LEO SEASON 2026

Before we get into the day by day of Leo season, it helps to know what's been happening in the background. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto - the outer planets that move so slowly we measure their cycles in decades rather than months, have spent July in an unusually intimate conversation with each other. When planets like these link up smoothly all at once, it tends to mean something collectively significant is brewing, even if it's not obvious yet.

Jupiter has moved into Leo, and that amplifies this Leo season. There's more confidence around, more willingness to be visible, more creative fire. People begin to manifest simply by believing they're allowed to take up space. There's warmth in this energy too, a generosity, an urge to welcome others in and to be seen for exactly who you are. This isn't about ego for ego's sake. It's about leading from the heart and having the courage to create.

Add to that an eclipse in Leo and the nodes changing signs towards the end of the season, and individuality and creative expression get spotlighted again and again. If you have Leo placements in your chart, you'll feel this loudly and personally. Collectively, we're all being nudged toward themes of recognition, pride, and being fully seen. The eclipse season in August starts to close out a much longer story that's been playing out around Virgo and Pisces, one about service, sacrifice, and knowing where to draw the line. By the time that cycle fully wraps in early 2027, a lot of us will be done shrinking ourselves down to being endlessly useful and helpful to everyone but ourselves.

Leo season officially begins on the 23rd of July (NZT), when the Sun moves into Leo. This is the first Leo season we've had with Jupiter already sitting here, which amplifies everything this sign represents. For some, this shows up in an obvious way: a moment in the spotlight, some kind of recognition, or an invitation to step up. For others it's quieter and more personal, perhaps speaking up in a meeting, or taking up a little space than usual.

The 24th of July brings the end of Mercury retrograde. Whatever you've been working through over the past three weeks can now be spoken about clearly. We're moving on from the emotional reflection that comes with Cancer season, the looking back at family, home, and roots, and into clearer communication. Mercury in Cancer also forms a flowing (though slightly effortful) link with Venus in Virgo, which helps smooth things out relationally after a bumpy few weeks.

The 27th of July is when the Sun in Leo joins the outer planet configuration. What opportunities feel right for you? What feels like a full body yes rather than just an exciting distraction? Be discerning here. It might look like turning something down, or it might look like finally committing properly to something you've been dabbling in. Saturn also turns fully retrograde on this day, and its themes of structure, responsibility, and long term commitment start turning inward for the retrograde period, which runs through to the end of the year. This could feel like quietly renegotiating a commitment with yourself before you say anything out loud to anyone else.

On the 28th of July there is some dynamic tension between Venus in Virgo and Mars in Gemini. Venus in Virgo wants things done properly, precisely, usefully. Mars in Gemini wants stimulation, movement, options. Held together, that can show up as impatience with routine, or as friction between what you feel you should be doing and what you're itching to do. It's a good day to notice where you're overthinking something, or where you need to let some restless energy out.

Full moon and the Jupiter Cazimi

In the early hours of the 30th of July, we have a full moon in Aquarius, lighting up the Leo-Aquarius axis of individuality versus community. At the exact same moment, Jupiter reaches its Cazimi, sitting right at the heart of the Sun, which tends to bring clarity or a sense of being renewed in your purpose. Whatever comes through around this full moon is likely to be loud and bold. For some this will land as a personal insight, the kind that reorganises how you see yourself. For others it will feel more collective, a piece of news, a shift within a group or community you belong to. Pluto is close to this axis too, so don't be surprised if questions of power and control come up alongside whatever illumination you're having. It could be an old pattern of trying to control an outcome, or a moment of realising where you've been giving your power away. Consider this the lead up to the eclipse season in August.

On the 6th of August the Sun in Leo forms a flowing link with retrograde Saturn in Aries, casting a clarifying light on Saturn-in-Aries themes: courage, independence, or where you've been holding back. For some this will feel like validation for a decision already made. For others it's a nudge, a sense of where you've been playing it safer than you need to.

The next day, on the 7th, Venus moves into Libra, and things get particularly lovely. Expect a pull toward beauty, art, film, and refinement. If you've been wanting more elegance in your life, the next few weeks deliver. It's also a good stretch for relationship harmony and diplomacy, smoothing over anything that's felt too one sided lately.

