overtaking, our line of sight to Venus swings the other way against the background stars, and Venus seems to slide back along the ecliptic. The turning points are called stations: the station retrograde, where the backward motion begins, and the station direct, where it ends.
A Venus retrograde lasts 41 to 43 days, 42 on average, and Venus spends about 7% of the time retrograde. That makes it one of the rarer retrogrades. Mercury goes backward three times a year, Mars about every two years, and the outer planets for four or five months of every year.
In astrology, Venus rules love, attraction, beauty, pleasure, money and the things we value. The tradition reads a Venus retrograde as a time to review those things rather than to launch them: old relationships resurface, tastes shift, and spending habits get questioned. The astronomy is fixed and measurable; the meaning is interpretation, and this page keeps the two apart.
Venus Retrograde 2026: Dates, Times and Degrees
The 2026 Venus retrograde began on October 3 at 07:10 UTC, with Venus at 8°29′ Scorpio. It lasts 42 days and ends on November 14 at 00:20 UTC, when Venus stations direct at 22°52′ Libra. On October 25 Venus backs out of Scorpio into Libra, so this retrograde is split between a sign where Venus is weak and one it rules: Scorpio, where it is traditionally in detriment, and Libra, one of its two home signs.
The midpoint is October 24 at 03:33 UTC, when Venus passes between Earth and the Sun at 0°45′ Scorpio. Astronomers call this the inferior conjunction. Astrologers often treat it as the rebirth of Venus, because Venus leaves the evening sky here and returns a week or two later as the morning star. Many read the days around it as the turning point of the whole retrograde, when whatever surfaced in early October starts to make sense.
This Venus retrograde also overlaps a Mercury retrograde. Mercury turns retrograde in Scorpio on October 24, the same day as the conjunction, and turns direct on November 13, about eight hours before Venus does. For three weeks both personal planets are moving backward, which is why most commentary on autumn 2026 treats them together. Mercury's own dates and shadow are on our Mercury retrograde page.
Why do websites disagree by a day? Because the station direct falls at 00:20 UTC on November 14. That is still November 13 in the Americas (7:20 PM in New York, 4:20 PM in Los Angeles) and already November 14 in Europe, Africa and Asia. Both dates are right for the readers they were written for. The tracker above converts every time to your own time zone, and you can switch zones if you are planning for someone elsewhere.
Is There a Venus Retrograde in 2027?
No. There is no Venus retrograde in 2027. Because Venus turns retrograde only every 19 months or so, some calendar years have none, and 2027 is one of them. Venus stays direct from November 14, 2026 until May 10, 2028.
The next Venus retrograde starts on May 10, 2028 at 23:01 UTC (May 11 in much of Asia and Australia) at 19°41′ Gemini, and ends on June 22, 2028 at 3°11′ Gemini, one of the few that stays inside a single sign. After that come December 16, 2029 to January 26, 2030 in Capricorn, and July 20 to September 1, 2031 in Leo.
If you are planning a wedding, a large purchase or a launch around Venus, 2027 is a clear year. The full list from 2010 to 2034 is in the table further down.
The Venus Retrograde Shadow Period
A retrograde does not start and stop abruptly. Before the station retrograde, Venus first moves through the stretch of the zodiac it is about to cover backward; after the station direct, it has to cross the same stretch a third time before it is clear. Those two stretches are the shadow: the pre-retrograde shadow and the post-retrograde shadow.
In 2026 the shadow zone runs from 22°52′ Libra to 8°29′ Scorpio. Venus first reached 22°52′ Libra on August 31, the start of the pre-shadow. It went on to 8°29′ Scorpio, turned retrograde there on October 3, walked back to 22°52′ Libra by November 14, and returns to 8°29′ Scorpio on December 15, the end of the post-shadow. The full Venus retrograde cycle, shadows included, takes about three and a half months.
Astrologers read the pre-shadow as the time the themes first appear, often in small ways, and the post-shadow as the time they settle. The progress bar at the top of this page marks where today falls between those dates.
