As we step into a whole new year, it’s easy to find your imagination running wild as you consider what your 2026 horoscope will bring. No matter your goals, you can’t help but acknowledge that the next 12 months are sure to host highs and lows, twists and turns, dreams fulfilled, as well as challenges you might not have seen coming. But it never hurts to have a heads up on the planetary shifts that will impact you the most in order to navigate both the opportunities and roadblocks that lie ahead. And 2026 is packed with thrilling celestial events that you’ll want to plan ahead for.
For example, we’ll be moving through major, rare sign changes for three outer planets, which serves as the kickoff of a new era. Neptune, the planet of spirituality and dreams, and Saturn, the planet of boundaries, will both exit empathic, imaginative water sign Pisces and move into action-oriented, competitive fire sign Aries — marking the start of a period that will be characterized by a more independent, assertive, pioneering spirit. Saturn will only spend a couple of years in Aries, but Neptune digs into the fire sign for the next 13 years. And Uranus, the planet of revolution and change, will settle into buzzy air sign Gemini, where it’ll launch us into a new age of communication and technology that lasts until 2033. And in late June, Jupiter, the planet of abundance and expansion, leaves sentimental, nurturing water sign Cancer and bounds into passionate, theatrical fire sign Leo, amplifying our focus on identity, confidence, self-empowerment, romance and creative pursuits until summer 2027.
When it comes to major lunar events in 2026, we’ll experience a new eclipse series along the Aquarius-Leo axis, which will impact the fixed signs — Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius — the most. If you have major placements (in other words, your sun, moon, rising, Mercury, Mars and/or Venus) in these signs, anticipate shocking breakthroughs and change to arise this year, especially around February 17 and August 12. And the eclipse series that began back in 2024 on the Virgo-Pisces axis will continue to play out, especially around March 3 and August 28. People with major placements in the mutable signs — Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces — will be most affected.
Water signs also get another chance to go back to the drawing board, reflect, revise and prioritize mindfulness, thanks to three Mercury retrogrades this year falling in Pisces (February 25 to March 20), Cancer (June 29-July 23) and Scorpio (October 24-November 13). Here’s how to take advantage of this year’s celestial events, based on your zodiac sign. (Be sure to read both your sun and your rising sign if you know it. If you don’t, you can find it in your birth chart or by using this CafeAstrology calculator.)
Aries
2025 offered a sneak peek of the eye-opening experiences that will be even more frequent in 2026, thanks to not one but two big outer planets settling into your sign and self-image sector. Neptune, the planet of dreams and spirituality, lands there on January 26, ushering a lengthy period, lasting until 2039, that will make honing your intuition and imagination and practicing mindfulness a top priority. And from February 13 on, Saturn, the taskmaster planet, will be there, as well, urging you to lay new foundations related to caring for your physical health. That might sound like a lot of hard work, but you can take heart that a couple of planetary shifts are going to pump up your energy and bolster your joy. From April 9 to May 18, assertive Mars, your ruling planet, will be in your sign for the first time since 2024, making it lots easier for you to go to bat for your most ambitious goals. Then, starting on June 29, lucky Jupiter’s presence in your romance and self-expression zone will amplify fun, pleasure, spontaneity, joyfulness and magic within your most lighthearted, happiness-boosting bonds. If you’re single, your dating life could soon be more fulfilling, and if you’re attached, you’ll feel a surge of excitement as sparks fly with your significant other.
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Taurus
Since 2018, Uranus, the planet of change and rebellion, has been in your sign and self-image sector, totally overhauling how you see yourself and are showing up in the world. But as of April 25, it’ll settle into your money and self-worth sector, where it’ll be until 2033. Prepare yourself for a seven-year cycle that will makeover how you’re bringing your skills to the table to earn. Hint: innovation and technology will play a major role. And around February 17 and August 12, expect big changes tied to your career path and your home life, thanks to a new eclipse series on this axis. Steel yourself to embrace a whole new definition of success, balance, emotional well-being or sense of security. And the changes that occur as a result of these lunar events will continue to take shape until early 2028. You can look forward to even more emphasis on quality time with loved ones, beautifying your home and diving into self-work that benefits your inner peace once Jupiter moves into your family life zone on June 29, where it’ll remain until summer 2027. And from October 3 to November 13, your ruling planet, romantic Venus, will be retrograde in your partnership and wellness sectors. Make the most of this period by reviewing relationship and health goals, ideally alongside your nearest and dearest.
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Gemini
The year 2025 may have offered a preview of what you can expect your life to look like for years to come, but 2026 pulls you into this game-changing cycle fully. That’s because Uranus, the planet of sudden change and innovation, will settle into your sign and self-image sector beginning April 25, and it’ll move through this sector until 2033. Over the next seven years, the awakener planet will transform how you want to show up and be seen in the world, so you could soon be inspired to overhaul your self-care routine or career path or even embrace an entrepreneurial venture. This year’s lunar eclipses, falling on March 3 and August 28, impact your professional and home life sectors, continuing a storyline that began in 2024 and requiring that you let go of anything that’s been preventing you from fully realizing personal and professional goals. And when Mercury, your planetary ruler, goes retrograde in 2026, it’ll stir up emotional reviews of your sense of authority, moneymaking plans and daily routine. As frustrating as these periods can be, especially for you, given how big a role Mercury plays in your life, you could find that slowing down and prioritizing self-reflection and tapping into your intuition can lay the groundwork for even more success, vitality and a bolstered bottom line.
