December 2026 brings the biggest shift of the season: Rahu and Ketu change signs on 5 December, a move that sets the tone for the whole of 2027. Saturn ends its retrograde, Jupiter begins one, and on 16 December the Sun enters Sagittarius and Kharmas begins. This page covers the major planetary transits (grah gochar) in December 2026, with dates from NavAstro's chart engine, what each one means, and the effect on all 12 rashis.
December 2026 in short:
- 2 Dec: Mercury enters Scorpio
- 5 Dec: Rahu enters Capricorn, Ketu enters Cancer (until mid-2028)
- 11 Dec: Saturn turns direct in Pisces
- 13 Dec: Jupiter turns retrograde in Leo
- 16 Dec: Sun enters Sagittarius (Dhanu Sankranti); Kharmas begins
- 22 Dec: Mercury enters Sagittarius
- Rashis favoured by these transits: Meen and Kumbh (two favourable placements each); Vrishabh, Kark, Singh, Kanya, Tula and Vrishchik (one each); see the rashi table below
See which houses these transits touch in your chart. The free Kundli calculator shows your Moon sign and Lagna, the two points transits are read from. No sign-up.
Where the planets start the month
On 1 December 2026 (sidereal positions):
| Planet | Sign | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Scorpio (Vrishchik) | Enters Sagittarius on 16 Dec |
| Mars | Leo (Singh) | Since 12 November, with Jupiter |
| Mercury | Libra (Tula) | Direct; enters Scorpio on 2 Dec |
| Jupiter | Leo | Turns retrograde on 13 Dec |
| Venus | Libra | In its own sign, direct |
| Saturn | Pisces (Meen) | Retrograde; turns direct on 11 Dec |
| Rahu | Aquarius (Kumbh) | Mean node; enters Capricorn on 5 Dec |
| Ketu | Leo | Enters Cancer on 5 Dec |
December 2026 transits at a glance
| Date | Transit |
|---|---|
| 2 December | Mercury enters Scorpio |
| 5 December | Rahu enters Capricorn, Ketu enters Cancer |
| 11 December | Saturn turns direct in Pisces |
| 13 December | Jupiter turns retrograde in Leo |
| 16 December | Sun enters Sagittarius (Dhanu Sankranti), Kharmas begins |
| 22 December | Mercury enters Sagittarius |
Dates are for India (IST). Other panchangs may differ by a day.
Rahu enters Capricorn, Ketu enters Cancer (5 December)
Rahu and Ketu move backwards through the zodiac, about one sign every 18 months (the mean nodes always do; the true nodes occasionally pause or move forward for a short while). On 5 December Rahu leaves Aquarius for Capricorn (Makar), and Ketu leaves Leo for Cancer (Kark). They stay there until mid-2028, so this is the nodal axis for all of 2027.
- Rahu in Capricorn (a sign of Saturn) turns ambition towards status, structure and career. It favours long-term, practical plans, organisations and government work, but tempts shortcuts with rules and authority.
- Ketu in Cancer (the Moon's sign) brings detachment around home, family and emotional security: a pull to simplify, move, or look inward.
The houses they fall in from your Moon sign show where this plays out for you (see the table below). Rahu and Ketu give their best in the 3rd, 6th and 11th houses from the Moon.
Mean or true node? This date is for the mean Rahu and Ketu, which most Indian panchangs use and which NavAstro follows. Software set to the true node shows Rahu entering Capricorn earlier, on 25 November 2026 (about 6 pm IST; the exact time varies a little with the ephemeris and ayanamsa used). Both are correct for their method; the difference is only in how the node is defined.
Ketu's move also ends the JupiterโKetu combination in Leo that had run since 31 October (the two shared the sign; this is a sign conjunction, not an exact meeting by degree), which traditionally lifts some confusion from Jupiter's results.
Saturn turns direct (11 December)
Saturn has been retrograde in Pisces for several months. On 11 December it turns direct at about 13ยฐ41' Pisces, and stays in Pisces until it enters Aries on 3 June 2027. Matters that were delayed or under review since mid-year (paperwork, property, long-term commitments) start moving again.
Sade Sati continues for Kumbh (last phase), Meen (peak phase) and Mesh (first phase). See Shani Gochar 2027, or check your own dates with the Sade Sati calculator.
Jupiter turns retrograde (13 December)
Jupiter turns retrograde on 13 December at about 2ยฐ47' Leo. Retrograde, it will move back into Cancer, its sign of exaltation, on 25 January 2027, and turn direct there on 13 April. Traditionally, a retrograde Jupiter is not considered weak: it is said to revisit and deepen what it began, so studies, teaching, finances and family plans started in November may need a second look before they settle. More in Jupiter Transit in Leo 2026.
Sun enters Sagittarius: Kharmas begins (16 December)
On 16 December the Sun enters Sagittarius (Dhanu), Jupiter's sign. The month while the Sun is in Sagittarius, from 16 December 2026 to 14 January 2027, is Kharmas (Dhanu Malmas). Traditionally, weddings, griha pravesh and other auspicious beginnings are not held in Kharmas, while prayer, charity and study are encouraged. It ends with Makar Sankranti, when the Sun enters Capricorn.
