The Astrology Podcast

2026 Year Ahead Astrology Forecast

Host: Chris Brennan
Guest: Austin Coppock
Date: December 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In this detailed, yearly forecast episode, Chris Brennan and guest astrologer Austin Coppock break down the major astrological transits of 2026. They provide both a bird’s-eye view of globally significant aspects—emphasizing how this year marks the true beginning of a new astrological era—and a month-by-month analysis, rich with insight and practical keywords. The tone is a mix of seriousness about world events and the playful camaraderie the two astrologers are known for. Key themes include the historic Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Aries, epochal outer planet ingresses, eclipses signaling major beginnings and endings, dramatic Venus and Mars retrogrades, and the emergence of radical new technological and social currents. This is a year packed with high stakes for individuals and the collective.

Structure

• Big-Picture Themes and Planetary Shifts
• Key Transits and Deep Dives
• Notable Quotes and Highlights
• Segmented Breakdown with Timestamps
• Month-By-Month Summary
• Closing Reflections

Big-Picture Themes and Planetary Shifts

“No Going Back”—Era-Defining Transits (07:07, 08:43)

• 2026 completes multi-year outer planet transitions, truly ending the previous astrological era:
  • Neptune moves into Aries (01/26)
  • Saturn moves into Aries (02/13)
  • Uranus enters Gemini (04/25)
• Saturn–Neptune Conjunction in Aries (02/20): The first and only exact conjunction at 0° Aries in over 36 years. This marks the end of old structures and illusions, and the beginning of a period where reality, truth, and imagination become intensely intertwined.

“This is the point of no return. But it’s also the year that stuff gets real.” — Chris [08:43]

Key Transits and Insights

Saturn–Neptune Conjunction in Aries: Reality Distortion and Ontological Crisis

Timestamps: 05:25 – 19:01, 24:24 – 29:56

• Completion and Initiation: This is the climax of a multi-year buildup—a “reality distortion field” peaks (11:25).
• Societal Impact: Technologies (e.g., AI-generated video), the collapse of old institutions, and confusion over truth vs. fiction intensify.
• Example: The parallel to the last Saturn-Neptune conjunction—the fall of the Berlin Wall.
• Personal Impact: Critical for people with Saturn–Neptune conjunctions natally (especially 1953, 1989).
• Positive Side: Utopian dreams manifest, building concrete structures from ideals (“The attempt to create a Saturnian structural container for the imagined.” — Austin [18:15]).

“It makes deciding what is clearly true and real much trickier than normal... The reality distortion, the ontological crisis.” — Austin [12:25]

Neptune in Aries: Idealization of Conflict and Heroism

Timestamps: 19:01 – 28:58

• Historical Context: Last time coincided with the US Civil War; new era starts with idealized views of war and the heroic masculine (20:50, 24:24).
• Theme: From compassion (Pisces) to individual assertion and sacrifice (Aries). Risk of disillusionment as reality intrudes.
• Contemporary Reflection: Hypermasculine, “action-hero” culture resurges, but Saturn’s presence restrains and challenges it.

Uranus in Gemini: Technological Revolution & Social Upheaval

Timestamps: 54:54 – 74:19

• US Context: Every Uranus in Gemini return (84-year cycle) has coincided with major wars or upheavals—American Revolution, Civil War, World War II.
• Liberal Philosophy: Evolution and struggle over ideas of freedom and equality.
• Mars–Uranus Conjunction (07/04): Explosive, norm-shattering, and historical, synchronizing with the "birthday" of the USA (Revolutionary flashpoint).
• Rapid Tech Advances: AI, communication, transportation; breakdown of language barriers; rise of drone and robotic technologies.
• Social Fragmentation/Unity: Simultaneous potential for both wider connection (universal translators, globalized culture) and deeper fragmentation (cultural niches).

“Mars Uranus is an explosive combination... rules are broken, which then sets a new norm—which is often quite, how should we say, unnorm.” — Austin [65:34]

Eclipse Seasons: Major Endings and Beginnings

Timestamps: 41:28 – 54:45, 117:33 – 122:58

• February–March: Eclipses in Aquarius & Virgo, activating Saturn–Neptune themes and Pluto in Aquarius.
• August: Solar Eclipse in Leo – opens a new Leo–Aquarius eclipse cycle, magnifies Jupiter’s transit in Leo, and Pluto’s presence in Aquarius; lunar eclipse in Pisces closes another era.
• Key Effect: Pivot points for public figures (especially Leo/Aquarius types); the rise and fall of the prominent; ripple effects visible at personal and societal levels.

