December 2026 Astrology Calendar: Every Date That Matters, Ranked

December 2026 is the month the slow planets change gear. Saturn turns direct on December 10, Neptune on December 12 and Jupiter turns retrograde a few hours later, three station changes inside four days. Around them sit a Sagittarius New Moon, the winter solstice on December 21 and the Cold Moon on Christmas Eve, the closest full moon of 2026. Every date below is computed from the ephemeris rather than copied from a list. Times are given in Universal Time with Eastern, Pacific and UK conversions. North America is on standard time and the UK on GMT all month, so Eastern is five hours behind UTC, Pacific is eight hours behind and the UK matches UTC.

December follows the November 2026 calendar, where Mercury and Venus both turned direct. Mercury, Venus and Mars all move forward for the whole of December, the first month that is true since September.

The five December dates that matter most, ranked

1. December 24: the Cold Full Moon at 2 degrees 14 minutes of Cancer, the closest full moon of 2026. It is 356,729 kilometres from Earth at fullness, a supermoon under every common definition. The Moon reaches perigee seven hours later. In North America it is full on the evening of December 23. The Sun and Moon both square Neptune within a degree, so feelings run high and edges blur. Cold Moon 2026 guide.
2. December 10 to 13: Saturn and Neptune turn direct, Jupiter turns retrograde. Saturn stations direct at 7 degrees 56 minutes of Aries on December 10 and Neptune at 1 degree 37 minutes of Aries on December 12. The pair that met at 0 degrees of Aries in February starts moving forward together again (Saturn and Neptune conjunction guide). Jupiter stations retrograde at 27 degrees 01 minute of Leo at 00:58 UTC on December 13, which is the evening of December 12 in North America. Four months of review begin (Jupiter in Leo guide).
3. December 21: the winter solstice. The Sun enters Capricorn at 20:50 UTC, which is 3:50 pm Eastern. The longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of Capricorn season. Winter Solstice 2026 guide.
4. December 8 or 9: New Moon at 16 degrees 57 minutes of Sagittarius. Exact at 00:52 UTC on December 9, which is 7:52 pm Eastern on December 8. The month's one fresh start, aimed at study, travel and the bigger picture. New Moon in Sagittarius guide.
5. December 15: Venus clears its retrograde shadow. At 18:36 UTC Venus returns to 8 degrees 29 minutes of Scorpio, the degree where it turned retrograde on October 3. The last trace of the autumn's love and money review is gone. Venus Retrograde 2026 guide.

Every astrological event in December 2026

December opens with the Sun at 8 degrees of Sagittarius, Mercury one day clear of its post-retrograde shadow and Mars a week into Virgo. Mars stays in Virgo all month. It turns retrograde there at 10 degrees 26 minutes on January 10, 2027. It has been crossing that retrograde's ground since November 5. Uranus is retrograde in early Gemini the whole month. For the moon phases across the full year, see the 2026 full moon calendar.

Week by week

December 1 to 7: Venus returns to Scorpio. Venus re-enters Scorpio on the 4th at 3:14 am Eastern (8:14 am in the UK) and stays there until January 7. The same day Mercury squares Jupiter and Mars squares Uranus: big opinions and a short fuse. It is the first of three Mars and Uranus squares, with the others on February 17 and May 29, 2027 (May 28 in North America), so the restlessness has a long tail. Mercury enters Sagittarius on the 6th and conversation gets lighter.

December 8 to 14: the reset and the gear change. Mercury opposes Uranus on the morning of the 8th: news, a change of plan, an idea worth writing down. The New Moon in Sagittarius follows that evening in the Americas and in the small hours of the 9th in the UK. Later on the 9th Venus squares Pluto for the third and last time in this cycle, after September 15 and October 20. A question about jealousy, control or shared money that surfaced twice before gets its final answer. Then the outer planets turn: Saturn direct on the 10th, Neptune direct on the 12th and Jupiter retrograde on the 13th. Venus sextile Mars on the 12th is the warmest day of the month for love.

