Mercury’s next retrograde in 2026 starts on February 26, 2026 (in Pisces).

Quick Scoop: What You Probably Mean by “Start”

There are two common answers to “when did Mercury retrograde start”:

  • Official retrograde phase:
    • Begins when Mercury actually appears to move backward in the sky.
    • For the first 2026 cycle, that date is February 26, 2026 , lasting until March 20, 2026.
  • Shadow (pre-retrograde) phase:
    • Many astrologers say the “energy” starts earlier, during the pre‑shadow , when Mercury first hits the degree it will later retrograde back to.
    • For this same 2026 cycle, the pre‑shadow starts around February 11, 2026 , so some people feel Mercury retrograde “started” then.

So, if someone online says “we’re already in Mercury retrograde energy,” they may be talking about that pre‑shadow window rather than the strict astronomical retrograde dates.

Mini Timeline (First 2026 Cycle)

  • Pre‑shadow begins: February 11, 2026
  • Retrograde begins (exact): February 26, 2026
  • Retrograde ends: March 20, 2026
  • Post‑shadow ends: April 9, 2026

If your question was about another year (like a past Mercury retrograde), tell me the year and I can pin down that specific start date too. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.