“This is opening up a new sequence… major endings and major beginnings.” — Chris [43:26]

Jupiter Transits: Protective (Cancer) to Dramatic (Leo)

Timestamps: 89:01 – 98:15, 104:38 – 121:43

• Jupiter in Cancer (First Half): Buffer against chaos; “bouncing back” (92:40); cleaning up aftermath of previous challenges/context of US birth chart.
• Jupiter in Leo (End of June Onward): Aggrandizes Leo placements/people, centers themes of confidence and performative charisma; gets mixed with South Node, Mars retrograde, and eclipses, amplifying drama and volatility in that domain.

“Jupiter in Cancer is the ability to restore what has been depleted, to protect from what would harm.” — Austin [92:04]

Venus Retrograde (Libra/Scorpio): Revisiting the Underworld

Timestamps: 124:02 – 141:24

• October–November: Retrograde in Scorpio (detriment/exile), then Libra; starts with tense, difficult aspects (Mars/Pluto oppositions and squares).
• Themes: Return or breakdown of alliances; unorthodox or “underground” aesthetics come into prominence; ruptures or renovations in relationships; political/diplomatic breakdowns (US midterms).
• Mythic Reference: Descent of Inanna—losing all, then re-emerging transformed (“a raw look to the first portion” — Austin [135:19]).
• Repetition: Recalls years like 2018, 2010, 2002, 1994, etc.—look for patterns from past Venus Rx periods.

“There’ll probably be a lot of really loud and bloody crash outs at the beginning and then a disappearance and people return with their shit actually back together.” — Austin [136:51]

Mars Retrograde (Virgo/Leo): Prolonged Severing and Stamina Challenge

Timestamps: 141:52 – 158:49

• Shadow Period Begins late Sept 2026, Retrograde Jan 10, 2027
• Extended Impact: Mars hangs in Leo/Virgo (esp. late degrees) for many months—amplifying and energizing the Leo sector, setting up a “cliffhanger” at year’s end.
• Themes: Severing ties; endings and clean breaks; frustration, burnout, “stamina challenge.” Simmering resentment, inflammatory situations, and potential for both energetic assertion and angry conflicts; buildup to climactic events into early 2027.
• Historical Echoes: 79-year cycle (look at 1947-48, 1868-69, 1789-90); repeatedly linked to major socio-political/military inflection points.

“You have the same gotta do it three times from a Mercury retrograde, but spread out over months and months and months.” — Austin [154:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s the year that things get real.” — Chris [276:10]
• “Mars brings contest and struggle and dispute. It’s like, oh, Jupiter says, oh, I believe in my... and then somebody attacks that and you get in a fight with them.” — Austin [146:59]
• “It’s a little shocking how quickly a thing will fold... under Saturn–Neptune, the walls don’t need to be sieged for months.” — Austin [13:56]
• “Mars–Uranus is very much the quality... You have this latent power, all this latent energy, and then Mars provides the strike of the match.” — Austin [65:34]
• “No going back is absolutely right. The astrology divides this decade very neatly in terms of outer planet positions…” — Austin [07:07]
• “The United States with a lot of support that will go away halfway through the year… just in time [for] our first Mars–Uranus conjunction.” — Austin [91:18]
• “Eclipses exaggerate and create rises, but they also create sudden falls and disappearances… they provide a dramatic roller coaster.” — Austin [149:14]

Month-by-Month Snapshot

January

• Major: Sun, Venus, Mars cazimi in Capricorn; all conjoin Pluto (173:06).
• Themes: Behind-the-scenes maneuvers; “quiet but consequential.”

February

• Saturn–Neptune conjunction in Aries (conjunct at 0° on 02/20) — historic turning point (176:57).
• Solar Eclipse in Aquarius squares Uranus (02/17).
• Disruptive, reality-bending events; technology, political and social confusion.

March

• Mercury Rx in Pisces (disastrous for tech/communication); Mars enters Pisces; lunar eclipse Virgo (184:40).
• Brief redemption: Jupiter stations direct Cancer (major healing).

April

• Mars, Saturn, Neptune all in Aries — fiery, dangerous; Mars–Saturn conjunction (04/19), Mercury–Mars–Saturn–Neptune pileup.
• Uranus in Gemini (04/25): triggers rapid and unpredictable changes—especially in tech, comms, and transportation.

May

• Shift: Mars moves from Aries to Taurus; Venus into Cancer.
• Tension: Mars square Pluto (05/25); Sun conjunct Uranus in Gemini.