On the 8th of August, Uranus starts to leave the outer planet configuration behind, which means the relationship between Pluto and Neptune, both retrograde, is what remains of that conversation. Collectively, this could mean the unpredictable, wildcard energy Uranus has been bringing starts to settle a little. The news cycle may calm slightly, while the deeper undercurrents of power and illusion Pluto and Neptune represent continue working away in the background.

Mercury moves into Leo on the 10th of August, and Venus in Libra forms a flowing link with Pluto in Aquarius. Gentle, effective, and soothing, this is Venus starting to smooth over whatever's felt intense during July. This might show up as a meaningful conversation that resolves tension, or a moment of clarity around where your own power actually sits.

On the 11th of August, Mars moves into Cancer, which means our drive becomes more emotionally led. It is worth being cautious of acting from impulse or immaturity here rather than clarity, particularly in the days right after the shift. Venus in Libra also faces off with Neptune in Aries, tying back into that earlier configuration. This can show up as seeing a relationship through rose tinted glasses, or the opposite, some disillusionment about something or someone you'd built up in your mind.

Mercury faces off with Pluto on the 12th, so conversations or thoughts around power and control could come to a head, possibly a heated exchange, possibly an internal reckoning with a control pattern. Meanwhile Venus in Libra forms a flowing link with Uranus, meaning she's now touched every outer planet involved in the outer planet configuration. Soothing, harmonising, tying it all together, and hopefully bringing some kind of peace.

Eclipse season arrives

The 13th of August brings a new moon solar eclipse in Leo, and eclipse season officially begins. It sits close to the south node, still in Virgo, which points to letting go of old Virgo patterns: perfectionism, over-functioning, and being helpful to your own detriment. Jupiter remains in Leo, amplifying everything. Mercury in Leo sits right in the middle, forming flowing links with both Venus in Libra and Uranus in Gemini, essentially carrying a message between the two. Leo is at the centre of it all here, supported by Venus and Uranus, while facing off with Pluto. We'll go into what this means for each rising sign further down.

Eclipse seasons tend to run for about two weeks, so this one will carry us into the start of Virgo season. As mentioned earlier, this eclipse season is part of a longer story around service, sacrifice, and discernment that's been building for a while and won't fully resolve until early 2027.

A couple of days later, on the 15th, Mercury and Jupiter meet in Leo. Expect a loud, amplified message, one that's hard to ignore. This could be exciting news, or it could tip into overconfidence and exaggeration, so it's worth checking any big claims, both yours or someone else's.

On the 17th of August, Mars in Cancer forms a dynamic tension with Neptune in Aries, which could feel foggy, confusing, or emotionally immature. On the more inspired end of this, it's a lovely day for creative or intuitive work. On the trickier end, it's a day to really stop and think before you send that email or make that call. At the same time, Venus in Libra forms a flowing (and slightly effortful) link with Jupiter in Leo, which softens things nicely and adds generosity. Pluto and Neptune also form a background link again, quietly reinforcing those deeper undercurrents from earlier in the month.

The lunar nodes change signs on the 19th of August, with the north node moving into Aquarius and the south node into Leo. This axis is already loud given how much Leo energy we've had this season, and it's about to get louder. Collectively, this points us toward community, innovation, and the bigger picture, while asking us to release an overattachment to individual recognition and pride. For some that will feel like a pull toward a cause, a group, or a piece of technology or innovation that lights you up. For others it's a gentler release, a loosening of the need to be the one who's noticed. This is the axis eclipses will fall on for around the next eighteen months, so it's a change worth paying attention to as the year goes on.

Venus in Libra faces off with retrograde Saturn in Aries on the 21st, offering more balancing and soothing on this front. This could land as a reality check within a relationship. Where do you need more structure or commitment relationally?

The final day of Leo season is on the 22nd of August, and on this day the Sun meets the south node in Leo. The Sun is exiting through the very point we're collectively being asked to release. This is a beautiful, poetic integration, rather than a dramatic end. A chance to notice what you're leaving behind as you head into Virgo season.

