Venus is retrograde from Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 3:15 AM ET to Friday, November 13, 2026, at 7:27 PM ET. The retrograde starts at 8° Scorpio, backs into Libra on October 25, and turns direct at 22° Libra. For most of that stretch Mercury is retrograde too, so the Samhain season of 2026 is a time to review what you love, what you value, and what you spend, rather than to start something brand new.
Venus Retrograde 2026 Dates
The full Venus retrograde cycle runs from August 31 to December 15, 2026, once you count the shadow periods on either side. All times below are Eastern; clocks fall back on November 1. Tap any date to see the sky at that moment on our astrology chart.
| Phase | Date and time (ET) | Venus position |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-shadow begins | Monday, August 31, 2026 | 22°51' Libra |
| Venus stations retrograde | Saturday, October 3, 3:15 AM EDT | 8°29' Scorpio |
| Sun conjunct Venus (the midpoint) | Friday, October 23, 11:43 PM EDT | 0°45' Scorpio |
| Venus backs into Libra | Sunday, October 25, 5:09 AM EDT | 29°59' Libra |
| Venus stations direct | Friday, November 13, 7:27 PM EST | 22°51' Libra |
| Venus re-enters Scorpio | Friday, December 4, 3:12 AM EST | 0° Scorpio |
| Post-shadow ends | Tuesday, December 15, 2026 | 8°29' Scorpio |
The retrograde itself lasts 41 days. The last Venus retrograde ran from March 1 to April 12, 2025, in Aries and Pisces. The next one runs from May 10 to June 22, 2028, in Gemini. To watch the retrograde happen, open today's astrology chart, jump to Venus retrograde and press Play.
What Is Venus Retrograde?
Venus retrograde is the stretch when Venus appears to move backward through the zodiac as seen from Earth. The planet never actually reverses. This apparent retrograde motion happens because Venus orbits closer to the Sun than we do and moves faster, so when it swings around the near side of its orbit and passes between Earth and the Sun, it looks like it slides backward against the stars.
That pass between Earth and the Sun is called the inferior conjunction. In 2026 it falls on October 23, right in the middle of the retrograde. Venus is closer to Earth then than at any other time in its cycle, about 41 million kilometers away. It is also lost in the Sun's glare. Before the conjunction, Venus shines as the evening star after sunset; afterward it rises as the morning star before dawn. Many astrologers read that switch as Venus being reborn, so October 23 is a natural night for a ritual.
How Often Does Venus Go Retrograde?
Venus goes retrograde about every 19 months, for roughly 40 to 43 days each time. That makes it the least frequent of the personal-planet retrogrades. Mercury goes retrograde three or four times a year, and Mars about every two years.
Venus Retrograde in Scorpio and Libra
This retrograde spends three weeks in Scorpio and three weeks in Libra, two signs that handle love very differently. In traditional rulership, Venus rules Libra and Taurus and is uncomfortable in Scorpio and Aries, so the retrograde starts in a hard place for Venus and ends in her home sign.
Venus Retrograde in Scorpio (October 3 to 25)
Venus retrograde in Scorpio turns attention to intimacy, trust, jealousy, and shared money. Scorpio does not do surface-level, so this is when old resentments, unspoken desires, and questions about who holds the power in a relationship tend to come up. It also lines up with Scorpio season and the run-up to Samhain, when the veil talk and ancestor work are already in the air.
Venus Retrograde in Libra (October 25 to November 13)
Venus retrograde in Libra turns attention to fairness, partnership, and balance. Libra wants things even, so the questions shift to give and take: who shows up, who compromises, and whether an agreement still feels fair. Libra is also a sign of beauty and harmony, which is why style and home decisions come up in this half.
Venus and Mercury Retrograde Together
Venus and Mercury are both retrograde from October 24 to November 13, 2026, and they turn direct on the same day, Friday, November 13. Mercury stations retrograde on October 24 at 20° Scorpio, one day after the Venus midpoint, and goes direct at 10:53 AM ET on November 13. Venus follows that evening at 7:27 PM.
With both planets backing up, conversations about love and money can get extra tangled: a text read the wrong way, a contract with a missed clause, an ex who suddenly writes. Samhain on October 31 falls in the middle of both retrogrades. Since Samhain is already a night for looking back and honoring what came before, the two fit together well.
What to Work On During Venus Retrograde
Venus retrograde is a time to review, revisit, and repair what you already have in love, money, and self-worth. Venus covers relationships, pleasure, beauty, and what we value, and the retrograde turns each of those inward. Here is where many practitioners put their attention:
- Relationships: Notice old patterns, have the honest conversation you have been putting off, and decide what a relationship needs from you now.
- Money and values: Review what you spend on and whether it matches what you value. Venus also governs possessions, so this is a good time to look over subscriptions, debts, and things you own but no longer care about.
- Self-worth: Notice where you shrink yourself to keep the peace. Many people find the retrograde brings back old stories about being "too much" or "not enough."
- Old loves and old friends: People from the past tend to resurface during a Venus retrograde. You can use the contact to close a chapter kindly, without promising to reopen it.
- Beauty and comfort: Return to the pleasures you used to love, like a scent, a recipe, or a song, rather than chasing new ones.
What Many Astrologers Suggest Waiting On
Many astrologers suggest waiting until Venus is direct, or better, out of shadow on December 15, before you make big new Venus decisions. Common examples are starting a new relationship, getting engaged or married, a dramatic haircut or cosmetic procedure, and large luxury purchases. Plenty of people do these things during a retrograde and are glad they did. The usual advice is that whatever you choose now, you may see it differently by mid-December.
