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Jupiter Retrograde 2026: exact dates, shadow periods and meaning

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In 2026 Jupiter is retrograde 2 times: November 11, 2025 – March 11; December 13 – April 13, 2027. Below: exact station times, signs and degrees, and the shadow of each loop. All times are UTC.

Period 1: November 11, 2025 – March 11

Retrograde
— · 119 days
Signs
Cancer
Arc
from 25°09′ Cancer back to 15°05′ Cancer
Pre-shadow
from · 86 days
Post-shadow
until · 88 days
Whole loop with shadow
293 days
  1. Jupiter — enters the pre-shadow (degree of the coming direct station)
  2. Jupiter — stations retrograde in Cancer (25°09′)
  3. Jupiter — opposition to the Sun — the middle of the loop
  4. Jupiter — stations direct in Cancer (15°05′)
  5. Jupiter — leaves the post-shadow (degree of the retrograde station)

Period 2: December 13 – April 13, 2027

Retrograde
— · 121 days
Signs
Leo
Arc
from 27°01′ Leo back to 16°59′ Leo
Pre-shadow
from · 87 days
Post-shadow
until · 89 days
Whole loop with shadow
297 days
  1. Jupiter — enters the pre-shadow (degree of the coming direct station)
  2. Jupiter — stations retrograde in Leo (27°01′)
  3. Jupiter — opposition to the Sun — the middle of the loop
  4. Jupiter — stations direct in Leo (16°59′)
  5. Jupiter — leaves the post-shadow (degree of the retrograde station)

How often and how long

From the ephemeris 2000–2050: Jupiter turns retrograde on average 0.92 times a year (a new period every 398 days on median); one period lasts 118–124 days, the whole loop with the shadow 285–300 days.

What Jupiter retrograde means

Jupiter retrograde is an apparent backward motion of the planet as seen from Earth — Jupiter does not actually reverse its orbit. According to Vronsky, this phase lasts about four months and affects a small arc of the zodiac. Because Jupiter is a social planet rather than a personal one, its retrograde is less noticeable in everyday personal life and more in social spheres: education, culture, law, politics, public affairs, and business expansion.

Jupiter retrograde in 2026: dates and signs

In 2026, Jupiter is retrograde twice, both times in the sign of Cancer, then Leo.

  • • First retrograde: from November 11, 2025, to March 11, 2026, in Cancer (119 days). The opposition to the Sun — the midpoint of this retrograde — occurs on January 10, 2026.
  • • Second retrograde: from December 13, 2026, to April 13, 2027, in Leo (121 days). The opposition to the Sun occurs on February 11, 2027.

These are longer than average retrograde periods: the typical duration is 118–124 days, and the median interval between retrograde starts is about 398 days. In 2026, the two retrogrades are unusually close together, making the year a strong period for Jupiter-related review.

The shadow periods

The shadow periods are the phases before and after the retrograde when Jupiter passes over the same degrees of the zodiac that it will later revisit. These are times when themes of the retrograde begin to emerge and then gradually resolve.

  • • First loop (Cancer): pre-shadow from August 17, 2025; post-shadow until June 6, 2026. The whole loop with shadow lasts 293 days.
  • • Second loop (Leo): pre-shadow from September 17, 2026; post-shadow until July 11, 2027. The whole loop lasts 297 days.

During the pre-shadow, you may notice early signs of issues that will become central during the retrograde. The post-shadow is the period when you can integrate what you have learned and move forward more confidently.

How to work with this period

According to Vronsky, the retrograde Jupiter is a good time to return to unfinished business: revise plans, correct mistakes, and try alternative approaches. Instead of launching new ventures, it is wiser to double-check existing arrangements — contracts, budgets, study plans, or legal matters.

Practical suggestions for the 2026 retrogrades:

  • • Review rather than expand: postpone major business launches or large investments until Jupiter is direct again. If you must proceed, do so with extra caution and thorough research.
  • • Revisit old projects: this is an excellent time to resume a stalled course, a dissertation, a certification, or a community initiative that felt unfinished.
  • • Clarify legal and financial obligations: if you have debts, lawsuits, or contracts, use this period to renegotiate or settle them. Hidden issues may surface — better to address them now.

FAQ

When is Jupiter retrograde in 2026?

Jupiter is retrograde in 2026: from November 11, 2025 16:41 to March 11 03:30 (Cancer); from December 13 00:57 to April 13, 2027 02:11 (Leo) (UTC).

When are the Jupiter retrograde shadow periods in 2026?

from August 17, 2025 to June 6 (the whole loop 293 days); from September 17 to July 11, 2027 (the whole loop 297 days). The pre-shadow starts when the planet passes the degree of its coming direct station; the post-shadow ends when it gets back to the degree of the retrograde station.

How long does Jupiter retrograde last?

In 2026: 119 days, 121 days. From the ephemeris 2000–2050: 118–124 days, on average 0.92 times a year; the whole loop with the shadow 285–300 days.

Where does this fall in your chart?

The dates are the same for everyone; the house and aspects are yours alone. A free natal chart and personal transits show which area of your life it touches.

Get my free chartPersonal transits →
Sources
  • Вронский — Вронский, т.12 «Транзитология III»
  • Вронский — Вронский, т.11 «Транзитология II»
  • Robert Hand — Horoscope Symbols

Dates, times, signs and degrees are computed with the Swiss Ephemeris.

Jupiter Retrograde 2026: exact dates, shadow periods and meaning — AstralRead