Uranus Retrograde 2026: exact dates, shadow periods and meaning
Author: Viktor Balakirev · Published
In 2026 Uranus is retrograde 2 times: September 6, 2025 – February 4; September 10 – February 8, 2027. Below: exact station times, signs and degrees, and the shadow of each loop. All times are UTC.
Period 1: September 6, 2025 – February 4
- Retrograde
- — · 151 days
- Signs
- Gemini → Taurus
- Arc
- from 1°27′ Gemini back to 27°27′ Taurus
- Pre-shadow
- from · 108 days
- Post-shadow
- until · 107 days
- Whole loop with shadow
- 366 days
- Uranus — enters the pre-shadow (degree of the coming direct station)
- Uranus — sign change: Taurus → Gemini
- Uranus — stations retrograde in Gemini (1°27′)
- Uranus — sign change: Gemini → Taurus (backwards)
- Uranus — opposition to the Sun — the middle of the loop
- Uranus — stations direct in Taurus (27°27′)
- Uranus — sign change: Taurus → Gemini
- Uranus — leaves the post-shadow (degree of the retrograde station)
Period 2: September 10 – February 8, 2027
- Retrograde
- — · 151 days
- Signs
- Gemini
- Arc
- from 5°41′ Gemini back to 1°40′ Gemini
- Pre-shadow
- from · 108 days
- Post-shadow
- until · 107 days
- Whole loop with shadow
- 366 days
- Uranus — enters the pre-shadow (degree of the coming direct station)
- Uranus — stations retrograde in Gemini (5°41′)
- Uranus — opposition to the Sun — the middle of the loop
- Uranus — stations direct in Gemini (1°40′)
- Uranus — leaves the post-shadow (degree of the retrograde station)
How often and how long
From the ephemeris 2000–2050: Uranus turns retrograde on average 1 times a year (a new period every 370 days on median); one period lasts 149–154 days, the whole loop with the shadow 360–368 days.
What Uranus retrograde means
Uranus retrograde is an apparent backward motion of the planet as seen from Earth. It is not a physical reversal, but a visual effect of our relative orbits. According to Robert Hand, Uranus transits bring unusual, sudden, and unexpected experiences, challenging the rigid structures we build in life. During retrograde, this quality turns inward: instead of outer upheaval, the push for change becomes an inner review. Hand notes that retrogradation makes a planet operate more on a subjective level, so this period is less about external events and more about rethinking your relationship to freedom, novelty, and the unexpected.
Uranus retrograde in 2026: dates and signs
In 2026, there are two Uranus retrograde periods. The first begins on September 6, 2025, when Uranus stations retrograde in Gemini, and ends on February 4, 2026, when it stations direct in Taurus. This retrograde lasts 151 days. The second period starts on September 10, 2026, with a retrograde station in Gemini, and ends on February 8, 2027, also in Gemini, lasting another 151 days.
The sign changes are important. During the first retrograde, Uranus moves from Gemini back into Taurus on November 8, 2025, and then re-enters Gemini on April 26, 2026, while still in the post-shadow. The second retrograde stays entirely in Gemini, with no sign change.
The midpoint of each retrograde is marked by Uranus’s opposition to the Sun: on November 21, 2025, and November 25, 2026. These are moments when the inner and outer pulls of change are most intense—a good time to notice where you feel restless or compelled to break patterns.
The shadow periods
Each retrograde is surrounded by shadow periods, when Uranus is moving slowly and the themes of the retrograde begin to build and then fade. The first retrograde has a pre-shadow from May 20, 2025, until the retrograde station on September 6, 2025. During this time, you may sense an undercurrent of change, even before the apparent backward motion begins. The post-shadow lasts from February 4, 2026, until May 21, 2026, when Uranus returns to the degree of the retrograde station. The whole loop, including both shadows, spans 366 days.
The second retrograde follows a similar pattern: pre-shadow from May 25, 2026, to September 10, 2026; post-shadow from February 8, 2027, to May 26, 2027; the entire loop is 366 days.
How to work with this period
Use the retrograde as a natural pause for inner review. Instead of forcing external changes, ask yourself: What have I been avoiding? What old patterns are ready to be revised? Uranus asks for authenticity, but during retrograde, that call is quieter—more like a persistent whisper than a thunderclap.
Practical steps: revisit projects or ideas you set aside months ago. Reconsider a plan that felt too risky or too conventional. If you’re tempted to make a sudden move, wait until the retrograde ends and the post-shadow clears. During the stationary days, avoid launching new ventures; instead, double-check your motivations and timelines.
FAQ
When is Uranus retrograde in 2026?
Uranus is retrograde in 2026: from September 6, 2025 04:51 to February 4 02:33 (Gemini → Taurus); from September 10 18:27 to February 8, 2027 12:29 (Gemini) (UTC).
When are the Uranus retrograde shadow periods in 2026?
from May 20, 2025 to May 21 (the whole loop 366 days); from May 25 to May 26, 2027 (the whole loop 366 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 Uranus retrograde last?
In 2026: 151 days, 151 days. From the ephemeris 2000–2050: 149–154 days, on average 1 times a year; the whole loop with the shadow 360–368 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.
- Вронский — Вронский, т.11 «Транзитология II»
- Robert Hand — Horoscope Symbols
- Robert Hand — Planets in Transit: Life Cycles for Living
Dates, times, signs and degrees are computed with the Swiss Ephemeris.