The 8-Year Venus Cycle: Why Retrogrades Repeat
Venus retrogrades follow one of the most regular rhythms in the sky. Five of them take almost exactly eight years: eight Earth years are 2,922 days, and five Venus cycles are 2,919.5 days. So every eight years Venus turns retrograde at nearly the same time of year and in nearly the same place.
The match is not perfect, and the difference is the interesting part. Each repeat lands about 2.3° earlier in the zodiac and two or three days earlier in the calendar. The current group shows it clearly: October 8, 2010 at 13°14′ Scorpio; October 5, 2018 at 10°50′ Scorpio; October 3, 2026 at 8°29′ Scorpio; and September 30, 2034 at 6°08′ Scorpio.
Joined in order, the five retrograde positions of each eight-year cycle draw a five-pointed star around the zodiac, the figure astrologers call the Venus pentagram or the rose of Venus. The chart below plots every Venus retrograde from 2010 to 2034 from our ephemeris: three nested stars, each turned slightly against the last.
Astrologers use the cycle to read the current retrograde: look back eight years. If October and November 2018 brought a relationship decision, a change in how you earned or spent money, or a new sense of what you would and would not accept, the 2026 Venus retrograde often returns to the same subject.
What Venus Retrograde Means for Love, Money and Values
Venus is the planet of what we are drawn to and what we hold on to: partners, friends, beauty, pleasure, possessions and money. In the traditional reading, a Venus retrograde turns that attention inward and backward. Instead of new attractions, people revisit old ones; instead of new purchases, they look hard at what they already own and why.
In love, that is why exes are the best-known Venus retrograde cliché. The more useful version is review: noticing a pattern in who you choose, saying what a relationship has been avoiding, or deciding whether a commitment still fits. Couples often find unfinished conversations coming to the surface; single people tend to meet someone who reminds them of someone else. Neither has to be dramatic.
With money and values, the review is practical. Subscriptions, debts, shared accounts and the things you buy to feel better all get a second look. Many astrologers suggest waiting on luxury purchases and big cosmetic changes, not because anything goes wrong, but because what you like may shift by December.
The 2026 retrograde has two chapters. While Venus is in Scorpio, from October 3 to 25, the review goes deep: intimacy, trust, jealousy, and money shared with others, from joint accounts to inheritances. Once Venus backs into Libra, from October 25 to November 14, the focus moves to fairness and partnership: who gives more, who decides, and how agreements are made. If either placement is in your birth chart, see Venus in Libra and Venus in Scorpio.
None of this forecasts trouble. Read it as an invitation to edit rather than add. How it plays out depends on your own chart, which the section at the top of this page reads for you; for relationships, a love reading or a synastry chart with a partner goes further.
Venus Retrograde Through the 12 Houses
Where a Venus retrograde lands in your life depends on your houses, which come from your birth time and place. This one covers the part of your chart that holds 22°52′ Libra to 8°29′ Scorpio: for most people one house, sometimes two. Here is what each house traditionally brings up during Venus retrograde. The section at the top of this page works out which applies to you, and our transit chart shows everything else moving through your chart right now.
| House | What comes up for review |
|---|---|
| 1st house | Your image and appearance. You may want to change your look; try it out before making it permanent. |
| 2nd house | Money, income and possessions. Spending and earning come up for review, and old debts or sources of income may return. |
| 3rd house | Conversations, siblings and neighbors. Old messages resurface, and a talk you postponed with someone close finally happens. |
| 4th house | Home and family. Decorating plans, family ties and the feeling of belonging come up for review. |
| 5th house | Romance, pleasure and creativity. A past flame or an abandoned creative project returns for a second look. |
| 6th house | Work and daily routine. Relationships with colleagues and your habits around food, rest and comfort need adjusting. |
| 7th house | Partnerships and marriage. The terms of a committed relationship or business partnership get renegotiated, or an ex returns. |
| 8th house | Intimacy and shared money. Trust, closeness and joint finances such as loans, taxes or inheritances are reviewed. |
| 9th house | Beliefs, travel and study. You return to a place, a teacher or an idea you once loved. |
| 10th house | Career and reputation. You ask whether your work reflects your values; a former employer or client may come back. |
| 11th house | Friends and groups. Old friendships reconnect, and you sort out which circles still feel like yours. |
| 12th house | The private and hidden. Feelings you have kept to yourself surface; quiet time suits rest and reflection. |
What to Do (and Avoid) During Venus Retrograde
Traditional astrology gives fairly consistent advice for a Venus retrograde. Treat it as guidance, not rules: people marry, buy and begin things during every retrograde, and life goes on.
