First Mercury Retrograde of 2026 Begins February 26: Brace Yourself

Before you spiral into frustration—hasn’t this year already delivered enough challenges?—here’s how to navigate the year’s first (of three!) Mercury retrograde cycles.

First Mercury retrograde of 2026: February 26 to March 20

In this Article

• MERCURY RETROGRADE MEANING
• MERCURY RETROGRADE TIPS
• MERCURY RETROGRADE HOROSCOPES
• MERCURY RETROGRADE DATES

The first Mercury retrograde of 2026 Is in Pisces

Say what? The first of three Mercury retrogrades in 2026 begins on February 26 when the messenger planet, enjoying an in-progress visit to Pisces since February 10, spins backward in the compassionate sign until March 20.

Mercury retrograde effects

While the first Mercury retrograde of 2026 is in the Fish’s kaleidoscopic waters, few things are as they appear. Brace for crossed wires, false starts and missing details. Take nothing at face value, not even people’s enthusiastic promises or cheerful nods of approval. No matter how much you want situations to work out, you can’t force them. One thing spiritual Pisces understands is that “what’s meant to be, will be.”

If you really want to know what someone’s thinking, you’ll probably have to ask them outright. Even then, expect a little vagueness or mixed signals. When in doubt, take a beat to clarify, and keep your sense of humor handy. It’ll help you navigate these murky waters with minimal stress.

Patience and precision are your allies with Mercury retrograde in Pisces, so adjust your sails accordingly. While Mercury is reversed here, you can access a deep level of creativity and divine inspiration that supports rapid growth once the retrograde ends.

Until then: back up all your important data, switch to stronger passwords and submit any lingering paperwork now! 

What are good things to do during Mercury retrograde?

Observe what’s going on inside of you during the first Mercury retrograde of 2026. How do you deal with waiting for an answer: Are you anxious? Do you start making up disempowering stories about what people are thinking? Do you want to quit and move on rather than face the possibility of rejection?

Let all feelings arise without interacting with them. They are not wrong or right; they simply ARE. There is true power in being able to hold the space of the unknown. In that mystical, in-between state, miraculous solutions can arise. Just plan on taking a lot of long, deep breaths!

As with all Mercury retrograde cycles, we lean on “re-” instead of starting anything new, if it can be avoided. That means focusing on activities that start with the prefix “re-” (to go back), such as:

• Reviewing all your contracts before you sign
• Renewing your commitments, rather than making new ones
• Reuniting with old friends and family
• Rekindling a romance (maybe not with an ex, though! But if one surfaces, it’s usually to bring closure, not necessarily because they “got away”)

And prepare to REpeat yourself often during the first Mercury retrograde of the year!

Mercury Retrograde Horoscopes

low are horoscopes for every zodiac sign for the first Mercury retrograde of 2026, from February 26 to March 20, in Pisces. You can read for your Sun sign or your rising sign.

♈️ ARIES (Mar 20-Apr 19): Does it feel like you’re forcing things? As mindful Mercury turns retrograde in Pisces and your hazy twelfth house, don’t push it. Progress may be limited during this backspin. Use the next few weeks to tie up any loose ends and let go of anything that no longer serves “2026 Aries.” Don’t worry: You aren’t giving up or betraying the stubborn Ram who holds on until the bitter end. Letting go means making room for a better option (and maybe a miracle) to flow it. Aries horoscopes, read more!

♉️ TAURUS (Apr 19-May 20): Taurus: You can’t be BFFs with the world, Taurus—and over the next three weeks, your inner circle could get a lot tighter. With Mercury retrograde in Pisces and your community zone, you may glimpse the unevolved side of a friend’s personality or discover sketchy group dynamics within an organization. This doesn’t necessarily mean the game is over. After all, true friends reveal themselves by how they handle the bumps in the road. Can you work through this directly… and lovingly? It’s worth a try. But if that means selling out on yourself, jump ship and go swim with other (better) fish in the sea. Taurus horoscopes, read more!

♊️ GEMINI (May 20-Jun 20): Game face: on! And make sure it’s locked and loaded as your ruler, messenger Mercury, flips retrograde in Pisces and your tenth house of career. Signals could scramble at the office, and professional plans could stall temporarily. But this forced timeout has a silver lining. Use it for “re” activities like reviewing and revising. Even if you go back to the drawing board, you won’t stay there for long. Just make it your mission to fortify your structure. You need a solid base upon which to build, Gemini! Conflict with a colleague could also throw you for a loop. Disengage your feelings (as much as your reactive sign can) and focus on the big-picture goals you want to crush. Gemini horoscopes, read more!

♋️ CANCER (Jun 20-Jul 22): If you’ve made a list, check it twice, Cancer! As messenger Mercury flips retrograde in Pisces and your expansive ninth house, make sure that any trips, adventures or even local appointments are completely buttoned up. Reconfirm all reservations and, if you’re booking a getaway, play it safe and spring for the travel insurance. If you have a project to promote, think “soft launch” for the coming three weeks. Tease the news and drop some preview posts; then unleash the full-on campaign after the equinox.
Cancer horoscopes, read more!

