Key dates, meaning and forecasts for every rising sign.
Venus retrograde 2026 runs from 3 October to 14 November, beginning at 8°29′ Scorpio and ending at 22°51′ Libra. During these six weeks, questions involving love, money, trust, agreements and self-worth may return for reconsideration. What first emerged around 31 August, or became unmistakable after Venus entered Scorpio on 10 September, will now unfold in three chapters.
Venus does not simply describe romance. She also rules attraction, money, pleasure, agreements and what we consider valuable. When Venus appears to reverse direction, these matters slow down or circle back. A person may return, but so can a financial decision, professional offer, creative project or a question about what something is truly worth.
Venus Retrograde 2026 Key Dates
31 August — Venus enters the pre-retrograde shadow at 22°51′ Libra. The story begins to form.
10 September — Venus enters Scorpio. Questions involving trust, desire, intimacy and shared resources intensify.
3 October — Venus stations retrograde at 8°29′ Scorpio. The review formally begins.
7 October — Mercury meets Venus. Conversations, disclosures and renegotiations become central.
24 October — Venus meets the Sun at 0° Scorpio. This is the interior turning point of the cycle.
25 October — Venus returns to Libra. The focus moves from emotional entanglement to fairness and agreement.
14 November — Venus stations direct at 22°51′ Libra. Clarity begins to return.
4 December — Venus re-enters Scorpio and begins her final passage across the retrograde degrees.
15 December — Venus leaves the post-retrograde shadow at 8°29′ Scorpio. The cycle is complete.
Dates are given for UTC. Some ingresses or exact aspects may fall on the adjacent calendar date in other time zones.
Why Scorpio and Libra Matter
Venus is traditionally in detriment in Scorpio. Here, love and value become entangled with trust, power, vulnerability, debt and shared resources. Scorpio asks what lies beneath the agreement: who carries the risk, who holds the leverage and what has remained unspoken.
As Venus retreats into Libra, one of her own signs, the emphasis turns towards reciprocity, negotiation and fairness. Scorpio asks what the bond costs. Libra asks whether its terms are equal. This movement from Scorpio back into Libra explains why an emotionally compelling opportunity may eventually require a contractual, financial or ethical correction.
The Three Chapters of Venus Retrograde
The First Chapter
The first chapter begins around 31 August and becomes visible once Venus enters Scorpio on 10 September. A relationship, financial choice, creative project or professional opportunity may attract your attention. With Jupiter in Leo, there is an appetite for visibility and growth, while the North Node in Aquarius draws attention towards new people, audiences and networks. Interest is real, but the complete cost may not yet be visible.
The Second Chapter
Venus turns retrograde on 3 October. Something returns because the picture is incomplete. Mercury meets Venus on 7 October, opening conversations about love, money, trust or commitment. Someone may disclose how they feel, an agreement may require new terms, or fresh information may alter the value you place on an opportunity. Listen carefully. A revelation is not yet a resolution.
On 24 October, Venus meets the Sun at 0° Scorpio. This conjunction, known as a Venus cazimi, marks the interior turning point. By 25 October, Venus has moved back into Libra. You may now recognise where you accepted too little, paid too much, remained silent or allowed somebody else to define the terms.
The Final Chapter
Venus turns direct on 14 November, but the story continues. She re-enters Scorpio on 4 December and clears the retrograde shadow on 15 December. The person, offer or opportunity may still belong in your future, but only if it reflects what you now know about its value and its cost. The purpose of this cycle is not to apportion blame. It is to make a more conscious decision about what you will choose next.
The Previous Cycle in 2018
Venus last retrograded through Scorpio and Libra from October to November 2018, moving from approximately 10° Scorpio to 25° Libra. The circumstances of 2026 will not repeat that year exactly because the rest of the sky has changed. The earlier cycle can still reveal a pattern. Consider what was being renegotiated then in your relationships, finances, agreements or sense of worth. The present cycle may be asking for the next decision in that longer story.
Venus Retrograde for Every Rising Sign
Read for your rising sign first because it determines the two houses, and therefore the areas of life, through which Venus will retrace her steps. Your Sun sign can offer a secondary perspective.
Aries Rising
A question about shared money, debt, trust or intimacy returns before the relationship itself can be renegotiated. Do not accept equal terms until you understand what is being shared and what may still be withheld.
Taurus Rising
A relationship or business partnership may return for review. The real test is whether everyday responsibilities support the agreement or quietly drain what you are trying to build together.
Gemini Rising
An unresolved issue involving work, a colleague, health or your daily routine may return. You may need to reclaim time for romance, children, creativity or the pursuits that restore your pleasure in life.
Cancer Rising
Love, children or a creative project return to your attention before the deeper question of home and emotional security can be resolved. Ask whether the choice brings genuine joy or merely repeats a familiar need for reassurance.
Leo Rising
You may revisit a property decision, household arrangement or unresolved family matter. A conversation that was postponed or left unfinished could now influence where and with whom you feel secure.
Virgo Rising
A matter involving a sibling, education, paperwork or your local community may return for discussion. Before committing, examine the financial cost and whether the arrangement deserves your time and energy.
Libra Rising
A financial decision or spending pattern may reveal how closely money is tied to your self-worth. Decide what you want on your own terms rather than allowing other people's expectations to define your value.
Scorpio Rising
A relationship or personal desire may make you question who you are becoming. Step back and decide whether the choice reflects your values or an unspoken need for approval, reassurance or escape.
Sagittarius Rising
Something private, unresolved or deliberately avoided may return. What you discover could change whom you trust and which friendships, networks or alliances deserve a place in your future.
Capricorn Rising
A friendship, professional contact or group opportunity may reappear. Consider whether the connection genuinely supports the reputation and professional direction you now want to establish.
Aquarius Rising
A career opportunity or question of public direction may return for review. It may lead you back to a larger decision involving travel, education, publishing, legal matters or working internationally.
Pisces Rising
An opportunity involving travel, education, publishing, law or a major change of direction may return. Consider what it requires financially and whether the emotional and practical responsibilities are being shared fairly.
Your Chart Tells the Rest of the Story
A general forecast shows which areas of life are active. Your birth chart reveals what is personally at stake. If you have planets or angles between 22° and 29° Libra or 0° and 8° Scorpio, this cycle may be especially significant. A private consultation can clarify the relationships, financial questions and decisions Venus is activating in your chart.
A sense of how professional astrological forecasting works can help you weigh this cycle against your own timing rather than in the abstract.
Book a private consultation with The Karmic Soul
Technical References
- Astrodienst Swiss Ephemeris for 2026
- Venus Retrograde 2026 Calendar
- Venus Retrograde 2018 Calendar