Astrology with Alice: 2026 will have the same energy, but louder
JoySauce's resident astrologist Alice Smith takes a look at the astrological forecast for the upcoming year and what we can expect for 2026
What can we expect from 2026?
Photo illustration by Ryan Quan
Words by Alice Smith
Astrology with Alice: Welcome to Astrology with Alice, a monthly astrology column aimed at helping readers understand the vibes of the month ahead in plain English. As a Taiwanese immigrant who grew up in Los Angeles, I specialize in combining western astrology with eastern philosophy. I’ve taught modern astrology through the lens of Buddhism and Taoism, and I also draw from the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. Knowing the movements of the planets can help us make decisions around our careers, relationships, family. As the planets move around in the sky, they shift the energetic vibes we experience on Earth, and I believe in flowing with energy instead of fighting it—to work smarter, not harder. So join me on our monthly planetary lowdowns and learn how you, too, can ride the cosmic waves!
Congratulations! You made it through 2025!
It was a lot.
This year, five major planets transitioned into new signs for the first time in hundreds of years. I covered every aspect of the transitions as they occurred—Neptune moved into Aries for the first time since the Civil War, Saturn followed shortly after, Uranus shook things up in Gemini, and Jupiter brought the gifts to Cancer. It was a huuuuuge turning of the cosmic radio dial.
So what can we expect from 2026? Honestly? The same themes, but louder. (Sorry.) Most of the major planets are all in place and won’t be transitioning into new signs this year. Instead they’ll be amplifying whatever themes that started stirring up in 2025. If 2025 felt like someone was rearranging your furniture while you were just trying to live your life, then 2026 is when you’ll have to figure out how to adjust to the new layout.
Saturn meets Neptune
The most significant astrology event of 2026 is (spoiler alert!) the upcoming conjunction of Saturn and Neptune in Aries in February, which will continue to affect us well throughout the year. Both of these planets transitioned into Aries last year, and now they’re coming together to the same degree in the sky. The conjunction of two slow-moving planets such as these represents a turning point in generations. The last time Saturn and Neptune came together was in 1989. At that time, the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union collapsed. Prior to that their 1953 conjunction occurred at the end of the Korean War and the death of Joseph Stalin. These conjunctions generally reset our collective understanding of what’s real and what’s possible.
If 2025 felt like someone was rearranging your furniture while you were just trying to live your life, then 2026 is when you’ll have to figure out how to adjust to the new layout.
Saturn represents structure, boundaries, and the harsh realities of the world. Neptune dissolves boundaries and represents our dreams, ideals, and the collective imagination. Together they force us to ask ourselves: Which structures should we solidify and which should we dissolve? Which dreams should we build into reality? With both of them in the sign of Aries—the sign of courage and identity–these questions will become more personal. You’ll be challenged to make a commitment to a vision of who you want to become.
We’ll talk about what exactly the conjunction of Saturn and Neptune will bring in spring, but the short version is that it will amplify everything that emerged when they first transitioned into Aries last year. If Neptune’s transition caused your old sense of self to disintegrate and Saturn’s transition demanded you begin to rebuild with purpose and intent, the combination of their meeting will require you to take that work seriously. For now, simply know that this is the major event for 2026.
Jupiter adds fuel to the fire
And as if the Saturn/Neptune conjunction wasn’t enough, Jupiter is making the transition from Cancer into Leo in June. And that is what’s going to make everything feel more volatile.
Jupiter in Cancer last year added a cool, nourishing quality to the mix. Water calms things down. Although there is a lot of fiery energy in the mix due to the presence of Saturn and Neptune in Aries and Uranus in Gemini and Pluto in Aquarius, Jupiter in Cancer acted as a wet blanket in the best possible way.
In June, when Jupiter transitions into Leo, the wet blanket is removed.