December 15 to 21: the all-clear and the longest night. Venus leaves its shadow on the 15th. Love and money decisions held back since October can go ahead. The Sun trines Jupiter on the 18th at 26 degrees 58 minutes of Sagittarius, the most generous day of the month, although with Jupiter newly retrograde the gift is often a second chance rather than a new one. The Sun reaches Capricorn at the solstice on the 21st: mid-afternoon on the East Coast, lunchtime on the West Coast and evening in the UK. Read the Sagittarius Season 2026 guide for the three weeks before it.

December 22 to 31: the full moon and the year's turn. The Sun squares Neptune on the morning of the 23rd and the Full Moon follows that evening in the Americas, early on the 24th in the UK, with both lights square Neptune. Mercury enters Capricorn on Christmas Day at 1:22 pm Eastern. The Moon spends most of Christmas Day in Cancer and moves into Leo at 4:12 pm Eastern (9:12 pm in the UK). The Sun squares Saturn on the 29th and Mercury follows on the 30th: the year's last reality check, aimed squarely at plans for 2027. New Year's Eve is steadier, with the Sun and Mercury both trine Mars in Virgo and the Moon in Libra. Mercury meets the Sun at 11 degrees of Capricorn on January 1.

Is Mercury retrograde in December 2026?

No. Mercury turned direct on November 13 and cleared its post-retrograde shadow on November 30 at 20 degrees 59 minutes of Scorpio, so December is clear from the first day. Mercury enters Sagittarius on December 6 at 08:33 UTC and Capricorn on December 25 at 18:22 UTC. The next Mercury retrograde begins at 5 degrees 59 minutes of Pisces on February 9, 2027. Its shadow starts on January 25.

Is Venus retrograde in December 2026?

No. Venus turned direct on November 13 at 7:20 pm Eastern, which is 00:20 UTC on November 14, at 22 degrees 52 minutes of Libra. It re-enters Scorpio on December 4 and clears its post-retrograde shadow on December 15 at 18:36 UTC. The next Venus retrograde does not begin until May 10, 2028, so 2027 has none at all.

What planets are retrograde in December 2026?

Uranus is retrograde all month at 2 to 3 degrees of Gemini, from its September 10 station until February 8, 2027. Saturn is retrograde until December 10 and Neptune until December 12. Jupiter is retrograde from December 13 UTC (December 12 in North America) until April 13, 2027 UTC, which is the evening of April 12 in North America. Mercury, Venus, Mars and Pluto move forward all month.

When is the full moon in December 2026, and is it a supermoon?

The December full moon is exact at 01:28 UTC on December 24, 2026. That is 8:28 pm Eastern and 5:28 pm Pacific on December 23 and 1:28 am in the UK on December 24. It falls at 2 degrees 14 minutes of Cancer and its traditional name is the Cold Moon. At 356,729 kilometres it is the closest full moon of 2026 and a supermoon by every common definition, including the strict 360,000 kilometre cut. The Moon reaches perigee seven hours later at 356,641 kilometres, the closest perigee of the year. The next supermoon is the Wolf Moon of January 22, 2027.

When is the winter solstice in 2026?

The December solstice is at 20:50 UTC on December 21, 2026: 3:50 pm Eastern, 12:50 pm Pacific and 8:50 pm in the UK, the same calendar date everywhere in those zones. It is the moment the Sun enters Capricorn. In the Southern Hemisphere it is the summer solstice and the longest day.

When is the new moon in December 2026?

The New Moon is exact at 00:52 UTC on December 9, which is 7:52 pm Eastern and 4:52 pm Pacific on December 8 and 12:52 am in the UK on December 9. It falls at 16 degrees 57 minutes of Sagittarius. It is the last new moon of 2026. The next is on January 7, 2027, at 17 degrees 19 minutes of Capricorn.