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Cancer
Although 2025 was billed as one of the luckiest years for you, you could still be waiting for this magical surge of abundance you were promised. Take heart that you have until the middle of 2026 to see results from Jupiter, the planet of fortune and expansion, moving through your sign for the first time in 12 years. Until June 29, the Great Benefic’s presence in your self-image sector continues to ramp up your optimism and enthusiasm while boosting your chances of owning the spotlight and making your mark. You can look forward to early March, in particular, when Jupiter harmonizes with first the sun and then Mercury in your adventure sector, which could lead to honing new skills and broadening your horizons in a deeply fulfilling, positive way. And even though Jupiter is leaving your sign this year, it’ll shift into your moneymaking zone on June 29, cranking up your desire to step up your income — as well as your potential for doing so. And as if that wasn’t transformative enough, from February 13 on, both Neptune and Saturn will be in your career sector, offering a combination of soaring imagination and diligence that will influence your professional trajectory for years to come.
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Leo
For a while now, you’ve likely felt as though you’ve been planting seeds and patiently (or perhaps not so patiently) waiting for your dreams to come to fruition, but you can rest assured that you won’t be sitting backstage much longer, as 2026 is set to be a ground-shattering and wildly lucky year for you. For starters, Saturn will leave your intimacy and shared resources zone on February 13. Since 2023, this transit has drained you and made you feel like you had to work so much harder for minimal results, but it’s finally coming to a close. Then, a new eclipse series, featuring solar eclipses on February 17 and August 12, activates your partnership and self-image sectors, bringing massive shifts to how you’re being perceived by and relating to others — romantically, platonically and professionally. (For a sense of the themes you’ll explore, think back to 2017-2019 for the last time we had eclipses on this axis.) Anticipate transformations of your one-on-one bonds and a surge of confidence that will support even your most ambitious big picture goals. And on June 29, Jupiter, the planet of abundance, moves from your sleepy spirituality sector into your sign and identity sector, offering up a tidal wave of exuberance and glass-half-full energy. You’ll want to dream even bigger than you usually do, express yourself even more passionately and be even more authentic when sharing your ideas, pursuing your aspirations and connecting with everyone from colleagues to your significant other or someone special.
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Virgo
You’ve been moving through an intensely transformative time since 2024, when the South Node moved into your sign, activating your self-image zone, and the North Node entered Pisces, activating your partnership sector. In 2026, the narrative you’ve become intimately familiar with at this point will continue, especially around March 3 and August 28, when lunar eclipses urge emotional release. You’re continuing to perfect how you want to see yourself, love yourself, care for yourself and do the same for loved ones — as long as your bond feels truly reciprocal and supportive. The latter half of the year will also be marked by a great deal of deep self-reflection, sensitivity, empathy and healing, because Jupiter will be moving through your spirituality sector from June 29 until summer 2027. Try new mind-body practices or go back to the ones that you used to find particularly restorative, and allow yourself plenty of time to both rest and to plant seeds you want to see bloom, because you’re laying the groundwork for a major spotlight moment that kicks off next year. You can also take advantage of Mercury’s retrogrades through your partnership, friendship and communication sectors this year, as they’re wired to help you decipher which bonds, collaborations and projects are worthy of your emotional and mental investment.
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Libra
Welcome to an especially buzzy, collaborative, group-oriented year — something that is likely music to your ears, given that you’re such a social butterfly. It does bear noting that although your platonic bonds will fuel joyfulness and personal growth this year, you’re also headed into a very different era as far as your partnerships are concerned. That’s because, beginning January 26, Neptune, the planet of illusion and dreams, will be in your partnership sector, potentially bringing confusion to one-on-one bonds while also compelling you to be more in tune with your intuition when navigating your alliances. And beginning February 13, Saturn, the planet of commitment, will be there, as well, requiring that you get serious about who you want to align yourself with and build foundations within your relationships that will last for years to come. Once lucky Jupiter shifts into your friendships zone on June 29, you’ll feel more driven to connect with people who share your aspirations and ideals. Think about joining a community of like-minded people or stepping up how much time you’re devoting to your platonic bonds. And when your ruling planet, romantic Venus, is retrograde in your money sector and self-image zone from October 3 to November 13, you’ll do well to prioritize introspection to strengthen your self-worth and sense of self.