Good uses of the time
- Review relationships honestly and have the conversations you have been putting off.
- Go through budgets, subscriptions and shared accounts, and settle old debts.
- Repair and return to what you already love: old music, old clothes, old friends.
- Notice what you are drawn to and write it down, then act on it after the station direct.
Traditionally avoided
- Drastic changes to your appearance, such as a big haircut, a tattoo or a cosmetic procedure.
- Rushing into a new relationship or a commitment you have not had time to test.
- Large luxury purchases you may not want once Venus is direct again.
- Signing a partnership agreement in a hurry, especially while Mercury is also retrograde (October 24 to November 13, 2026).
If a date can move, astrologers suggest waiting until after the station direct on November 14 (November 13 in the Americas), and ideally until the shadow ends on December 15.
Born With Venus Retrograde?
About 7% of people, roughly one in fourteen, were born while Venus was retrograde. You can check with just your birth date in the section at the top of this page; if you were born within a day of a station, add your birth time and place for a definite answer.
Astrologers read a natal Venus retrograde as an inward, independent relationship with love and value. People with this placement often take longer to trust their own taste, define beauty and worth on their own terms rather than by fashion, and revisit important relationships over the years. Some feel the Venus retrograde periods of later life more strongly; others hardly notice them. To see which sign your Venus is in, use the Venus sign calculator.
Every Venus Retrograde From 2010 to 2034
Here is every Venus retrograde from 2010 to 2034, calculated from our ephemeris, with the degree of both stations and the full shadow period. Dates follow the time zone you choose, and the current and next periods are highlighted.
| Retrograde | From → to | Shadow period |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 8 – Nov 18, 2010 | Scorpio 13°14′ → Libra 27°39′ | Shadow period: Sep 5 – Dec 20, 2010 |
| May 15 – Jun 27, 2012 | Gemini 23°59′ → Gemini 7°29′ | Shadow period: Apr 12 – Jul 31, 2012 |
| Dec 21, 2013 – Jan 31, 2014 | Capricorn 28°59′ → Capricorn 13°34′ | Shadow period: Nov 20, 2013 – Mar 4, 2014 |
| Jul 25 – Sep 6, 2015 | Virgo 0°46′ → Leo 14°23′ | Shadow period: Jun 21 – Oct 9, 2015 |
| Mar 4 – Apr 15, 2017 | Aries 13°09′ → Pisces 26°55′ | Shadow period: Jan 30 – May 18, 2017 |
| Oct 5 – Nov 16, 2018 | Scorpio 10°50′ → Libra 25°15′ | Shadow period: Sep 3 – Dec 18, 2018 |
| May 13 – Jun 25, 2020 | Gemini 21°50′ → Gemini 5°20′ | Shadow period: Apr 9 – Jul 29, 2020 |
| Dec 19, 2021 – Jan 29, 2022 | Capricorn 26°29′ → Capricorn 11°05′ | Shadow period: Nov 17, 2021 – Mar 2, 2022 |
| Jul 23 – Sep 4, 2023 | Leo 28°36′ → Leo 12°12′ | Shadow period: Jun 19 – Oct 7, 2023 |
| Mar 2 – Apr 13, 2025 | Aries 10°50′ → Pisces 24°37′ | Shadow period: Jan 28 – May 16, 2025 |
| Oct 3 – Nov 14, 2026Now | Scorpio 8°29′ → Libra 22°52′ | Shadow period: Aug 31 – Dec 15, 2026 |
| May 10 – Jun 22, 2028Next | Gemini 19°41′ → Gemini 3°11′ | Shadow period: Apr 7 – Jul 26, 2028 |
| Dec 16, 2029 – Jan 26, 2030 | Capricorn 24°02′ → Capricorn 8°38′ | Shadow period: Nov 15, 2029 – Feb 27, 2030 |
| Jul 20 – Sep 1, 2031 | Leo 26°26′ → Leo 10°01′ | Shadow period: Jun 16 – Oct 5, 2031 |
| Feb 27 – Apr 10, 2033 | Aries 8°32′ → Pisces 22°21′ | Shadow period: Jan 26 – May 13, 2033 |
| Sep 30 – Nov 11, 2034 | Scorpio 6°08′ → Libra 20°28′ | Shadow period: Aug 29 – Dec 13, 2034 |
A station near midnight can fall on different dates in different time zones, which is why published calendars sometimes differ by a day.
