The Final Step: 2026

The Astrology of 2026

The Years the World Changed: 2020 and 2025/2026

In astrology, we have been speaking about truly major years of change ever since 2020. I wrote my first blog in 2019, and even then it was already clear that world-shaking events were approaching. Astrologically, these times can be compared to the French and American Revolutions. In many ways, the years following 2020 can be seen as aftershocks leading all the way to 2025 and 2026. Everything that once felt self-evident and stable has been breaking down before our eyes—both in global politics and in our closest personal relationships.

In one sense, we could choose to feel bitter toward the universe for having to endure years of chaos. On the other hand, a single month in 2025 has been more eventful than entire decades before it. The year 2025 has been so unexpected that we might not have survived it without the earlier trials of 2020. So has the universe been cruel—or has it simply been preparing us?

2025: A Year of Change

Most people can agree on at least one thing: 2025 truly was exactly as astrologers broadly “advertised” it to be. The entire year unfolded at such speed, and with such sweeping changes, that only now are we finally barely able to catch our breath. During the summer of 2025, we caught glimpses of a new world—one that felt chaotic because it was still taking its first steps. Toward the end of the year, several outer (societal) planets retrograded back into their previous signs, symbolizing the need to return and bring old matters to completion.

The years 2020 and 2025 also share another similarity: relationship challenges that began in 2020 seemed to reach a climax in 2025. Not for everyone, of course—but if there were cracks in the foundation in 2020, by 2025 the structure finally collapsed.

Good and Bad News: Astrology in 2026

The good news for 2026: we have already received a preview—albeit a confusing one—of what lies ahead. All the societal planets have already visited their new signs and then returned to their previous ones until spring 2026. As a result, 2026 will not arrive as a complete shock in the way 2025 did. We have already tasted what is coming. We have seen the mountaintop. This does not mean the terrain will be calm or comfortable, or that plans are fully clear—but we no longer have to live in total uncertainty.

The bad (or good?) news: if the changes of 2025 were personally favorable to you, you are likely to enjoy 2026, because more of the same is on the way. If, however, you struggled with the challenges of 2025, prepare yourself—similar themes continue. The difference is that this time you are not walking in blind. Based on 2025, you can already sense what may be coming. Timing, after all, is astrology’s greatest gift. At the end of this blog, I will explain when it is wise to push forward and when it is better to pause, wait, and plan.

2026 in a nutshell: old systems, structures, and assumptions finally break down—including relationships. Nothing can be taken for granted anymore. A new dream begins, but finding it will take time. The year first shows us the way forward by revealing what no longer works at all. January is dominated by themes of letting go. The old dream has reached its conclusion or simply no longer functions. From mid-February onward, momentum accelerates and we step forward. Toward the end of the year, the intensity softens somewhat, and sparks of hope appear—often through courageous, even heroic individuals.

The Future Locks into Place in 2026

Pluto is now permanently in Aquarius for the next 20 years. I have written extensively about this shift before: Pluto in Aquarius for Each Sign.

Saturn and Neptune meet on February 20, 2026, at zero degrees of Aries. This alignment is astrologically so rare that nothing comparable has been identified—even with computer analysis—since the beginning of recorded time. Neptune will remain in Aries for the next 13 years.

Uranus. The final locking-in of the future occurs on April 26, 2026, when Uranus permanently enters Gemini for the next seven years. I explored this in more detail in The Great Awakener Arrives. From this point onward, the old world is definitively behind us—for better or worse—and there is no turning back. A particularly striking moment occurs when Mars meets Uranus for the first time in Gemini on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence on July 4th, 2026.

Jupiter moves from Cancer into Leo on June 30, 2026. In Leo, Jupiter is not quite as supportive as it is in Cancer, yet the Sun and Jupiter work well together—and will need to—as they oppose Pluto in Aquarius. On a collective level, this reflects tension between the people and those in power, with the public pushing back against ineffective leadership. On a personal level, this may feel like pressure from authorities.

Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2026

• Solar eclipse in Aquarius: February 17, 2026

• Lunar eclipse in Virgo: March 3, 2026

• Solar eclipse in Leo: August 12, 2026

• Lunar eclipse in Pisces: August 28, 2026

These eclipses bring winds of change especially for Aquarians and Leos, who experience eclipses for the first time in 19 years. More about eclipses in this blog.

Mercury Retrogrades

Mercury retrogrades three times, each in a water sign: March in Pisces, July in Cancer and October–November in Scorpio. When Mercury retrogrades in water signs, communication is less direct. Much more happens beneath the surface—emotionally and behind the scenes.

Venus

Venus retrogrades from October 3 to November 14, 2026, overlapping with Mercury retrograde from October 24 to November 13. This combination brings heightened relationship drama and unresolved issues to the surface. Think back to October–November 2018 and 2010—similar themes may resurface.

Mars

Mars enters Virgo in September. The year ends with Mars slowing down and retrograding back into Leo on January 10, 2027, remaining there until it moves forward again on June 8, 2027. This will be one of the most challenging transits of 2027 and will affect everyone. Charging into battle at the end of the year will not succeed. The most supportive period for bold action runs from mid-May to the end of June.

A Glimmer of Hope

The very good news is that all the outer planets mentioned above—Pluto, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn—form harmonious aspects with one another. While upcoming changes may initially feel uncomfortable, they also carry long-term benefits, even if the results only become visible years later. We are, quite literally, laying the foundation for a new house.

