Mercury retrograde—everyone’s favorite excuse to arrive fashionably late to, well, everything—begins on June 29, 2026. Mercury retrograde is famously a period of miscommunication, delays, and technical difficulties. People could feel more forgetful or ditzy. Retrogrades can also bring reversals: if you lost your keys, you might find them; if you walked away from a relationship, you might find yourself walking back.
If you’re a sentimental person, this Mercury retrograde in Cancer might also find you in a particularly nostalgic, wistful mood. You might even feel a little tearful! But, like all things astrological, you needn’t freak out. Personally, I revel in Mercury retrograde as a period to reconnect with those I care about, rest, and, if I’m in the mood to be busy, revisit projects I’d put on the back burner.
Mercury retrograde enters its pre-shadow period on June 13, during which time you might get a preview of what your Mercury retrograde story will be. The actual retrograde occurs between June 29 and July 23. And then there’s its shadow period on August 7; this will be a time of clarity, when the stories that emerged during the retrograde might be tied up.
As ever, how this Mercury retrograde in Cancer will affect you will depend on your sign. Scroll down to see what summer has in store.
Aries Horoscope
21 March – 19 April
This Mercury retrograde will have you feverishly deciphering your grandmother’s cursive because you want to duplicate her recipe for apple pie. In other words, you may be in an uncharacteristically nostalgic mood, Aries, and chance may have it that you’ll run into childhood friends and family who you haven’t seen in a long time. Maybe this is a way for you to reconnect with your inner child—or to remind yourself why you left home! And, as ever, be careful not to misplace your house keys; that said, you may find the heirloom ring you lost last season as you weed your heirloom tomatoes.
Taurus Horoscope
20 April – 21 May
If you were a shoe, typically you’d be a loafer… but during this Mercury retrograde, you’re a flip-flop all the way. The decisions you made last month seem like distant memories, and your POV could take a surprising U-turn. There’s nothing wrong with changing your mind, but those around you will be surprised, and you’ll have a lot of explaining to do! Communication snafus could arise—this is Mercury retrograde, after all—but with Mercury being in psychic Cancer, the key for you will be to listen to your intuition even if the outside noise is overwhelming. Eventually, it will all come together, and fortunately, you have the patience to let it all fall into place.
Gemini Horoscope
22 May – 21 June
Astrologers also often advise against making special purchases during this time because the items may not work as advertised, or—as Geminis tend to do—you’ll change your mind and send it back. If there’s something important you want to buy, check the return policy and prepare a plan B just in case: don’t stress, be prepared! Financial decisions may need to be reworked, and material concerns may be on your mind more generally. Maybe you’ll revisit an agreement with a client or employer and bring it to renegotiation, or maybe you will finally ask your friend to return that vintage piece you want back in your closet.
Cancer Horoscope
22 June – 22 July
This Mercury retrograde takes place in your sign, making you the star of the show! And while it’s true that Mercury retrograde can be very annoying, this also stands to be an incredible moment for Cancers to rediscover something that could change your life’s course. You’ve always romanticized the past, and now, it might just pay off. On a lighter note, this could be a fun time to revisit an aesthetic that once dominated your wardrobe, as well as reconnect with someone who you knew many iterations of yourself ago—seeing someone from the past can sometimes feel like time travel, and showing them who you are now might feel satisfying.