June

• Sweet spot: Venus–Jupiter in Cancer (06/09) = best elections, reconciliation, positive unions.
• End of month: Drastic shift as Mars enters Gemini, Mercury Rx, Jupiter into Leo—sets up dramatic July.

July

• Mars–Uranus conjunction in Gemini (07/04): “Flashpoint.”
• Uranus trines Pluto, Jupiter opposes Pluto; eclipse-triggered volatility; technological leap.

August

• Eclipse Season II: Solar eclipse in Leo (08/12) = new cycle for public figures, creative energy.
• Venus enters Libra/shadow for upcoming Rx; Mars and Saturn in their fall create “tense, frictive, potentially nasty” energy.

September

• Venus enters Scorpio: Retrograde drama intensifies; Uranus station (09/10) echoes big events from previous cycles.
• Mars enters Leo: Build up to retrograde.

October

• Venus retrograde station in Scorpio with heavy Mars/Pluto tension (“misery maxing”); Mercury retrograde in Scorpio—raw, messy, breakup-focused (244:16–247:40).

November

• Venus and Mercury both station direct (11/13): big sigh of relief, forward momentum returns.
• Mars–Jupiter–South Node conjunction in Leo (decisive, heroic, or catastrophic flashes).

December

• Mars square Uranus kicks off “cliffhanger” retrograde sequence.
• Saturn and Neptune both station direct: Reality distortion field reasserts.
• Venus exits retrograde shadow; Mars retrograde prepares to define 2027’s start.

Closing Reflections

2026 is the definitive “point of no return”—a potent, tumultuous year that launches everyone, individually and collectively, into uncharted territory. As Chris concludes:

“We’re all in it together. In moments of crisis, that’s when people step up to do what’s necessary and find courage... sometimes reaching new levels of freedom and liberation for different groups that didn’t exist before.” [271:33]

Table of Key Alignments & Timestamps

| Date/Period | Alignment/Event | Impact Summary | Timestamp | |--------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|-----------| | Jan 26 | Neptune enters Aries | End of era illusion, new dream/war cycle | 02:27 | | Feb 13 | Saturn enters Aries | “Stuff gets real”—structures tested, beginning of new cycle| 02:27 | | Feb 20 | Saturn–Neptune conjunction | Ontological crisis, reality vs. illusion climax | 05:25–19:01| | Feb–Mar | Eclipse season (#1) | Aquarius/Virgo axis—major beginnings/endings | 41:28 | | Apr 19–20 | Mars–Saturn–Neptune in Aries| Plagues, war, collapse, confusion in action | 190:11 | | Apr 25 | Uranus enters Gemini | Start of new 7-year tech/social revolution | 56:12, 197:34| | Early June | Venus–Jupiter in Cancer | Most positive period—healing, union, best elections | 98:15 | | July 4 | Mars–Uranus in Gemini | Historical flashpoint, US chart activation | 65:34, 213:44| | July 17 | Uranus–Pluto trine (1st) | Tech innovation, AI acceleration | 219:44 | | Aug 12 | Eclipse in Leo | Major rises/falls for public figures, new story in Leo | 117:33 | | Oct 3–Nov 13 | Venus Retrograde in Scorpio/Libra| Messy breakups, return/ending of alliances/norms | 124:02 | | Nov 17 | Mars–Jupiter–South Node in Leo| Decisive, bold actions, military/aggrandizements | 250:21 | | Dec 1 | Mars square Uranus | Start of highly charged Mars Rx buildup | 257:56 | | Dec 10–12 | Saturn & Neptune direct | Reality distortion field intensifies again | 262:24 |

Recommended Actions

• Personal Growth: Capitalize on Jupiter in Cancer (early June) for healing and launching important ventures.
• Prepare for Change: Expect tumultuous mid-year—use calm periods for consolidation and plans.
• Monitor Leo/Aquarius/Virgo/Pisces Sectors: Eclipse and Mars retro energies most active here.
• Be Mindful During Venus Rx (Oct–Nov): Don’t rush relationship or financial decisions—time for review, not initiation.
• Stay Flexible in Communication: Especially during Mercury Rx in Pisces and Gemini (March, July).
• Anticipate Historic Moments: July 4th may be a major national/international turning point.

Further Resources

• Austin Coppock: austincoppock.com, sphereandsundry.com
• Chris Brennan/Electional Reports: theastrologypodcast.com/2026report
• Chani App: Human-authored astrology—no AI
• Conferences: UAC 2026 (uacastrology.com), NORWAC 2026 (norwac.net)

Conclusion:
2026 sets the stage for epochal transition—individually and collectively, it’s the year “there’s no going back.” The astrology community will be watching—and supporting each other—through every twist and turn.