2026 Year Ahead [Part Two]: Hold onto your Horses
The Major Astrological Shifts of 2026
This is part two of a two-part series exploring the astrology of 2026. In part one, I set the context for the year ahead—reflecting on why 2025 felt so challenging, and outlined the numerological and Chinese astrological themes that shape the year ahead. In this second piece, I’ll dive deeper into the astrology itself, breaking down the key transits and predictions to watch out for as the year unfolds.
It’s time for the much-anticipated, year ahead astrology article.
In part one, we looked at the wider context shaping 2026—the long Pisces chapter coming to a close, the reset of a Year 1, and the shift toward greater agency. Part two is where I’m going to break down the key transits you should pay attention to that will define this year and beyond.
Key Astrological Milestones of 2026:
January 26, 2026 – March 23, 2039 — Neptune moves into Aries, beginning a long-term shift that will unfold through 2039. This marks a generational change in how ideals, belief systems, and collective vision take shape.
February 13, 2026 – April 12, 2028 — Saturn enters Aries, where it will remain until 2028. Saturn returns to this part of the zodiac roughly every 29 years, resetting themes around responsibility, leadership, and self-directed action.
February 17, 2026 — Solar Eclipse in Aquarius, in part one, I told you to keep this date in mind! Yes, this aligns with the movement into the fire horse year.
February 20, 2026 — Saturn and Neptune conjunction in Aries, a rare conjunction that occurs approximately once every 36 years. This moment sets a defining tone for the years ahead.
March 3, 2026 — Total Lunar Eclipse in Virgo, the fifth eclipse in a set of seven occurring along the Virgo-Pisces axis since September 2024.
April 25, 2026 – May 22, 2033 — Uranus enters Gemini, initiating a cycle that lasts until 2033. Uranus revisits this sign roughly once every eight decades, bringing rapid shifts in communication, technology, learning, and information exchange.
June 19, 2026 – May 5, 2034 — Chiron moves into Taurus, known as the ‘wounded healer’ asteroid, Chiron hasn’t been in this sign since 1976-1984.
June 30, 2026 – July 26, 2027 — Jupiter moves into Leo, where it will stay until 2027. This is part of Jupiter’s regular 12-year cycle and highlights themes of creativity, visibility, confidence, and self-expression.
July 26, 2026 – March 26, 2028 — The North Node enters Aquarius & South Node enters Leo, remaining there until March 2028. The lunar nodes return to this axis every 18–19 years, redirecting collective focus toward innovation, community, and future-oriented thinking.
August 12, 2026 — Solar Eclipse in Leo, second eclipse of the Leo-Aquarius set.
August 28, 2026 — Lunar Eclipse in Pisces, the sixth eclipse of seven occurring along the Virgo-Pisces axis.
October 3 – November 13, 2026 — Venus retrogrades through Scorpio and Libra. While Venus retrogrades approximately every 18 months, this particular pattern—moving between these two signs—echoes themes from late 2018. Her shadow period begins August 31st 2026.
Like I said, 2026 is eventful to say the least! The reason I included the end date of some of the longer transits is so you can visually grasp how significant it is for these outer planets to change signs (Neptune and Uranus in particular). That’s why 2026 is such an important transition year.
Now let’s dive deeper into some of the transits mentioned in the calendar above—this deep dive also highlights specific dates to look back to, as well as the birth years starting their planetary returns (e.g. Saturn return). If you want to jump ahead to the predictions for 2026, scroll to the end.
Saturn and Neptune Enter Aries: From Endurance to Initiative
The first real shift of 2026 begins early in the year, as the energy moves decisively away from Pisces and into Aries. We move from a period dominated by reflection and uncertainty, into one that prioritises action and forward motion.
Neptune in Aries (26th January 2026 – 23rd March 2039):
Neptune spends roughly 14 years in each sign, and when it eventually does change, it marks a generational turning point. This planet shapes collective ideals, belief systems, and the stories we tell ourselves about what’s possible.
Look back at 30th March 2025 - 22nd October 2025 for clues on the themes that may arise for you when Neptune enters Aries.