Other Planets in Retrograde
Venus is rarely retrograde alone. The timeline shows every planet's retrogrades in 2026 and 2027: Mercury three times a year, Mars from January 10 to April 1, 2027, and the outer planets for four to five months of every year. Because Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto spend a third or more of each year retrograde, astrologers give their retrogrades far less weight than those of Mercury, Venus and Mars.
For Mercury's dates, shadows and live status, see our Mercury retrograde tracker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Venus in retrograde right now?
Yes. Venus turned retrograde on October 3, 2026 and turns direct on November 14, 2026 (UTC). The tracker at the top of this page shows the exact times in your own time zone and how many days are left.
When is the next Venus retrograde?
After the 2026 Venus retrograde ends on November 14, 2026, the next one begins on May 10, 2028 (May 11 in parts of Asia and Australia) at 19°41′ Gemini and ends on June 22, 2028 at 3°11′ Gemini. There is none in 2027.
Is there a Venus retrograde in 2027?
No. Venus moves direct for all of 2027. The 2026 retrograde ends on November 14, 2026 (November 13 in the Americas), and the next one starts on May 10, 2028.
How long does Venus retrograde last?
Between 41 and 43 days, about six weeks. With the pre- and post-retrograde shadows the whole cycle takes about three and a half months. Venus retrograde comes around every 19 months on average.
What is the Venus retrograde shadow period?
The weeks before and after the retrograde when Venus moves through the same degrees it covers backward. In 2026 the shadow runs from August 31 to December 15, across 22°52′ Libra to 8°29′ Scorpio.
Is it bad to start a relationship during Venus retrograde?
Not necessarily. Traditional astrology advises patience rather than avoidance: feelings that start during a Venus retrograde can change once Venus turns direct, so give a new relationship time before making it official. Relationships that begin now often involve someone from the past or someone who feels familiar.
Can you get married during Venus retrograde?
Many astrologers avoid picking a wedding date during Venus retrograde, and many couples marry then anyway. If your date is still open, 2027 has no Venus retrograde at all. If it is fixed, astrologers look at the whole wedding chart rather than one planet.
What does it mean to be born with Venus retrograde?
About 7% of people have Venus retrograde in their birth chart. Astrologers read it as an inward, independent relationship with love, beauty and self-worth that deepens with age. You can check whether you have it with your birth date in the tool at the top of this page.
How We Calculate
Every date, time and degree on this page comes from our own calculation, not a copied table. We compute the apparent geocentric position of Venus with the astronomy-engine library, which is built on the VSOP87 planetary theory, and find each station as the moment its speed in ecliptic longitude changes sign. We then check the stations against Swiss Ephemeris, the reference behind most astrology software: across 32 stations from 2010 to 2035 the median difference is 2 minutes, the largest is 7 minutes, and the station degrees agree within 0.3′. Station moments are soft by nature because the planet is barely moving, which is also why published times differ by a few minutes.
The shadow dates are the moments Venus crosses the two station degrees, and the inferior conjunction is when Venus and the Sun share the same ecliptic longitude. Times are converted to your time zone in your browser. Daily positions for every planet are in our ephemeris.