The French astrologer André Barbault predicted the year 2020—and the pandemic it brought—as early as 2012. He also foresaw 2026 as another major turning point, this time a positive one. His theory was based on planetary proximity from Earth’s perspective. When planets cluster tightly together, as they did in 2020, it symbolizes crisis. As they gradually spread out again—especially while forming harmonious aspects—major crises begin to ease. This process starts in the summer of 2026, though its full effects will unfold over years.

A New Direction

A new direction begins to emerge in 2026, not through clear signposts but by showing us—especially early in the year—what no longer works. Knowing where we do not want to go may ultimately guide us more effectively than having a predefined destination.

Before we can choose our path, we must be able to at least imagine a better future. What if our worth were no longer measured by money or other “numbers”? What if everyone had enough food, proper healthcare, and safe housing? What if a clean, free energy source were discovered? What if technology worked so effectively for humanity that work became voluntary? What would you do with your life then?

Notice how quickly objections arise: Impossible. That would never work. People can’t just be allowed to exist. There must be order. What about work ethic? Is it really true that we cannot live without money, hierarchy, or categorization? Isn’t it fascinating how difficult it is to imagine a different kind of society at all? Artificial intelligence, too, is limited by what it is fed—it cannot imagine a better future than we ourselves are capable of imagining.

Relationships in Transition

This applies equally to relationships. We live in a paradox: more connected than ever, yet lonelier than ever. Gender roles are dissolving—or at least becoming deeply individualized. Old relationship templates no longer work. We are being forced to rethink what we truly want from relationships and how to create them according to our own, customized rules—free from outdated societal expectations.

I believe that alongside artificial intelligence and technological progress, there will be a renewed longing for community and local, human connection. Ideally, technology serves society so well that we are left with time for relationships, community, and creative pursuits.

Imagine… Imagine there’s no countries It isn’t hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace… —John Lennon, Imagine 

From Earth to Air: The Shift That Began in 2020

One of the most significant societal shifts of our time is that Saturn and Jupiter—the societal planets that meet every 20 years—have moved their conjunctions from earth signs into air signs. This meeting is known as the Great Conjunction.

For roughly 200 years, Great Conjunctions occurred in earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn). The most recent one, on December 22, 2020, took place in Aquarius for the first time, marking the beginning of a roughly 140-year cycle in air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius).

From the Industrial Revolution to the Technological Revolution

Few shifts have been as materially transformative as the Industrial Revolution, which reshaped humanity over the past two centuries. Now, having moved into the air element, we see a different kind of revolution—one of information, communication, and thought. Paper has given way to computers, data has moved into the “air,” and artificial intelligence is rapidly accelerating this transition. Air signs operate through the power of thought and communication. This revolution is technological, reshaping how we communicate, trade, and move through the world.

A Radical New Dream: Saturn and Neptune at Zero Degrees

Saturn and Neptune meet for the first time in 36 years in Aries—at the exceptionally symbolic zero degree. This marks the birth of a new 36-year dream and the dissolution of the old one. Zero degrees represent a reset: the clearing of accumulated momentum and assumptions.

This Saturn–Neptune reset asks us to release old ways of thinking and make space for something larger, bolder, and more visionary. Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, adds courage, initiative, and a pioneering spirit. This energy does not want to merely dream—it wants to act.

Neptune brings imagination; Saturn brings realism. At this meeting, illusions may dissolve even as a new dream is born. A dream cannot be created through realism alone—it also requires creative madness and the bravery to try something entirely new.

From Collective Thinking to Radical Individuality

We are shifting from collective thinking toward radical individuality. At best, ordinary people recognize their unique talents and find the courage to live their purpose. Pluto in Aquarius asks a fundamental question: power from the people—or power back to the people? Power has never shifted because those in control willingly gave it up. Neptune in Aries may elevate individuals from among the people—those willing to lead by example and even sacrifice for the collective.

Creative Madness: Uranus

Uranus supports experimentation and innovation as it permanently enters Gemini on April 26, 2026 (explored further in The Great Awakener Arrives).

Timing

The year 2026 will be intense, though not defined by a single dramatic event like 2020. Instead, it brings a series of both positive and challenging developments. The real challenge will be keeping pace and choosing where to focus energy. Several major power shifts may trigger unpredictable domino effects. As a hint: a major world leader is unlikely to remain in power throughout the entire year, with withdrawal beginning in spring or, at the latest, autumn 2026.

Timing is astrology’s great gift. It is wise to handle practical matters early in the year, as spring is marked by crises. May and June offer the most supportive energy. Autumn accelerates again.

During Mercury retrogrades, expect delays, misunderstandings, technical issues, and challenging travel conditions.

Mercury retrograde periods:

• February 26 – March 20 (in Pisces)

• June 29 – July 23 (in Cancer)

• October 24 – November 13 (in Scorpio)

  
  

January is the quietest month, marking the closure of 14- and 36-year cycles. This time is part grief, part preparation. From mid-February onward, momentum increases rapidly. Complete paperwork and routine tasks in January while time allows.

March and April bring heightened drama, confusion, and significant events. Keep your schedule flexible and handle essentials early. After spring, the pace softens, with supportive energy from mid-May to late June—the best period of the year.

July and August include pleasant moments but are complicated by eclipses. October and November are challenging for relationships, negotiations, and finances due to overlapping Venus and Mercury retrogrades. December is manageable but foreshadows Mars retrograde in early 2027—a long and demanding transit.

Ursula Lunardakini

Lunardakini.com

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