Astrology Forecast for July 2026: The Highlight of the Year Arrives

All dates and times provided are for Pacific to Eastern time.

Overview of July

July is a power month, one of the pivotal points of 2026. It opens with a bang: Mercury is freshly retrograde, Jupiter has just entered Leo, and Mars and Uranus come together in a tense conjunction at 3° Gemini.

As the month progresses, the planets form an extraordinary alignment — sometimes called a cradle, or a basket. Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Jupiter all converge at 4° of their respective signs: Gemini, Aries, Aquarius, and Leo. See the chart below for a visual — it's striking.  

The alignment will start forming soon after Jupiter enters Leo on June 29/30, and will peak between July 15-24.

The chart below is for July 20, 2026, for Vancouver, Canada. Take a look and keep reading...the post continues below. 

The energy of July is super-charged, multilayered, and full of surprises. The energies have been with us for a while, but Jupiter's arrival on the scene gives them a boost. 

Geopolitical and technological changes that have been brewing behind the scenes can start accelerating now. New power players can emerge. The power dynamics and balance can shift.

With Neptune in the picture, there can also be developments around the oil industry or medical science, pharmaceuticals and drugs.

This extraordinary alignment between the outer planets comes on the heels of Uranus squaring the Nodes in June: a major collective crossroads. The path humanity is going to take will become clearer in July, but it will likely take some time before things will truly play out.

As always, when Pluto is involved, something might come to a definitive end. There can be power reversals and power moves.

André Barbault's Predictions for 2026:

This upcoming planetary alignment is sometimes referred to as the Barbault's Basket, after a French astrologer André Barbault.

He foresaw, with amazing accuracy, a number of important world events, such as the collapse of the Soviet Union and reunification of Germany.

Most astonishingly, he predicted that 2020-2021 were going to be two extremely challenging years for the planet (he passed away in 2019, before we knew about COVID).

And so it's comforting to know that he saw 2026 as one of the highest points of the 21st century - a major turning point that is beneficial for the humanity.

While there is much buzz about the planetary alignments of July-August 2026, what André Barbault actually wrote about is the alignment we experienced earlier this year, that included Saturn-Neptune conjunction. 

But, it very well may be that the beneficial developments he foresaw will be set in motion this month!

If you're interested in Barbault's book, "Planetary Cycles", you can find it on Amazon here. It's not exactly a light read, but it's fascinating, especially if you're a big picture thinker who enjoys world history.

As always, this post is about the big picture of the month + I provide a quick synopsis of each week. You can find my detailed weekly forecasts here, published every Thursday.

OK, let's take a quick look at each week, to help you plan your month ahead.

July 1-5:

Mercury is freshly retrograde this week. Be on guard for the usual Mercury Rx annoyances, such as technology glitches, miscommunication, and scheduling mishaps.

It doesn't help that a tense Mars-Uranus conjunction peaks on July 3, at 3° Gemini. There may be sudden breakthroughs but also breakdowns, especially around technology or travel.

A Mars-Uranus combo is also an accident-prone energy. Drive safely and be careful with electric appliances.

On July 4-5, Mars makes a sextile to Neptune and a trine to Pluto. Wow, Mars is very active this week! It's a great couple of days for spiritual, artistic or charitable pursuits - and on a very different note, it's also an excellent time to stand up for your beliefs with courage AND compassion.

The weekend brings a lovely Opportunity Period - nice! You can find the full forecast for this week here.

July 6-12:

Neptune turns retrograde on July 7, for the first time since it entered Aries. It's your gentle nudge from the universe to connect with your spiritual side, your intuition, or your artistic abilities.

On July 9, Venus enters Virgo. It invites you to clean up your finances and relationships, and to look at the ways you may be undervaluing yourself. Venus in Virgo is humble and unassuming, and can take these qualities too far.

The Moon turns Balsamic on July 11 at 2:44 a.m. PDT. The next 72 hours are inauspicious for new beginnings, but it's a great time to finish up projects, tie up loose ends, and - my favourite - do some digital or physical decluttering. Clear out stagnant energy in preparation for the New Moon on July 14.

On July 12, the Sun and retrograde Mercury come together in a conjunction in Cancer. So here is an invitation for you: which stories you're still telling yourself that are holding you back? The ones you've outgrown a long time ago? It's time to start re-writing them.

July 13-19:

Venus squares Uranus on July 13. If you're planning that first date, or need to make a financial decision, save it for another day. Otherwise, things may not last or not go as you expect.

Then, a New Moon arrives on July 14, at 2:44 a.m. PDT. This Moon is at 21° Cancer. This is a very introspective New Moon: it's conjunct Mercury Retrograde. And, just as the Sun and the Moon come together, the Moon goes void of course.

If you work with the Lunar Cycle - and if you don't, you really need to give it a try! - it's best to set introspective intentions on this New Moon. Ask the Universe to:

• Help you understand what's behind the less-than-happy relationship you have with your mom (if this applies), and the first best step you can take to change it.
• Help you resolve ambivalence, if any, about starting a family.
• Help you decide if a home purchase or sale is the right thing for you at this time.

On July 15, Uranus and Neptune come together in a sextile.

On July 17, the Moon is waxing in Virgo, encouraging you to make one healthy change to your lifestyle (or more, if you feel like it!)

On July 18, the Uranus-Pluto trine peaks. There are more to follow, all the way into 2028.

And on July 18-19, we're feeling the Mars-Saturn conjunction. This week gifts you with a powerhouse of energy to initiate welcome changes in your life!

July 20-26:

The extraordinary line-up of planetary alignments continues this week.

Jupiter opposes Pluto on July 20 and sextiles Uranus on July 21.

The Sun makes its annual entry into Leo on July 22. Happy Birthday to my Leo readers! ♌🎁🎂 If you have a special Leo in your circle, don't forget to check out my Leo Gift Guide.

And, Mercury turns direct on July 23. Hallelujah! Agreements, contract negotiations, and purchases of vehicles and electronics get the green light again. But, stay on guard until the end of the week - miscommunication, technology glitches and scheduling issues tend to happen in the days right before and after Mercury changes direction.

On July 24, Mercury and Venus form a supportive trine. If you inadvertently ruffled any feathers during Mercury retrograde, this is an excellent day to make amends.

Neptune sextiles Pluto on July 24.

On July 26, Saturn turns retrograde and the Sun opposes Pluto. Power-hungry players can come out. Unless you're prepared for a valiant fight, don't challenge your boss or other authority figures.

July 27-31:

On July 27, the Sun trines Neptune and sextiles Uranus. Wow! If your birthday falls on July 23-30, your next 12 months can bring some very powerful energies. It may be a very good year to book a Solar Return (birthday) reading.

The Full Moon in Aquarius arrives on July 29, at 7:36 a.m. PDT. This Moon illuminates the Jupiter-Pluto opposition, forming an energetic climax of this extraordinary month. The energies are so rich and multi-layered that it's hard to say what is going to happen! Stay open to the possibilities.

Work With Me This July

Knowing what the planets are up to is a great start — but the more powerful question is: what does it mean for you? The real magic happens when you look at how these transits interact with your natal chart. If you're ready to get the full benefit of what astrology can offer, I'd love to work with you.

Not sure which reading is right for you? If you want clarity on your next 12 months and have burning questions, book the Live Reading. If you're ready to build a map toward your bigger goals in life, book the Timing Edge.