The collective ideal shifts toward self-determination and the freedom to begin again. There’s a strong pull to see ourselves as bold, independent, and capable of leading our own lives—sometimes before we fully understand who we are or where our limits lie. This can create blind spots around identity and boundaries, especially when our insecurities lead us to exaggerate or adopt versions of ourselves (think online personas) that feel aspirational rather than authentic. Discernment is going to be essential, I can’t stress this enough. We will see a rise in false identities, hacking, and ‘experts’ who are more performative than knowledgeable—don’t mistake bravado for authenticity. I’m particularly watching how this plays out in the spiritual wellness industry. Neptune in Aries will bring a new approach to spirituality and a shift in our belief systems. Do not worship false idols, do not idolise fake ‘gurus’—trust your own instincts.
With this transit also comes political activism but also civil unrest. I can see this particularly happening in the U.S. The last time Neptune was in Aries was 1861—The American Civil War started on the 12th April 1861 and Neptune entered Aries the following day on the 13th April.
Culturally, this transit tends to usher in a noticeable reset in aesthetic and creative direction and this is what I’m looking forward to the most. New ideals begin to take shape across art, fashion, music, and film—there’s an appetite for immediacy, rawness, and reinvention. Personally, I’m interested in seeing how Neptune in Aries shapes beauty trends moving forward—watch out for an article on that!
Saturn in Aries (13th February 2026 – 12th April 2028):
Just a few weeks after Neptune’s shift, Saturn follows it into Aries, and this pairing is key to understanding the year ahead.
Those born in the date ranges below will be experiencing their Saturn Return:
3rd March 1967 - 29th April 1969
7th April 1996 - 9th June 1998
25th October 1998 - 28th February 1999
Saturn represents restriction, discipline, responsibility, and the slow work of building something that lasts. Aries, on the other hand, is fast, reactive, and impatient. This isn’t a comfortable combination. Saturn is in it’s ‘fall’ here, which means it doesn’t naturally thrive, and that tension is part of the lesson.
This is all a balancing act. Saturn in Aries forces us to confront how we handle pressure, conflict and anger—how do you act when you don’t get your way? Acting without thinking has consequences, but hesitating out of fear has consequences too.
Look back at 24th May 2025 - 1st September 2025 for clues on the themes that may arise for you when Saturn enters Aries.
Where Neptune in Aries introduces larger-than-life ideas, Saturn provides friction to test what’s viable. Is your business idea sustainable for the long-term? Together, the Saturn and Neptune in Aries transit will show you where creativity has to be matched with effort.
Saturn–Neptune Conjunction in Aries:
This is probably one of the most significant transits of the year and definitely a date to watch out for!
In February 2026, Saturn and Neptune come together in Aries, beginning a cycle that hasn’t been seen in over three decades—a meeting like this only happens every 36 years. But that’s not even the most significant part of this! Saturn and Neptune are meeting at the important, 0° point—i.e. the very beginning of a sign, but not only that, the very beginning of the zodiac, since we are referring to Aries here. This means a new cycle is beginning as we close out an old chapter. Historically, this has coincided with major economic and societal resets, such as the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall.
Uranus Enters Gemini: A Revolution of the Mind
Since 2018, Uranus in Taurus has shaken systems tied to security, resources, and value. As Uranus moves into Gemini, the focus shifts from what we have to how we think. Uranus hasn’t been in Gemini since 1941—this is a big deal! Gemini governs language, learning, media, transportation, and networks—the connective tissue of society and Uranus is the planet of disruption.
Look back at 7th July 2025 - 7th November 2025 for clues on the themes that may arise for you when Uranus enters Gemini.
Over the next seven years, expect rapid changes in education, publishing, media ecosystems, and digital infrastructure. The way information is created, distributed, and trusted becomes a central issue. This is all about who controls the narrative, how truth is defined, and how easily perception can be distorted—especially in an era already saturated by algorithms and A.I, but even more so with Neptune in Aries.
Where are the writers at? This is a powerful transit for anyone whose work involves words, ideas, or connection. Many people will feel the urge to learn new skills, rethink how they communicate, or experiment with different ways of expressing ideas. Writing, speaking, teaching, and content creation all become areas of rapid experimentation.
