Planetary Conjunction 2026: Next Dates to Watch
· 4 min read
Throughout 2026, planets keep drifting toward each other, then pulling apart, then meeting again somewhere new. This slow choreography is called a planetary conjunction, and 2026 has several worth marking on your calendar.1
A planetary conjunction happens when two planets appear close together in the sky as seen from Earth.5 They aren't actually near each other in space — they're millions of miles apart — but they briefly share the same patch of sky because they travel along a shared path called the ecliptic.5
Just clear skies, a decent view of the horizon, and a little patience.1
What's happening in the sky right now
As of early September, Venus sits near the star Spica in the evening sky, building toward its greatest brilliancy on September 23.3 Look for the bright Evening Star near a thin crescent moon on September 13 and 14, low in the west-southwest after sunset.3
In the pre-dawn hours, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are all visible, with the moon passing near Jupiter and Mars from September 6 through 9.3 This is a good stretch for casual skywatching, since so many planets are up at once.3
The next conjunction to watch
Mars and Uranus will draw close together in the eastern sky before sunrise through late June and early July.5 They reach their closest approach on the morning of July 4, rising about two and a half hours before the sun.5
Mercury and Jupiter have their own conjunction too. In early August, Mercury sinks lower while Jupiter climbs higher in the eastern morning sky, and the two appear closest on the morning of August 15, rising about an hour before sunrise.5
Later in the year, Mars and Jupiter have their own morning conjunction on November 16.5
A rare planet parade
Around February 28, 2026, six planets — Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune, Venus, and Mercury — line up in what's described as a rare planetary alignment, visible about an hour after sunset on the western horizon.4
Later in the year, on or around November 14, 2026, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter gather in the morning sky in what's called a planet parade.2 All four will be visible to the naked eye, though Mercury will be the trickiest to spot since it stays low near the horizon.2
A planet parade isn't quite the same thing as a single conjunction — it's several planets loosely gathered in one part of the sky rather than two planets in a tight pairing.2
Reading the sky as a mirror, not a map
Think of it as an invitation: the sky is offering you a moment of stillness, and what you make of that moment is entirely yours.
Across astrological traditions, a conjunction between two planets is read as a blending of their energies, a chance for two different parts of your inner world to have a conversation. When Mars and Uranus meet, some traditions read that as friction between drive and disruption, a nudge to notice where you're pushing too hard against something that wants to move on its own terms.
You don't have to believe any of this to enjoy it. Step outside, find the pairing in the sky, and let yourself wonder for a minute about what's shifting in your own life right now. That's the whole practice: pause, look up, notice.
If a particular date on this list catches your attention, let that be permission to check in with yourself that day rather than a rule to follow.