What the December 2026 astrology means for every sign

Read for your Sun sign and your rising sign. Houses are counted whole-sign from your sign. The New Moon lands in the house that holds Sagittarius. From the solstice the Sun moves to the house that holds Capricorn. The Cold Moon lights the house that holds Cancer. Each sign name links to its full December horoscope.

• Aries: the New Moon opens your ninth house of travel, study and belief. Saturn and Neptune both turn direct in your sign, so a personal plan that has felt stuck since July starts to move. The Cold Moon in your fourth house asks what home needs before the year ends.
• Taurus: Venus, your ruler, returns to your seventh house of partnership on the 4th and clears its shadow on the 15th. The relationship question from October can now be settled. The New Moon falls in your eighth house of shared money and intimacy.
• Gemini: the New Moon opens your seventh house of partnership, a fresh start with a partner or a new agreement. Mercury, your ruler, joins it there on the 6th and opposes Uranus in your sign on the 8th, so expect a surprising conversation. The Cold Moon in your second house closes a money matter.
• Cancer: the Cold Moon on December 23 and 24 is in your sign, the closest full moon of the year and your personal high point. The New Moon resets your sixth house of work and health first. Venus in your fifth house from the 4th warms romance.
• Leo: Jupiter turns retrograde in your sign on the 13th at 27 degrees and stays retrograde until April. The growth that began when it entered Leo on June 30 turns inward for review, not reversal. The New Moon in your fifth house is your best fresh start of the year for romance and creativity.
• Virgo: Mars is in your sign all month and turns retrograde there on January 10, so December is for finishing what you start rather than starting more. The New Moon falls in your fourth house of home and family. On New Year's Eve the Sun and Mercury both trine Mars in your sign.
• Libra: Venus, your ruler, moves into your second house of money on the 4th and clears its shadow on the 15th. That is the green light for a purchase or a pay conversation you postponed. The New Moon in your third house favours writing, learning and short trips. The Cold Moon lights your tenth house of career.
• Scorpio: Venus is back in your sign from the 4th to January 7, and this time it moves forward. Charm and confidence return after the autumn's review. The New Moon resets your second house of money and self-worth. Venus squares Pluto on the 9th and closes a question about control at home.
• Sagittarius: the New Moon in your sign is your personal new year and the best moment of 2026 to set an intention about yourself. Jupiter, your ruler, turns retrograde on the 13th. Finish the course, the trip plan or the big idea already in motion before beginning another.
• Capricorn: the first three weeks run quietly through your twelfth house, good for rest and finishing. Your season opens at the solstice on the 21st and Mercury joins the Sun in your sign on Christmas Day. Saturn, your ruler, turns direct in your fourth house on the 10th and a home or family matter starts to move.
• Aquarius: the New Moon in your eleventh house refreshes friendships and group plans. Jupiter turns retrograde in your seventh house of partnership on the 13th, a time to review what a relationship gives you. The Cold Moon in your sixth house brings a work or health routine to a natural end.
• Pisces: the New Moon in your tenth house is a fresh start for career and public goals. Neptune, your modern ruler, turns direct in your second house of money on the 12th and finances get clearer from there. The Cold Moon lights your fifth house of romance and creativity.

What to do with December 2026

Set an intention on the New Moon of December 8 or 9 and act on it once Venus clears its shadow on the 15th. Treat Jupiter's retrograde as a review of the year's growth rather than a loss of it. Let Saturn's turn direct restart the plan that stalled in July. Feel the Cold Moon fully on Christmas Eve and decide about it after the holiday. Use the Sun and Saturn square on December 29 to test your plans for 2027, then read the 2027 astrology calendar for every retrograde, eclipse and major transit of the year ahead.

Want to know exactly which house all of this lands in for you? Cast your free birth chart to find your rising sign and every placement. To see how Venus in Scorpio and the Cold Moon touch a relationship, run your charts together in the free compatibility tool.

Next month: the January 2027 astrology calendar picks up with the Capricorn new moon on January 7 and Mars turning retrograde on January 10.