When we look back at past cycles, Uranus in Gemini has coincided with some of the most significant and prolific wars, such as World War II and the Civil War. Gemini is a sign of duality. It highlights contrast, comparison, and opposition or ‘The Other’. Under Uranus, that polarity can intensify and differences become more visible—think about those wars and what the aim was—to overpower and ‘rid’ The Other, particularly due to race. The temptation is to frame the world in binaries—right and wrong, us and them, truth and lies. This transit can bring division, particularly around identity, ideology, and communication—the idea of old beliefs/ways of doing things vs the new way.
At the same time, Uranus in Gemini has also been linked to major breakthroughs in literacy, publishing, and access to information. Past cycles saw the spread of mass communication—the printing press was invented during this transit for example, which revolutionised the way we access information. Uranus in Gemini expands our accessibility: knowledge moving out of the hands of the few and into the public sphere.
This transit carries particular weight for the United States, whose birth chart places Uranus in Gemini aka. the USA’s Uranus Return.
Guess who else was born with Uranus in Gemini? Yup, DT.
Keep an eye out for his health decline and/or a public fall from grace (could possibly be further information on the files). He definitely has challenging transits in 2026.
Overall for the U.S., questions around free speech, education, race, citizenship, and who is afforded full humanity are likely to intensify. As will the conversation around gender and trans rights.
As for Uranus in Gemini coinciding with war and conflict—I do think DT is going to instruct further military action—especially when we overlay this transit with Neptune in Aries (we saw a preview of this with ICE and the National Guard). I also think there will be a lot of propaganda and false narratives around the decision to take this action.
It’s important to note that just because a Civil War has coincided with Uranus in Gemini in the past, it doesn’t mean it will necessarily play out again in the same fashion. In the world we live in today, this could look like ‘war’ between the civilians vs Government with regards to those who are trying to uncover the truth and those who are trying to keep it hidden. Remember, I mentioned a change in access to mass information as being a hallmark of this transit—this could very well be a pushback from civilians against A.I.
Jupiter in Leo: Visibility, Confidence, and Creative Risk
Jupiter’s move into Leo in late June 2026 shifts the tone from emotional consolidation to outward expression. Jupiter in Leo redirects attention towards our visibility, confidence, and creativity. This transit amplifies our desire to be seen and recognised. Is your presence reflecting something authentic, or are you simply being loud to mask yourself?
Look back at 16th July 2014 - 11th August 2015 for clues on the themes that may arise for you when Jupiter enters Leo.
Leo energy is concerned with authorship and ownership: this is mine, this is who I am, this is what I stand for. Under Jupiter, those themes expand. Creative pursuits, leadership roles, performance, and passion projects gain momentum, but excess is always the risk with Jupiter transits—everyone always thinks Jupiter brings an abundance of luck, when in reality it brings expansion. Jupiter in Leo can inflate ego just as easily as it supports genuine confidence. The challenge is learning the difference between self-expression that comes from purpose and attention-seeking that fills a void.
The best thing about Jupiter in Leo, is that it sparks themes of joy, play, and creativity again—especially where these have been sidelined by responsibility or self-doubt. In August, Jupiter forms a supportive aspect with Saturn in Aries—there’s potential to ground your creativity into something sustainable.
Chiron in Taurus: Healing Worth and Stability
When Chiron moves into Taurus in mid-June 2026, attention shifts from wounds tied to identity towards those rooted in value, security, and survival—where we feel materially secure, physically safe, and adequately resourced. Chiron is an asteroid known as ‘the wounded healer’—a quieter, slower process of healing. Issues around money, resources, food systems, the body, and climate change come into sharper focus.
Venus Retrograde in Scorpio and Libra: Reviewing Relationships
Look back at 5th October - 16th November 2018 for clues on the themes that may arise for you when Venus retrogrades.
From 3rd October to 13th November 2026, Venus moves retrograde across late Scorpio and back into Libra, turning attention towards how we relate, attach, and assign value in our close relationships. This is a period where all of your relationships come under review—reassessing your patterns in love, money, and self-worth. Situationships or toxic partnerships become harder to sustain, especially where intimacy or shared resources are involved. Retrogrades aren’t for decisive action, but for honesty: about what you want, what you tolerate, and where compromise has turned into self-erasure.
