Mars Transit 2026: Mangal Gochar Dates and Rashi Changes
Mars changes sign 8 times in 2026. It starts the year in Sagittarius (Dhanu) and enters Capricorn (Makara) on 16 January 2026; its last change of the year is into Leo (Simha) on 12 November 2026. Mangal, Mars, is the karaka of energy, courage, siblings, land and property, and of accidents, surgery and disputes. It decides Manglik dosha in a birth chart. Mars is exalted in Capricorn (Makara) and debilitated in Cancer (Karka).
Mars transit dates 2026
Times for Ujjain| Sign | From | Until | Aspects (drishti) | Good for Moon signs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sagittarius (Dhanu)Aspects (drishti): Pisces, Gemini, CancerGood for Moon signs: Cancer, Libra, Aquarius | 7 December 20258:17 PM | 16 January 202639 days | Pisces, Gemini, Cancer | Cancer, Libra, Aquarius |
| Capricorn (Makara)ExaltedAspects (drishti): Aries, Cancer, LeoGood for Moon signs: Leo, Scorpio, Pisces | 16 January 20264:28 AM | 23 February 202638 days | Aries, Cancer, Leo | Leo, Scorpio, Pisces |
| Aquarius (Kumbha)Aspects (drishti): Taurus, Leo, VirgoGood for Moon signs: Aries, Virgo, Sagittarius | 23 February 202611:50 AM | 2 April 202638 days | Taurus, Leo, Virgo | Aries, Virgo, Sagittarius |
| Pisces (Meena)Aspects (drishti): Gemini, Virgo, LibraGood for Moon signs: Taurus, Libra, Capricorn | 2 April 20263:29 PM | 11 May 202639 days | Gemini, Virgo, Libra | Taurus, Libra, Capricorn |
| Aries (Mesha)Own signAspects (drishti): Cancer, Libra, ScorpioGood for Moon signs: Gemini, Scorpio, Aquarius | 11 May 202612:38 PM | 20 June 202640 days | Cancer, Libra, Scorpio | Gemini, Scorpio, Aquarius |
| Taurus (Vrishabha)Aspects (drishti): Leo, Scorpio, SagittariusGood for Moon signs: Cancer, Sagittarius, Pisces | 20 June 202611:59 PM | 2 August 202643 days | Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius | Cancer, Sagittarius, Pisces |
| Gemini (Mithuna)Aspects (drishti): Virgo, Sagittarius, CapricornGood for Moon signs: Aries, Leo, Capricorn | 2 August 202610:51 PM | 18 September 202647 days | Virgo, Sagittarius, Capricorn | Aries, Leo, Capricorn |
| Cancer (Karka)NowDebilitatedAspects (drishti): Libra, Capricorn, AquariusGood for Moon signs: Taurus, Virgo, Aquarius | 18 September 20264:35 PM | 12 November 202655 days | Libra, Capricorn, Aquarius | Taurus, Virgo, Aquarius |
| Leo (Simha)Aspects (drishti): Scorpio, Aquarius, PiscesGood for Moon signs: Gemini, Libra, Pisces | 12 November 20268:18 PM | 10 March 2027117 days | Scorpio, Aquarius, Pisces | Gemini, Libra, Pisces |
Each row is one stay of Mars in a sign. Aspects are the signs Mars casts its drishti on from there, and the Moon signs are those for which that transit falls in a good house.
Mars aspects 2026: drishti in each sign
In Vedic astrology every planet aspects the 7th sign from itself. Mars also aspects the 4th and 8th signs, so it casts its drishti on three signs at once.
- In Sagittarius (Dhanu) (7 December 2025 – 16 January 2026), Mars aspects Pisces (Meena), Gemini (Mithuna), and Cancer (Karka).
- In Capricorn (Makara) (16 January 2026 – 23 February 2026), Mars aspects Aries (Mesha), Cancer (Karka), and Leo (Simha).
- In Aquarius (Kumbha) (23 February 2026 – 2 April 2026), Mars aspects Taurus (Vrishabha), Leo (Simha), and Virgo (Kanya).
- In Pisces (Meena) (2 April 2026 – 11 May 2026), Mars aspects Gemini (Mithuna), Virgo (Kanya), and Libra (Tula).
