Mercury retrograde October 2026 begins on 24 October, when Mercury stations at around 21 degrees of Scorpio, and ends on 13 November, when it turns direct at around 5 degrees of the same sign. Counting the shadow, the whole cycle runs from 4 October to 30 November 2026. Here is how to read it and plan around it.

If you already have an important date sitting inside this window, such as a signing, a launch or a move, you can send us your question and describe what is planned, and I will look at it against your own horoscope.

The key dates for Mercury retrograde October 2026

Mercury retrogrades three times in 2026. The first ran through Pisces in late winter (covered in our guide to Mercury retrograde in March 2026), the second through Cancer in early summer, and this third and final one takes place entirely in Scorpio. Here is the timeline, using UK dates:

4 October 2026 – Mercury reaches about 5 degrees of Scorpio, the point it will later turn back to. The pre-shadow begins.
24 October 2026 – Mercury stations retrograde at about 21 degrees of Scorpio, in the morning UK time. The next day, 25 October, the clocks go back, a small but fitting reminder to double-check times on anything you book.
13 November 2026 – Mercury stations direct at about 5 degrees of Scorpio, in the late afternoon UK time.
30 November 2026 – Mercury passes 21 degrees of Scorpio again and leaves its shadow. The cycle is complete.

Unlike some retrogrades, this one never slips back into the previous sign. The whole story stays in Scorpio, which gives it a concentrated, single-theme quality.

Why Scorpio changes the tone

Mercury describes how we think, talk, read, sign and travel. Scorpio is a fixed water sign associated with depth, privacy, trust, shared resources and anything kept below the surface. When Mercury moves backwards here, the invitation is less about the famous missed train and more about the conversations people avoid.

Themes that tend to surface

Old conversations that were never finished, especially where trust was shaken.
Paperwork linked to other people: joint accounts, shared tenancies, family arrangements, business partnerships.
Secrets, half-truths and assumptions coming to light, sometimes in helpful ways.
A pull to research, investigate and reread rather than to announce.

It overlaps with Venus retrograde

Venus is also retrograde this autumn, from 3 October to 14 November 2026, so for about three weeks both planets are moving backwards at once. That makes relationships and agreements a double focus. If this is on your mind, our piece on a compatibility reading for an established couple explains how a reading can support a review rather than a verdict.

What to pause, what to continue

Retrograde periods are not a reason to stop living. Most people cannot move a wedding, a court date or a completion day because of a planet, and they do not need to. What helps is sorting plans into three groups.

Things worth pausing if you have a choice

Launching something brand new, making first-time announcements, buying technology you will rely on daily, or committing to a long agreement you have not had time to read properly. If the date is flexible, moving it after 13 November, or better still after 30 November, is a gentle and sensible option.

Things that suit this window

The "re-" words: review, revise, return, repair, reconnect, research. Finishing a draft, tidying records, renewing a conversation with someone you lost touch with, or taking a second look at an offer all fit the mood.

A simple rule of thumb

If the plan builds on something that already exists, the retrograde tends to support it. If it starts something from nothing, give it extra care, extra checking and, where possible, a later date.

How to prepare in the pre-shadow (4 to 24 October)

The fortnight before the station is when the topics that will be reviewed first appear. Notice what comes up: an email you cannot quite answer, a plan that keeps stalling, a person you keep meaning to call. Write these down. When Mercury turns back, these are often the very threads that return.

Back up your phone and laptop before 24 October.
Confirm travel times and bookings for late October, especially across the clock change.
Finish and send anything you would rather not leave half-done.
List the decisions you expect to make before the end of November.

Choosing dates when your plans cannot move

This is where general advice stops being enough. A retrograde affects everyone, but it lands differently in each birth chart: the house Scorpio occupies in your horoscope shows which area of life is most touched, and the rest of the chart can soften or sharpen the effect. For that reason, a date that looks unhelpful on paper can still be workable for you once your own chart is taken into account.

My Magic of Lucky Dates & Times service is designed for exactly this. You tell me the event and the window you are working with, and I analyse the planetary positions in your horoscope to suggest the most supportive date and time available within it. It is guidance, not a promise of outcomes, but it gives you a considered reason for the choice you make. For wider context on the season, the Mercury retrograde page gathers the key cycles in one place.

Frequently asked questions

When does Mercury retrograde start and end in October 2026?

Mercury stations retrograde on 24 October 2026 and turns direct on 13 November 2026, both in Scorpio. The shadow period stretches from 4 October to 30 November 2026.

Is it bad to start a new job during this retrograde?

Not necessarily. Starting a job is usually not in your control. Take extra care with paperwork, ask questions early and keep notes of what is agreed. A personal reading can show how the period touches your career houses specifically.

Does it affect every sign equally?

No. Scorpio and the other fixed signs, Taurus, Leo and Aquarius, often feel it most directly, but the exact area of life depends on your full birth chart rather than your Sun sign alone.

Should I delay everything until 30 November?

Only the things you can comfortably delay. For most plans, careful checking matters more than the calendar.

If a date in this window matters to you, send us your question with the event, the dates you are considering and your birth details. Readings take place online by Google Meet or WhatsApp, or as a written reply, and I will come back to you with a clear, practical view of your options.