If you are planning a wedding or housewarming around this time, check the Muhurat Finder for dates before 16 December or after mid-January.
Mercury in Scorpio and Sagittarius
Mercury enters Scorpio on 2 December, which suits research, investigation, finance and careful negotiation. On 22 December it joins the Sun in Sagittarius, which favours study, teaching, publishing and long-distance plans. Mercury is direct throughout December, but it draws close to the Sun, and the date it becomes combust (Budha asta) depends on the method:
- By distance: Mercury comes within 14ยฐ of the Sun around 7 December, the date most calculators give, and stays combust by this rule until about 23 January 2027.
- By visibility: Mercury's last morning sighting is around 13 December, and it is seen again in the evening sky from around 18โ19 January 2027. Panchangs that time asta by visibility use this gap; because the two methods use different criteria, their dates need not coincide.
So you may see different dates for Budha asta in different panchangs. A combust Mercury is common and usually mild; it can make communication and paperwork less smooth than usual.
What it means for each rashi
Transits are read by house from your Moon sign. The table shows the house Rahu (in Capricorn from 5 Dec), Ketu (in Cancer from 5 Dec) and the Sun (in Sagittarius from 16 Dec) occupy for each rashi. Rahu and Ketu give good results in the 3rd, 6th and 11th houses from the Moon; the Sun in the 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11th. A โ marks a favourable house.
| Rashi | Rahu in Capricorn | Ketu in Cancer | Sun in Sagittarius | Short reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesh | 10th | 4th | 9th | Career ambition rises; keep home life calm |
| Vrishabh | 9th | 3rd โ | 8th | Courage and effort pay; avoid risky travel plans |
| Mithun | 8th | 2nd | 7th | Careful with money and words; partnerships need patience |
| Kark | 7th | 1st | 6th โ | Mixed: Ketu on your sign asks you to slow down, while the Sun in the 6th helps you beat obstacles |
| Singh | 6th โ | 12th | 5th | Rahu helps you win against competition; Ketu leaves your sign |
| Kanya | 5th | 11th โ | 4th | Gains through networks; think twice before speculative risks |
| Tula | 4th | 10th | 3rd โ | Initiative pays; keep a balance between home and career |
| Vrishchik | 3rd โ | 9th | 2nd | A strong year begins for effort, media and short travel |
| Dhanu | 2nd | 8th | 1st | Watch speech and spending; the Sun on your sign brings focus |
| Makar | 1st | 7th | 12th | Rahu on your sign: big ambitions, stay grounded; rest more |
| Kumbh | 12th | 6th โ | 11th โ | Rahu leaves your sign; gains and wins over rivals |
| Meen | 11th โ | 5th | 10th โ | Rahu and the Sun support career and income; Sade Sati still asks for patience |
This is a general guide based on these three transits only: a โ marks a favourable placement of one planet, not an overall good or bad month. Your full chart and dasha decide which transits you'll feel most.
Coming up in January 2027
- 1 January: Venus enters Scorpio.
- 10 January: Mercury enters Capricorn; Mars turns retrograde in Leo.
- 15 January: Makar Sankranti (the Sun enters Capricorn on the night of 14 January); Kharmas ends.
- 25 January: Jupiter moves back into Cancer, its sign of exaltation.
The full month is in Planetary Transits January 2027.
Frequently asked questions
When do Rahu and Ketu change signs in December 2026? On 5 December 2026: Rahu enters Capricorn and Ketu enters Cancer. They stay there until mid-2028.
When does Saturn turn direct in December 2026? On 11 December 2026, at about 13ยฐ41' Pisces. It stays in Pisces until 3 June 2027.
When does Kharmas start and end in 2026โ27? It starts on 16 December 2026, when the Sun enters Sagittarius, and ends when the Sun enters Capricorn on the night of 14 January 2027, with Makar Sankranti observed on 15 January.
Is December 2026 good for marriage? The first half of December is open, with Venus strong in its own sign until 1 January. From 16 December, Kharmas begins and weddings are traditionally avoided until mid-January. Check exact dates in the Muhurat Finder.
When does Jupiter turn retrograde in December 2026? On 13 December 2026 in Leo. It moves back into Cancer on 25 January 2027 and turns direct on 13 April 2027.
Which rashis benefit most in December 2026? From these transits, Meen (Rahu in the 11th, the Sun in the 10th) and Kumbh (Ketu in the 6th, the Sun in the 11th) have two favourable placements. Vrishabh and Kanya (Ketu), Singh and Vrishchik (Rahu), and Kark and Tula (the Sun) have one; for Kark, Ketu also sits on the sign. Other planets and your own dasha can change the picture.
Related reading: Transits November 2026 ยท Transits January 2027 ยท Shani Gochar 2027 ยท Rashifal 2027 ยท Today's positions on Planet Transit Today
This article is for general information about Vedic astrology. It is not professional advice.