- In Aries (Mesha) (11 May 2026 – 20 June 2026), Mars aspects Cancer (Karka), Libra (Tula), and Scorpio (Vrishchika).
- In Taurus (Vrishabha) (20 June 2026 – 2 August 2026), Mars aspects Leo (Simha), Scorpio (Vrishchika), and Sagittarius (Dhanu).
- In Gemini (Mithuna) (2 August 2026 – 18 September 2026), Mars aspects Virgo (Kanya), Sagittarius (Dhanu), and Capricorn (Makara).
- In Cancer (Karka) (18 September 2026 – 12 November 2026), Mars aspects Libra (Tula), Capricorn (Makara), and Aquarius (Kumbha).
- In Leo (Simha) (12 November 2026 – 10 March 2027), Mars aspects Scorpio (Vrishchika), Aquarius (Kumbha), and Pisces (Meena).
Mars transit 2026 effects by Moon sign
A transit is read from your Moon sign (Janma Rashi), not your Sun sign. Mars gives good results when it transits the 3rd, 6th, and 11th houses from the Moon, and mixed or testing ones elsewhere. The table above lists the Moon signs each of its 2026 stays favours.
How long Mars (Mangal) stays in a sign
Mars stays in a sign for about 45 days, up to 6 months when retrograde. Mars usually enters 5 to 8 signs a year. Every 26 months it turns retrograde for about two and a half months, and then it can stay in one sign for half a year.
Why these dates differ from Western astrology
These dates use the Vedic sidereal zodiac with the Lahiri ayanamsa, which is about 24° behind the tropical zodiac of Western astrology. So Mars enters each sign here weeks after the date a Western horoscope gives for the same sign. Times are for Ujjain: the moment of a transit is the same everywhere, but the local date can differ.
Mars transit 2026: questions
When does Mars change sign in 2026?
In 2026 Mars enters Capricorn (Makara) on 16 January 2026, Aquarius (Kumbha) on 23 February 2026, Pisces (Meena) on 2 April 2026, Aries (Mesha) on 11 May 2026, Taurus (Vrishabha) on 20 June 2026, Gemini (Mithuna) on 2 August 2026, Cancer (Karka) on 18 September 2026, and Leo (Simha) on 12 November 2026.
Is Mars retrograde in 2026?
No, Mars is not retrograde at any time in 2026.
Which signs does Mars aspect in 2026?
Mars aspects the 4th, 7th, and 8th signs from the one it is in. In Sagittarius (Dhanu) (7 December 2025 – 16 January 2026), Mars aspects Pisces, Gemini, and Cancer. In Capricorn (Makara) (16 January 2026 – 23 February 2026), Mars aspects Aries, Cancer, and Leo. In Aquarius (Kumbha) (23 February 2026 – 2 April 2026), Mars aspects Taurus, Leo, and Virgo. In Pisces (Meena) (2 April 2026 – 11 May 2026), Mars aspects Gemini, Virgo, and Libra. In Aries (Mesha) (11 May 2026 – 20 June 2026), Mars aspects Cancer, Libra, and Scorpio. In Taurus (Vrishabha) (20 June 2026 – 2 August 2026), Mars aspects Leo, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. In Gemini (Mithuna) (2 August 2026 – 18 September 2026), Mars aspects Virgo, Sagittarius, and Capricorn. In Cancer (Karka) (18 September 2026 – 12 November 2026), Mars aspects Libra, Capricorn, and Aquarius. In Leo (Simha) (12 November 2026 – 10 March 2027), Mars aspects Scorpio, Aquarius, and Pisces.
How long does Mars stay in one sign?
Mars stays in a sign for about 45 days, up to 6 months when retrograde. Mars usually enters 5 to 8 signs a year. Every 26 months it turns retrograde for about two and a half months, and then it can stay in one sign for half a year.
Why are these Mars transit dates different from my Western horoscope?
These dates use the Vedic sidereal zodiac with the Lahiri ayanamsa, which is about 24° behind the tropical zodiac of Western astrology. So Mars enters each sign here weeks after the date a Western horoscope gives for the same sign. Times are for Ujjain: the moment of a transit is the same everywhere, but the local date can differ.