Venus retrograde dates and meaning, 2026 to 2031

When is Venus retrograde?

These are the Venus retrogrades from the start of 2026. The dates and degrees come from the same astronomy-engine library the calculator uses. Times are UTC, so a date can differ by one day in your time zone.

The most recent one before these started on March 2, 2025 in Aries and ended on April 13, 2025 in Pisces.

What does Venus retrograde mean?

In astrology, Venus retrograde is a time to review rather than begin. Because Venus stands for love, money and values, the tradition says to revisit what you want in those areas. Old partners may get in touch. Old questions about worth and priorities tend to come back.

Many astrologers advise against signing big commitments or making big purchases during the period, and in favor of finishing, repairing and reconsidering. That is advice from a tradition. There is no evidence that Venus retrograde changes what happens in anyone's life. If it helps you slow down and think, that is a fine reason to use it.

Does Venus really move backward?

No. Retrograde is an illusion of perspective. Venus orbits the Sun faster than Earth does. About every 19 months Venus passes between us and the Sun on the inside lane, and for a few weeks it appears from Earth to slide backward against the stars before moving forward again. It is like a faster runner on the inside lane of a track: as they pass you, they seem to move backward against the stands behind them.

Why every 19 months, and why for about 42 days?

Venus and Earth line up in the same way every 584 days, which is about 19 months. Each time they line up, Venus appears to reverse for around 40 to 43 days. Five of these cycles fit into almost exactly eight years, so the pattern of where Venus turns repeats on an eight year rhythm.

What if I was born during a Venus retrograde?

Enter your birth date in the Venus sign calculator. It tells you if Venus was retrograde on that day. Astrologers read a retrograde Venus at birth as a more private, reflective style in love, with relationships that revisit old themes. As with everything here, it is a tradition and a prompt for reflection.

Your Venus sign is the sign Venus was in at birth, retrograde or not. A retrograde Venus can cross back over a sign border, so if you were born near one, add your birth time and time zone to the calculator.

Venus retrograde and your own Venus sign

Astrologers also pay attention to which sign Venus is retrograde in, because that is the area of love that gets reviewed. The table above gives the signs. If one of them is your Venus sign, the period is said to touch your own style of loving. Read your Venus sign page for what that style is, and the compatibility guide for how it fits with others.