Venus in Myth and History
People have tracked Venus's disappearances and returns for at least 3,500 years. The Babylonian Venus tablet of Ammisaduqa records 21 years of Venus risings and settings, and the Maya Dresden Codex holds tables that predict Venus's 584-day cycle with remarkable accuracy.
In Mesopotamia, the planet was the goddess Inanna, later called Ishtar. In her most famous story she descends into the underworld, is stripped of her jewels and garments at each of seven gates, and returns. Many modern astrologers connect that descent with the weeks Venus vanishes from the evening sky and comes back as the morning star. Greek and Roman tradition gave the planet to Aphrodite and Venus, the goddesses of love and beauty, which is where the astrological meaning comes from.
Venus also draws a shape. Its five inferior conjunctions over eight years fall at almost the same five points of the zodiac, tracing the pentagram of Venus. That is one reason the five-pointed star turns up so often in the witch symbols tied to Venus and the goddess.
A Venus Retrograde Ritual for Fridays
A Venus retrograde ritual is a short reflection you can repeat each Friday of the retrograde. Friday is the day of Venus in the magical days of the week, and this retrograde has seven of them: October 9, 16, 23 and 30, and November 6 and 13. October 23, the night Venus passes the Sun, and November 13, the night she turns direct, are the strongest.
You will need a pink or green candle (see candle color meanings for why), a piece of rose quartz, something copper if you have it, and a journal.
- Set up your space. Place the candle in a safe holder with the rose quartz and copper beside it. Copper is the traditional metal of Venus, and its name comes from Cyprus, the island of Aphrodite. The copper care guide covers how to keep it bright.
- Light the candle and settle. Take a few slow breaths and hold the rose quartz in your hand.
- Name the question. Say out loud, or write, the one area of love, money, or self-worth you want to look at during this retrograde.
- Write without editing. Spend ten minutes writing what you notice: the patterns, the old stories, what you miss, what you are tired of. A moon journal or spell journal works well for keeping these Fridays together.
- Choose one small repair. Pick one thing you can mend, return, finish, or forgive this week, and write it at the bottom of the page.
- Close. Thank Venus, and let the candle burn down safely or snuff it and relight it next Friday.
On November 13, read back through every Friday's page. The thread running through them is usually what the retrograde was about.
If you want something sweeter for a relationship that needs care, the honey jar spell pairs well with this ritual. Many practitioners start one once Venus is direct.
Crystals and Tools for Venus Retrograde
Rose quartz, copper, and pink or green candles are the classic Venus tools because each one is tied to the planet in traditional correspondences. Rose quartz is the stone of love and self-compassion in crystal practice. Copper is the metal of Venus. Green and pink are her colors. You can find rose quartz, copper pieces and love candles in the shop. For Mercury's half of the overlap, the crystals for Mercury retrograde guide covers the communication side.
Venus Retrograde FAQ
When is Venus retrograde in 2026?
Venus is retrograde from October 3, 2026, at 3:15 AM ET to November 13, 2026, at 7:27 PM ET. With the shadow periods, the whole cycle runs from August 31 to December 15, 2026.
What sign is Venus retrograde in 2026?
Venus retrograde 2026 starts at 8° Scorpio and moves back into Libra on October 25. It turns direct at 22° Libra on November 13.
How long does Venus retrograde last?
Venus retrograde lasts about 40 to 43 days. The 2026 retrograde lasts 41 days, from October 3 to November 13.
Is Venus retrograde bad for relationships?
Venus retrograde is not bad for relationships, but it tends to bring up what needs attention in them. Many people use it to have honest conversations, revisit old patterns, and decide what a relationship needs, and to hold off on brand-new commitments until Venus is direct.
Can you get married during Venus retrograde?
You can, and many couples do. Many astrologers suggest avoiding a Venus retrograde for weddings and engagements if you have a choice of dates, because Venus rules partnership. If your date is set, many practitioners mark it with a renewal of vows or a blessing once Venus is direct.
Do exes come back during Venus retrograde?
Exes and old loves often get in touch during a Venus retrograde, because the retrograde turns attention to the past. Whether to reconnect is your call. Many people use the contact to close a chapter rather than restart it.
Can you cut your hair during Venus retrograde?
You can, but many astrologers suggest saving dramatic changes to your look, like a big cut, a new color or a cosmetic procedure, until after November 13, because you may feel differently about the result once Venus is direct. Trims and upkeep are fine.
Does Venus retrograde affect money?
Venus retrograde turns attention to money because Venus rules what we value and own. It is a good time to review spending and finances, and many astrologers suggest holding off on large luxury purchases until Venus is direct.
What is the Venus retrograde shadow period?
The shadow period is the time before and after the retrograde when Venus crosses the same degrees it will retrace. In 2026 the pre-shadow runs from August 31 to October 3, and the post-shadow runs from November 13 to December 15.
Are Venus and Mercury retrograde at the same time in 2026?
Yes. Venus and Mercury are both retrograde from October 24 to November 13, 2026, and both turn direct on November 13.
Can you see Venus during the retrograde?
Venus is visible as the evening star in the first days of October, then disappears into the Sun's glare around the October 23 conjunction. It returns as a bright morning star in the east before sunrise, low at first in early November and easy to spot by mid-November.
When is the next Venus retrograde?
The next Venus retrograde runs from May 10 to June 22, 2028, in Gemini.
