Both stations in Aries
Saturn retrograde
July 2026.
Saturn stations retrograde at 14°45′ Aries on July 26, 2026 at 19:56 UTC and stations direct at 7°56′ Aries on December 10, 2026 at 23:31 UTC. Pre-shadow begins April 20, 2026 at 12:17 UTC, the opposition is October 4, 2026 at 12:29 UTC, at 11°18′ Aries, and post-shadow ends March 15, 2027 at 06:51 UTC.
Dates below are UTC, to the minute.
Station dates
The five moments of the July 2026 Saturn cycle. Both stations are in Aries. The retrograde lasts 137 days.
| Phase | UTC | Your time | Degree |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow starts | Apr 20, 2026 · 12:17 | UTC only | — |
| Station retrograde | Jul 26, 2026 · 19:56 | UTC only | 14°45′ Aries |
| Opposition (opposite the Sun) | Oct 4, 2026 · 12:29 | UTC only | 11°18′ Aries |
| Station direct | Dec 10, 2026 · 23:31 | UTC only | 7°56′ Aries |
| Post-shadow ends | Mar 15, 2027 · 06:51 | UTC only | — |
The opposition is the minute Saturn stands opposite the Sun in ecliptic longitude, in the middle of the retrograde. Around it Saturn rises at sunset and is up all night. How these are timed.
Signs and degrees
Saturn retraces 6°49′ of the zodiac: it stations retrograde at 14°45′ Aries and backs up to 7°56′ Aries before it stations direct. The whole loop stays in Aries. Saturn first reaches 7°56′ Aries on April 20, 2026, 97 days before the station, and clears 14°45′ Aries again on March 15, 2027, 95 days after it turns direct: 329 days on these degrees in all. The opposition falls on day 71 of 137, at 11°18′ Aries.
The last Saturn retrograde station in Aries before this one was July 13, 2025 at 04:07 UTC, at 1°56′ Aries. The next one is August 9, 2027 at 18:06 UTC, at 27°53′ Aries.
What to do in each phase
| Phase | Dates | Traditional focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow | Apr 20, 2026 – Jul 26, 2026 | Meet deadlines and put structures in place. |
| Retrograde | Jul 26, 2026 – Dec 10, 2026 | Audit duties, rules and long-term plans; repair weak foundations. |
| Opposition | Oct 4, 2026 · 12:29 | Saturn at its brightest: a checkpoint for long goals. |
| Post-shadow | Dec 10, 2026 – Mar 15, 2027 | Recommit to the structures that held up. |
Compared with the previous cycle
| July 2025 | This cycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Station retrograde | Jul 13, 2025 · 1°56′ Aries | Jul 26, 2026 · 14°45′ Aries |
| Station direct | Nov 28, 2025 · 25°09′ Pisces | Dec 10, 2026 · 7°56′ Aries |
| Signs | Aries → Pisces | Aries |
| Length | 138 days | 137 days |
| Retrograde arc | 6°47′ | 6°49′ |
Saturn moves direct for 240 days between the two retrogrades. This one lasts 137 days, 1 day shorter than the July 2025 cycle, and its retrograde station sits 12°49′ further along the zodiac than the previous one.
Other planets retrograde at the same time
Between July 26, 2026 at 19:56 UTC and December 10, 2026 at 23:31 UTC, 5 other planets are retrograde for at least part of the time:
- Mercury in Scorpio, Oct 24, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026
- Venus in Scorpio and Libra, Oct 3, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026
- Uranus in Gemini, Sep 10, 2026 to Feb 8, 2027
- Neptune in Aries, Jul 7, 2026 to Dec 12, 2026
- Pluto in Aquarius, May 6, 2026 to Oct 16, 2026
Questions
When is Saturn retrograde in July 2026?
Saturn stations retrograde at 14°45′ Aries on July 26, 2026 at 19:56 UTC and stations direct at 7°56′ Aries on December 10, 2026 at 23:31 UTC. Pre-shadow begins April 20, 2026 at 12:17 UTC, the opposition is October 4, 2026 at 12:29 UTC, at 11°18′ Aries, and post-shadow ends March 15, 2027 at 06:51 UTC.
When does the July 2026 Saturn retrograde end?
Saturn stations direct on December 10, 2026 at 23:31 UTC, at 7°56′ Aries, and post-shadow ends March 15, 2027 at 06:51 UTC.
When is the Saturn opposition in this retrograde?
The opposition is October 4, 2026 at 12:29 UTC, at 11°18′ Aries.
How long is this Saturn retrograde?
137 days from station to station in UTC calendar days, from July 26, 2026 at 19:56 UTC to December 10, 2026 at 23:31 UTC.
What sign is Saturn retrograde in, July 2026?
In Aries: both stations fall in the same sign, at 14°45′ Aries on July 26, 2026 at 19:56 UTC and at 7°56′ Aries on December 10, 2026 at 23:31 UTC.
When is the shadow of the July 2026 Saturn retrograde?
Pre-shadow runs 97 days, from April 20, 2026 at 12:17 UTC to the retrograde station; post-shadow runs 95 days, from the direct station to March 15, 2027 at 06:51 UTC. With the shadow, the cycle spans 329 days.
How does this Saturn retrograde compare with the previous one?
The previous one, July 2025, ran from July 13, 2025 at 04:07 UTC to November 28, 2025 at 03:52 UTC and lasted 138 days; this one lasts 137 days. Saturn moves direct for 240 days in between.
When was Saturn last retrograde in Aries?
The last Saturn retrograde station in Aries before this one was July 13, 2025 at 04:07 UTC, at 1°56′ Aries. The next one is August 9, 2027 at 18:06 UTC, at 27°53′ Aries.
Which other planets are retrograde during the July 2026 Saturn retrograde?
Between July 26, 2026 at 19:56 UTC and December 10, 2026 at 23:31 UTC: Mercury in Scorpio, Oct 24, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026, Venus in Scorpio and Libra, Oct 3, 2026 to Nov 14, 2026, Uranus in Gemini, Sep 10, 2026 to Feb 8, 2027, Neptune in Aries, Jul 7, 2026 to Dec 12, 2026, and Pluto in Aquarius, May 6, 2026 to Oct 16, 2026.
What should I do during this Saturn retrograde?
From July 26, 2026 at 19:56 UTC to December 10, 2026 at 23:31 UTC: Audit duties, rules and long-term plans; repair weak foundations.
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