The Nodes Shift to Leo and Aquarius: Identity and Belonging
In the second half of 2026, the lunar nodes change signs, redirecting the longer-term eclipse storyline away from Pisces and Virgo and toward Leo and Aquarius. From here, the focus moves toward questions of individuality, visibility, and collective participation—how we express who we are, and how we locate ourselves within larger social systems, communities and our friendship groups. This will particularly important for those with strong Leo and Aquarius placements!
Look back at August 2016 - January 2019 for clues on the themes that may arise for you when the nodes shift to the Leo/Aquarius axis. How did this time period change your friendship groups, your creativity and networks?
I hope that has given you a better understanding of what’s to come this year! As I mentioned in part one, if you’re reading this on Substack, it’s worth saving this article so you can return to it—especially as some of these dates begin to unfold in real time.
Now for some predictions! I’m not saying these will be 100% exact or play out in the way I’ve predicted necessarily, but they are considered interpretations based on the transits I’ve written about. Astrology doesn’t dictate outcomes; it describes conditions. How those conditions play out will always depend on destiny and timing.
2026 Predictions:
War/Civil Unrest:
Military action instructed by DT—this is going to build around February, I’m looking at 17th February-20th February for something notable to happen, peaking 3rd March.
DT health decline or fall from grace/career ending—3rd or 4th July in particular will be notably challenging for DT. This could look like another attempt on his life, a major health issue made public, impeachment conversations, news related to the E.files. Although I think the latter two points may intensify by the time of the eclipse mid-August.
Conflict in South America (US vs South America: esp. Venezuela + Colombia)—we will see news of this starting mid-January, increasingly intensifying particularly around 17th February or around this date.
Conflict in Asia (particularly China/Mongolia, potentially Vietnam, Philippines and/or Korea)—starting around Spring, early August (potentially in the lead up to the eclipse).
War propaganda, the glorification and mediatisation of war—world leaders blurring fact and fiction to initiate conflict and lure men into battle.
Conflict—Humans vs A.I. rights.
Economical-Political-Societal Shifts
Possible recession/crash (particularly the USA) or collapse of legacy institutions.
High inflation—price of goods will increase.
Shortages of food.
Climate/environmental issues particularly water issues—droughts, flooding, rising sea levels, depletion of water reserves.
Further division/extremes of political views i.e. less of a neutral stance.
Potential for a new political party to form in the U.S.
A.I increasing development and radicalising the job market.
Regulations around A.I., particularly on social media as A.I will become an issue here (i.e. getting harder to discern if who you’re following is a real human vs A.I).
Increase of decentralised social media platforms and currencies.
Conversations around trans-rights, gender wars and the blurring or dissolving of ‘traditional’ roles. Continued themes of the male crisis/loneliness epidemic.
Increase in fake digital identities, multiple online personas and hacking/identity theft as well as catfishing.
Educational systems to change i.e. a change in the way kids are taught, curriculum changes (especially religion or topic of faith/religion within schools).
Mental health issues rise, particularly within young children/teens.
Changes to the entertainment industry and the way media is consumed. Continued streaming wars and issue of monopolies.
More originality in media and music, new ideas.
A desire to return to offline trends/analog trends and communities.
Fashion/Aesthetic Trends
Androgynous styles becoming more popular, more fluidity between traditional menswear and womenswear
Uniform style dressing, militant/utilitarian styles
I could also see expression through fashion in response to war—over-romanticising or glamourising in rebellious contrast to global conflict i.e. lace, frills, pearls, beading
Themed dressing—character-driven styling, drawing from cinema and fictional fantasy worlds e.g. gothic romantic motifs
Spiritual Self-development
Further exploration of psychedelics and how they can be used to help us medicinally. Further development of holistic and alternative health methods.
Spiritual awakenings or spiritual callings. Individuals will experience a significant shift in their beliefs.
Increased interest in the metaphysical (astrology, tarot, consciousness, somatic healing).
Rise and fall of ‘spiritual leaders’—karma coming to course-correct fake ‘experts’.
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