♌️ LEO (Jul 22-Aug 22): Rewind! Did you recently brush off something “small and inconsequential”? Deal with it fast, Leo, or that molehill could swell into a mountain. As messenger Mercury flips into a signal-jamming retrograde, you don’t want to leave anything in the nebulous zone. Are you and bae REALLY exclusive? Is your account with that premium client truly secure? Get full confirmation and, where appropriate, start drafting a contract that you can sign when Mercury corrects course in three weeks. Romantically, this retrograde could arouse intense emotions and even herald the return of an ex. Exhilarating? Sure, but don’t go courting drama just to keep life “interesting.” Leo horoscopes, read more!

♍️ VIRGO (Aug 22-Sep 22): Fuzzy communication will not be out of the ordinary for the next three weeks as your ruler, messenger Mercury, shifts into a signal-scrambling retrograde. But hey, this shakeup can be a GOOD thing. For one thing, you can finally tackle those important convos that you’ve set as “last” on your to-do list. Tighten up the structure in a partnership by redefining roles or rebalancing the power dynamics. Since retrogrades tend to bring back the past, you might have to rehash old drama before moving forward. Simultaneously, be prepared for an old flame to reignite! Virgo horoscopes, read more!

♎️ LIBRA (Sep 22-Oct 22): Toast to (almost) spring with a cleaning sesh! As quicksilver Mercury turns retrograde in your productivity zone, give everything, from your closet to your inbox, a hardcore review. Still have that old pair of jeans you haven’t worn since 2023? Is it time to ditch those boots that even the best cobbler in town can’t fix? Get the status of your material goods sorted out but be mindful when doing so. Save some shelf space for important documents and family mementos—you’ll want to hold on to those! When it comes to chitchat, reconsider divulging any not-so-nice comments, especially in writing. You never know where that paper trail will wind up. Libra horoscopes, read more!

♏️ SCORPIO (Oct 22-Nov 21): Oh, the temptation! Mixed romantic messages abound for the coming three weeks as Mercury turns retrograde in your fifth house of amour. Flying solo? A surge of attraction could arise that is both exciting and misleading. Enlist a trusty friend to act as your sounding board before you “test-drive” any would-be lovers. Amp up your willpower: Don’t give in to the trap of falling back for an ex who broke your heart (twice). Regardless of your relationship status, a little self-discipline will go a long way for the next three weeks. Coupled Scorpios: Don’t start arguments to arouse passion! Scorpio horoscopes, read more!

♐️ SAGITTARIUS (Nov 21-Dec 21): Drama heating up at home? Mercury turns retrograde in Pisces, creating friction in your domestic sector. Problems could flare up out of the blue with relatives or roomies. But don’t start packing just yet! Setting up fair house rules and tacking a chore schedule on the fridge can be stunningly simple solution. Bonus points if you make a day (or weekend!) out of spring cleaning. There’s also a silver lining to the situation: Mercury’s timeout brings a window for some bonding with the fam, particularly an adored woman like your mom, sister or favorite aunt. Sagittarius horoscopes, read more!

♑️ CAPRICORN (Dec 21-Jan 19): Come again? Messenger Mercury turns retrograde in Pisces and your third house of communication, which could send out mixed messages left and right. Choose every word with care for the next three weeks to avoid meltdowns and misconceptions. If you’re going to share anything publicly, make sure you’ve banished every glimmer of doubt surrounding the news. Alternatively, take advantage of clever Mercury’s backspin and do a deep-dive into your hobbies: take a pottery workshop or keep crafting that screenplay. Hanging out with old pals will also uplift your spirits, and, who knows, you may even revive a friendship from ages ago. Capricorn horoscopes, read more!

♒️ AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): Let’s talk money, Aquarius. With Mercury turning retrograde in your finance house, you want to avoid any, er, surprises with your cash flow. Log into accounts: Are bills set up to be paid on time? Do you have enough in the bank to avoid overdraft charges? Set aside a portion of every paycheck for emergency funds—and how about saving for a vacation, too? By the time Mercury corrects course you could have a nice little chunk stashed away. (And THEN you can splurge on that bikini-caftan set.) Need to increase your earnings? The key could lie in the hands of a former colleague. Link back in to those old connections, and new moneymaking opportunities could soon come your way. Aquarius horoscopes, read more!

♓️ PISCES (Feb 18-Mar 20): Surprise, Pisces! As Mercury pivots retrograde in your sign for the next three weeks, you may be stunned to find yourself in situations where your straightforwardness is completely misunderstood. Even if you outlined it all as clearly as possible, there will still be some mixed signals. Instead of plowing ahead only to wind up frustrated, hit pause. Use this time to tighten up your plans, tweak your messaging and get prepped to turn things up again when Mercury corrects course. Pisces horoscopes, read more!

When is the next Mercury retrograde?

Water, water everywhere! The first Mercury retrograde of 2026 is in Pisces, a water sign. There are three Mercury retrogrades in 2026, and ALL of them are in water!

Retrogrades are a hidden blessing, allowing us to tap into the deeper corners of our hearts, souls and psyches. Nostalgia reigns!

Mercury retrograde dates in 2026:
• February 26 to March 20 in PISCES
• June 29 to July 23 in CANCER
• October 24 to November 13 in SCORPIO

Check anytime: Is Mercury in Retrograde Right Now? And don’t forget the ‘retroshade’ —Mercury’s “shadow period” that happens about two weeks before and two weeks after the planet’s backspin.

For more tips on what to do during a Mercury retrograde, see our classic article: Mercury Retrograde: How to Survive The 3-Week Communication Crisis

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