We currently have a large amount of fire and air energy. Saturn and Neptune are in Aries (fire). Uranus is in Gemini and Pluto is in Aquarius (both air signs). Therefore, when Jupiter transitions into Leo (a fire sign), we will have almost no water or Earth to ground us for the remainder of the year. Fire and air together create the perfect environment for rapid dissemination: ideas, enthusiasm, conflict, egos. We will discuss Jupiter’s transition into Leo in greater detail later in the year. However, by the time summer arrives, the volume will have increased dramatically, and we can expect louder noise from our political and community leaders.
Continuation of themes from 2025
The themes we discussed throughout 2025 won’t be disappearing anytime soon; rather, they will likely be amplified.
Technological advancements will occur at an alarming rate. Uranus in Gemini, and Pluto in Aquarius are both continuing to do their jobs, revolutionizing how we communicate, learn, and connect. If you found the technological developments of 2025 overwhelming and exhausting, 2026 will demand you adapt at an accelerated pace.
Ideological conflicts will escalate. Because Saturn and Neptune are both located in Aries, everyone believes that they are absolutely certain about their truth and their way of seeing the world. Their conjunction in 2026 will amplify that certainty. The loudest voices will grow even louder. Your challenge is to remain curious instead of becoming calcified.
The call to action remains. Aries energy is a fighter, a warrior, and an activist. If 2025 called upon you to determine what you believed in and who you were, 2026 calls upon you to act on those beliefs.
A change in what we are healing
There is a notable shift this year: Chiron, the asteroid representing our most deep-seated wounds and our healing gifts, is leaving Aries and entering Taurus.
Chiron has resided in Aries since 2018, and therefore our collective wounds surrounding identity have been at the forefront of our consciousness. We’ve been wrestling with questions about whose identities are legitimate, who gets to define themselves, and what it means to be authentic and to exist in the world.
When Chiron enters Taurus, our wounds related to feeling secure and having enough will require our attention. Collectively this indicates that the cultural conversation is beginning to evolve beyond the focus of identity and toward the topic of stability and protection. What does it mean to feel safe? What does a community need to feel secure? These types of questions will dominate the conversations.
We will delve into this transit in more detail as the year progresses; for now, pay attention to whether you experience themes related to security beginning to surface within you.
The wheel finally begins to turn
2026 is the year when the wheel begins to turn.
Courtesy of Alice Smith
For the numerologists and Tarot enthusiasts, 2026 is a 10 year because that’s the sum of the digits of the year (2+0+2+6=10). The Wheel of Fortune card is represented by the number 10.
The last few years have represented cards related to introspection. This year was a 9 year (the Hermit card), which is a card related to inner work, seeking guidance through solitude and determining who you truly are under the layers of the noise. Great for self discovery. Poor for outward progress.
The Wheel of Fortune is a card of movement, fate, and cycles of change. The gears of the universe turn during a Wheel year. The seed you have sown begins to sprout.
If you’ve experienced being in a state of stagnation, as though you’ve been preparing to take action, but the gears haven’t yet engaged, this is the year when the wheel begins to turn. The direction of the turn will depend on the seed you have sown. A good seed produces a bountiful harvest. The wheel simply turns and exposes what you have sown.
Therefore, if 2025 was a prolonged exhale of discovering who you are, 2026 is when you begin to see the tangible outcomes of that internal exploration.
What this means for each sign
Here's a quick overview of where the work and the opportunity lie for each sign this year. Read for your sun sign and your rising sign if you know it (you can use this free rising sign calculator if you don’t know it).
Aries
This is your year of total personal rebirth. Who you used to think you were? That old version of yourself needs to leave. The work is letting go of the person you thought you had to be to make space for the more true and aligned version of you that you’ve yet to become. In addition to that, joy and creativity are coming alive for you. You’ll grow through fun, romance, and creating new ideas/projects. Enjoy your life while you are building yourself back up again.