Eclipses have a reputation for sudden, destabilising change, and there's truth in that. But nothing an eclipse brings is ever really out of the blue. It's more like a release valve. Whatever's been percolating in the background, perhaps a decision you've been avoiding, a truth you've half known, a situation that you’ve outgrown, the eclipse will support its release. So if things shift suddenly under this eclipse, look back over the last few months. You'll likely find the real story started well before the 13th of August.

Aries Rising
This eclipse falls in your fifth house of creativity, romance, and self-expression, so expect a jolt somewhere in this part of your life, a creative project that suddenly needs to be shared, a romance that shifts gear, a child related matter that comes to a head. Pluto sits in your eleventh house of friendships and community, so keep an eye on the power dynamics within your friend group or the communities you belong to. Something that's been shifting in the background there may become impossible to ignore.

Taurus Rising
The eclipse lands in your fourth house of home and family, so this is a season where something at home or within the family unit reaches a turning point, a move, a renovation, a shift in a family relationship. It's rarely as sudden as it feels. Pluto is in your tenth house of career and reputation, so alongside the domestic shift, watch for power plays or transformation around your public standing and where you're heading professionally.

Gemini Rising
This eclipse hits your third house of communication, learning, and your local environment. Expect a conversation, a piece of news, or a shift in how you're getting your ideas out into the world. Pluto sits in your ninth house of beliefs, travel, and bigger picture thinking, so this eclipse may also come with a deeper shift in what you actually believe to be true, prompted by something you learn or somewhere you go.

Cancer Rising
The eclipse falls in your second house of money and self-worth, so this is a season where your relationship to your own value, financial or otherwise, gets a shake up. An income change, a shift in how you spend, or simply a recalibration of what you feel you're worth. Pluto is in your eighth house of intimacy and shared resources, so there may be a deeper undercurrent here involving someone else's money, a joint resource, or a more intense kind of closeness with another person.

Leo Rising
This one is personal. The eclipse lands right on your first house, the house of self and identity, so this is very much your season for a reset in how you show up and who you understand yourself to be. Pluto sits in your seventh house of partnership, so the power dynamics within a close relationship, romantic or otherwise, are likely to be part of this story too. Whatever shifts in you individually will ripple into how you relate to others.

Virgo Rising
The eclipse falls in your twelfth house, the house of rest, release, and the subconscious. This is a quieter, more internal eclipse for you, less an outward event and more an inner clearing out. Pluto is in your sixth house of work, health, and daily routine, so the deeper transformation is likely playing out through your body, your habits, or the shape of your working life.

Libra Rising
This eclipse lands in your eleventh house of friendships, community, and future hopes. Expect a shift somewhere in your social world, a friendship that changes shape, a group you step into or away from, a goal that suddenly clarifies. Pluto is in your fifth house of creativity and romance, so there's a more intense undercurrent here too around self-expression.

Scorpio Rising
The eclipse falls in your tenth house of career and public reputation, so this is a season where something in your professional life or public standing reaches a tipping point. A recognition, a change of direction, a reputation shift. Pluto sits in your fourth house of home and family, so underneath the career story there may be a deeper transformation happening at home or within family dynamics.

Sagittarius Rising
This eclipse hits your ninth house of beliefs, travel, and higher learning, your natural territory. Expect a shift in what you believe, where you're headed, or some kind of journey, either physical or intellectual. Pluto is in your third house of communication and your local environment, so the deeper undercurrent involves how you're speaking your truth.

Capricorn Rising
The eclipse falls in your eighth house of intimacy, shared resources, and deep transformation, so this is a season for something to shift around closeness, trust, or shared finances. Pluto sits in your second house of money and self-worth, so there's a longer running transformation happening around your relationship to your own value and security, one this eclipse may bring to a head.

Aquarius Rising
This eclipse lands in your seventh house of partnership, so expect a shift in a close one-on-one relationship. This could be romantic, business, or any contractual relationship. Pluto is in your first house, your own house of self, which means you're in the middle of a longer personal transformation, and this eclipse may bring a relationship into sharper focus as part of that process.

Pisces Rising
The eclipse falls in your sixth house of work, health, and daily routine, so this is a season for a shake up in how your everyday life is structured, a job change, a health matter, a routine that finally gets overhauled. Pluto sits in your twelfth house of rest and the subconscious, so there's a deeper, quieter transformation happening beneath the surface, one that may only fully make sense in hindsight.