Both stations in Pisces
Mercury retrograde
February 2026.
Mercury stations retrograde at 22°34′ Pisces on February 26, 2026 at 06:48 UTC and stations direct at 8°29′ Pisces on March 20, 2026 at 19:33 UTC. Pre-shadow begins February 11, 2026 at 22:12 UTC, the cazimi is March 7, 2026 at 11:02 UTC, at 16°53′ Pisces, and post-shadow ends April 9, 2026 at 11:42 UTC.
Dates below are UTC, to the minute.
Station dates
The five moments of the February 2026 Mercury cycle. Both stations are in Pisces. The retrograde lasts 22 days.
| Phase | UTC | Your time | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow starts | Feb 11, 2026 · 22:12 | UTC only | — |
| Station retrograde | Feb 26, 2026 · 06:48 | UTC only | 22°34′ Pisces |
| Cazimi (Mercury–Sun) | Mar 7, 2026 · 11:02 | UTC only | 16°53′ Pisces |
| Station direct | Mar 20, 2026 · 19:33 | UTC only | 8°29′ Pisces |
| Post-shadow ends | Apr 9, 2026 · 11:42 | UTC only | — |
The cazimi is the inferior conjunction: Mercury passes between Earth and the Sun, in the middle of the retrograde. Mercury is within 17′ of the Sun from 07:38 to 14:25 UTC on March 7, 2026. How these are timed.
Signs and degrees
Mercury retraces 14°05′ of the zodiac: it stations retrograde at 22°34′ Pisces and backs up to 8°29′ Pisces before it stations direct. The whole loop stays in Pisces. Mercury first reaches 8°29′ Pisces on February 11, 2026, 15 days before the station, and clears 22°34′ Pisces again on April 9, 2026, 20 days after it turns direct: 57 days on these degrees in all. The cazimi falls on day 10 of 22, at 16°53′ Pisces.
The last Mercury retrograde station in Pisces before this one was February 17, 2020 at 00:54 UTC, at 12°53′ Pisces. The next one is February 9, 2027 at 17:36 UTC, at 5°59′ Pisces. Since 1900, the closest earlier station to 22°34′ Pisces came 125 years before, on February 26, 1901 at 12:17 UTC, at 22°06′ Pisces, 0°28′ away.
What to do in each phase
| Phase | Dates | Traditional focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow | Feb 11, 2026 – Feb 26, 2026 | Finish launches, back up devices, confirm travel and contract details. |
| Retrograde | Feb 26, 2026 – Mar 20, 2026 | Review, revise, reconnect. Read the fine print before you sign. |
| Cazimi | Mar 7, 2026 · 11:02 | A short, clear window inside the retrograde: set one fresh intention. |
| Post-shadow | Mar 20, 2026 – Apr 9, 2026 | Relaunch what was paused and send the revised version. |
Compared with the previous cycle
| November 2025 | This cycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Station retrograde | Nov 9, 2025 · 6°52′ Sagittarius | Feb 26, 2026 · 22°34′ Pisces |
| Station direct | Nov 29, 2025 · 20°42′ Scorpio | Mar 20, 2026 · 8°29′ Pisces |
| Signs | Sagittarius → Scorpio | Pisces |
| Length | 20 days | 22 days |
| Retrograde arc | 16°10′ | 14°05′ |
Mercury moves direct for 89 days between the two retrogrades. This one lasts 22 days, 2 days longer than the November 2025 cycle, and its retrograde station sits 105°42′ further along the zodiac than the previous one.
Other planets retrograde at the same time
Between February 26, 2026 at 06:48 UTC and March 20, 2026 at 19:33 UTC, one other planet is retrograde for at least part of the time:
- Jupiter in Cancer, Nov 11, 2025 to Mar 11, 2026
Moon during this cycle
Principal moon phases between pre-shadow on February 11, 2026 and the end of post-shadow on April 9, 2026. The third column follows your clock.
| Phase | UTC | Your time |
|---|---|---|
 New moon | Feb 17 · 12:00 | UTC only |
 First quarter | Feb 24 · 12:27 | UTC only |
 Full moon | Mar 3 · 11:37 | UTC only |
 Last quarter | Mar 11 · 09:38 | UTC only |
| New moon | Mar 19 · 01:22 | UTC only |
| First quarter | Mar 25 · 19:17 | UTC only |
| Full moon | Apr 2 · 02:11 | UTC only |
Moon photographs: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio. All moon phases, 2025–2030.
In the app
Cazimi uses these timestamps for status, the Phase Planner, notifications, and widgets. Cycle status, the daily action, planner, journal history, orbit, cazimi window, and the calendar through 2026 are free. The full Mercury Signal, cycle recap, widgets, playbook, and calendar through 2030 are Premium; the app shows current options and prices before purchase.
Questions
When is Mercury retrograde in February 2026?
Mercury stations retrograde at 22°34′ Pisces on February 26, 2026 at 06:48 UTC and stations direct at 8°29′ Pisces on March 20, 2026 at 19:33 UTC. Pre-shadow begins February 11, 2026 at 22:12 UTC, the cazimi is March 7, 2026 at 11:02 UTC, at 16°53′ Pisces, and post-shadow ends April 9, 2026 at 11:42 UTC.
When does the February 2026 Mercury retrograde end?
Mercury stations direct on March 20, 2026 at 19:33 UTC, at 8°29′ Pisces, and post-shadow ends April 9, 2026 at 11:42 UTC.
When is the Mercury cazimi in this retrograde?
The cazimi is March 7, 2026 at 11:02 UTC, at 16°53′ Pisces. Mercury is within 17′ of the Sun from 07:38 to 14:25 UTC on March 7, 2026.
How long is this Mercury retrograde?
22 days from station to station in UTC calendar days, from February 26, 2026 at 06:48 UTC to March 20, 2026 at 19:33 UTC.
What sign is Mercury retrograde in, February 2026?
In Pisces: both stations fall in the same sign, at 22°34′ Pisces on February 26, 2026 at 06:48 UTC and at 8°29′ Pisces on March 20, 2026 at 19:33 UTC.
When is the shadow of the February 2026 Mercury retrograde?
Pre-shadow runs 15 days, from February 11, 2026 at 22:12 UTC to the retrograde station; post-shadow runs 20 days, from the direct station to April 9, 2026 at 11:42 UTC. With the shadow, the cycle spans 57 days.
How does this Mercury retrograde compare with the previous one?
The previous one, November 2025, ran from November 9, 2025 at 19:02 UTC to November 29, 2025 at 17:38 UTC and lasted 20 days; this one lasts 22 days. Mercury moves direct for 89 days in between.
When was Mercury last retrograde in Pisces?
The last Mercury retrograde station in Pisces before this one was February 17, 2020 at 00:54 UTC, at 12°53′ Pisces. The next one is February 9, 2027 at 17:36 UTC, at 5°59′ Pisces.
Which other planets are retrograde during the February 2026 Mercury retrograde?
Between February 26, 2026 at 06:48 UTC and March 20, 2026 at 19:33 UTC: Jupiter in Cancer, Nov 11, 2025 to Mar 11, 2026.
What should I do during this Mercury retrograde?
From February 26, 2026 at 06:48 UTC to March 20, 2026 at 19:33 UTC: Review, revise, reconnect. Read the fine print before you sign.
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