Taurus
The work is in the quiet spaces this year. Subconscious patterns, spiritual areas of your life, and areas you have been avoiding all need to be looked at. Rest is NOT optional. While your subconscious patterns are changing, home and family are where growth wants to occur. Put some effort into making your house feel like it should, or put some focus on taking care of your people.
Gemini
Friendship groups and communities are all being reorganized. Some relationships are going to disappear, and some are going to become stronger. The work is finding out who your actual people are. Ideas and communication are where the opportunity lives. Write, talk, teach, communicate. Your mind wants to grow.
Cancer
Your career and the public side of life put major demands on you. You may be rebuilding your professional image or stepping into greater responsibilities. The work isn't always easy, but it will be rewarding. Growth happens with money and self-worth. You’ll want to expand your earning potential, as well as your confidence in what you are worth.
Leo
Your beliefs and worldview are being rebuilt. What you once believed to be true is being questioned. Travel, education, or philosophically searching may be a big part of the work. On the other hand, this is also your expansion year. Opportunities to grow, shine, and become more of who you are will appear, so say “Yes!” to anything that makes you visible.
Virgo
Your deep transformation is occurring in shared resources, intimacy, and trust, so you may be working through fears of being dependent or vulnerable. The opportunity for growth will come when you’re alone and exploring spirituality because your inner world wants to grow. Give yourself time to relax, dream, and connect to the unseen.
Libra
Your relationships are the work this year. The area of partnership will undergo reorganization, so some partnerships may be ending—but it’s to create room for others to start. Your opportunities will come to you through community and friendships, so network, network, network! Your social world wants to expand!
Scorpio
Your health and daily routines are undergoing a glow up this year. The way you work and care for their physical body needs to change, so don't skip this work. The opportunities for expansion are heading for your career sector, so take those professional leaps. Take the lead!
Sagittarius
Your creativity, romance, and connection to joy are being rebuilt into something more meaningful and authentic. Sagittarius may be treating fun more seriously (this may seem counterintuitive, I know). It’s a year to travel, learn, and publish. Say "yes" to adventures that help you broaden your perspective and broadcast your message!
Capricorn
Your home and family are demanding serious work. You may be dealing with issues in your current living situation and family dynamics. Meanwhile, transformation and intimacy are where the joy lives. Your close relationships want to grow and deepen, so let yourself be affected by how closely connected you are with others. Also, income should remain steady.
Aquarius
The way you think, speak, and process information is changing. The work may feel mentally challenging and persistent. The hard reset is happening in a subtler area of life for you compared to other signs, but it’s no less profound. It’s time to get curious and engage in new conversations on new topics with new people. You’re ripe for a perspective shift. On the other hand, partnerships want to grow, so openly collaborate and connect with others.
Pisces
Your relationship to money and your sense of self-worth are what’s undergoing a major zhuzh. Your relationship with what you earn, how you earn it, what you own, and what you value is being rebuilt from the bottom up. This will take time, so be patient with yourself. To support your new goals, develop new routines, better habits, and take care of your well-being.
Published on December 31, 2025
Words by Alice Smith
Alice Smith has loved astrology ever since she read her first horoscope as a kid. She’s a certified, professional astrologer who reads birth charts for clients all over the world and has spoken at events throughout the Pacific Northwest. Alice learned to write horoscopes from her mentor Rebecca Gordon who was herself mentored by the grande dame of horoscope writing, Susan Miller. Alice has a degree in sociology from the University of Washington and is (too) obsessed with her “Furgo” (furry Virgo) cat, whose birth chart she often interprets on social media.
Art by Ryan Quan
Ryan Quan is JoySauce's social media manager, associate editor, and all-around visual eye. This queer, half-Chinese, half-Filipino writer and graphic designer loves everything related to music, creative nonfiction, and art. Based in Brooklyn, he spends most of his time dancing to hyperpop and accidentally falling asleep on the subway. Follow him on Instagram at @ryanquans, and check out his work on his website.