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Scorpio
Because Mars, your co-ruling planet, is moving direct through your communication zone until January 23, this year begins with a lot more action-oriented, cerebral energy, so you could be super-motivated, right off the bat, to make the most of the next 12 months. Cue lots of brainstorms, information-gathering and exchange and learning opportunities. You’re also being called to clarify your health goals and set new foundations that will support your vitality, because both taskmaster Saturn and spiritual Neptune hunker down in your wellness sector from February 13 on. And with two solar eclipses activating your home and work zones this year (on February 17 and August 12, respectively), steel yourself for significant twists and turns that will reshape how you’re making your mark professionally, experiencing family life and caring for your emotional well-being and sense of security. These eclipses will fast-track you into the future, so doing your best to embrace change will work to your benefit. And when you need a moment to slow down or tie up loose ends, you can look forward to this year’s Mercury retrogrades that are supercharged with intuitive water energy: The February 25 to March 20 one falls in your romance sector, the June 29 to July 23 one impacts your higher learning zone and the October 24 to November 13 one activates your self-image zone.
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Sagittarius
2026 is full of super-fiery, take-charge, go-getter energy that aligns beautifully with your M.O., so you can prepare yourself for a year that’s going to turn plenty of your wildest fantasies into a reality. First off, dreamy Neptune and taskmaster Saturn both land in your romance zone, on January 26 and February 13, respectively, for years to come. Saturn’s job here is to help you clarify and more seriously pursue your heart’s desires, while Neptune could have you wearing rose-colored glasses about relationships and creative self-expression. Meanwhile, both of this year’s lunar eclipses — on March 3 and August 28 — activate your career and home sectors, continuing to bring shakeups and necessary switch-ups to these areas of life. Whether you’re moving, healing old wounds with family members or making your mark professionally in a different way, being open to massive change works in your favor now. In fact, revolutionary Uranus will be in your partnership sector beginning April 25, introducing a seven-year cycle in which your one-on-one bonds will be transformed and could also serve as a source of innovation, inspiration and pure electricity. And look forward to your ruler, lucky Jupiter, landing in your adventure zone on June 29, kicking off a year of expansion and good fortune tied to some of your favorite things in life: long-distance travel, soaking up knowledge and exploring new philosophies and points of view.
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Capricorn
If you can remember back to the beginning of 2025, it was sleepy and frustrating to build momentum — even for steady, pragmatic you. Thankfully, the vibe is very different as 2026 begins, because Mars, the planet of action and energy, will be direct in your sign and self-image sector. This means you can push forward on your most daring, bold aspirations right off the bat. After February 13, both taskmaster Saturn, your ruling planet, and dreamy Neptune hunker down in your home zone, amplifying both your idealism and commitment to any hard work necessary to create the life of your dreams alongside loved ones. You could struggle to get clear on what you want your family life to look like — where you want to live, who you want to prioritize bonding time with, how you plan to heal old wounds to nurture your sense of security — but you’re also being called to create solid foundations that will serve you well for years and years. Meanwhile, both solar eclipses activate your money and shared resources zones this year (on February 17 and August 12, respectively), so prepare yourself for shifts in how you’re bringing your skills to the table and investing, saving or earning.
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Aquarius
2026 will be a year that will go down in history books for you, especially, because there’s just so much action happening in your self-image sector and partnership zone. The first solar eclipse of the year occurs on February 17, landing in your sign and serving as an eye-opening, ground-shattering moment that wakes you up to a whole new chapter of your life, perhaps tied to a one-on-one bond — or even your relationship with yourself. With the North Node in your sign, you’re entering an expansive period of growth, so give yourself permission to aim even higher than you usually do. Your season will be game-changing in more ways than one, because your co-ruler, taskmaster Saturn, enters your communication zone on February 13, and you’ll be setting boundaries and laying new foundations related to self-expression, learning, friendships and relationships with neighbors or siblings until 2028. A couple of months later, on April 25, Uranus, your other co-ruler, will take up residence in your romance and self-expression zone, breathing new life into your lighthearted bonds, how you express yourself creatively and how you infuse your day-to-day with fun and spontaneity. You can also look forward to Jupiter entering your partnership zone on June 29 — a planetary move that will bring a surge of positivity, optimism and growth to your one-on-one bonds until summer 2027. If you’re single, you could very well meet someone special during this transit, and if you’re attached, you’ll voice your needs and feel more heard and celebrated by your partner.
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Pisces
For the last year and a half, you’ve been on a game-changing journey that’s overhauling your sense of self and your one-on-one relationships, and 2026 continues to tell that story while centering your dreams and vitality. The February 17 solar eclipse occurs in your spirituality sector, kicking off a new, two-year storyline focused on honing your intuition and caring for your health. The August 12 solar eclipse in your wellness zone serves as the second plot twist. You’ll also be exploring your limits, boundaries and daydreams tied to moneymaking, because Saturn and Neptune, your co-ruling planet, join forces in your income zone from February 13 on. Be honest with yourself about what you need to successfully boost your bottom line; letting go of commitments that used to serve you well might be the answer now and moving forward. Until June 29, Jupiter in your romance and self-expression zone continues to amplify your ability to infuse your life with more magic, creativity and spontaneity. Then, its trip through your wellness sector until summer 2027 can make for a super-busy season when your daily routine and health regimen actually feel like a source of joyfulness and abundance. And when Mercury is retrograde three times this year — in your self-image, romance and adventure zones — take stock of how much you’ve been listening to your heart. Making more space for your desires can result in bliss.
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