You know that feeling when you just wake up and everything clicks? Your hair looks weirdly perfect, you find a twenty in an old jacket, and even your annoying coworker seems sort of charming. Usually, we just call that a "good day," but in the astrology world, there’s a high chance you’re hitting your Venus Return.
Most people obsess over their Saturn Return—the cosmic "quarter-life crisis" that hits around age 29 and wrecks your life just enough to make you an adult. But Venus? Venus is way more chill. It’s basically your personal beauty birthday. It’s a reset button for your heart, your wallet, and your overall vibe.
When is my Venus return?
Finding out the exact date isn't as simple as checking your calendar for your actual birthday. The Sun is predictable; it hits the same spot every year. Venus is a bit of a diva. She moves at her own pace, sometimes speeding through signs and other times dragging her feet during a retrograde.
Because of this, your Venus Return happens roughly every 10 to 12 months.
Wait, doesn't that mean it shifts? Yep. Sometimes you'll have two in one calendar year, and other times you’ll go over a year without one. To find the specific "when," you need to look at your natal Venus degree. This is the exact mathematical point where Venus was sitting the second you took your first breath.
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When the current (transiting) Venus reaches that exact same degree, bam. Your Venus Return begins.
If you want the quick answer without doing the math yourself, you can use a free "Venus Return Calculator" online. Sites like Astro-Seek or Cafe Astrology are the gold standards for this. You just plug in your birth data—date, time, and location—and it’ll spit out the specific day and hour your new Venus cycle starts.
Why this date actually matters
Think of this as an annual "software update" for your social and financial life. For about two days, the planet of love and abundance is sitting right on top of its home base in your soul's blueprint.
It’s a time when your "magnetism" is turned up to 100. People find you more approachable. You might feel a sudden urge to buy a floor-length silk robe or finally paint your bedroom that moody forest green you’ve been pinning for months.
Honestly, it’s the best time to:
- Go on a first date with someone you’re actually excited about.
- Ask for a raise (or at least start the conversation).
- Change your hair or get that tattoo you’ve been debating.
- Host a dinner party or just hang out with people who make you feel seen.
The weird 8-year cycle you should know about
There is a deeper layer to this that most casual horoscopes skip. Every eight years, Venus returns to almost the exact same spot in the sky on almost the same date.
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This is called the Venus Pentagram or the Rose of Venus. If you’re 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, or 48, your Venus Return this year is a "Major" one. These years often mark massive turning points in your relationships. You might meet "the one," finally leave a relationship that’s been stale for half a decade, or experience a total shift in how you make money.
What if I’m in a Venus retrograde?
This is where it gets a little messy. In 2026, for example, Venus goes retrograde from October 3rd to November 14th, moving from Scorpio back into Libra.
If your natal Venus is in those degrees, you might actually get three Venus Returns in a row.
- The first hit (The Preview).
- The retrograde hit (The Deep Dive/Review).
- The final direct hit (The Resolution).
When this happens, the universe isn't just giving you a "beauty birthday"—it’s putting you through a relationship bootcamp. You’ll likely deal with exes popping up or old financial debts coming due. It sounds stressful, but it's really just a way to clear out the junk before your next big cycle starts.
How to read your return chart
If you want to go full expert mode, don't just look at the date. Look at the Venus Return Chart. This is a map of the sky for the exact moment of your return.
Look at what "house" Venus is sitting in for that chart. If it's in the 2nd House, the next year is going to be all about your bank account and self-worth. If it's in the 7th House, get ready, because your partnerships (romantic or business) are going to be the main event.
If Venus is making a "square" (a 90-degree angle) to Saturn in your return chart? You might feel a bit lonely or like you have to work extra hard for affection this year. If it’s "conjunct" Jupiter? Expect a lot of luck, maybe even a bit of overindulgence.
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Making it work for you
You don't have to be an astrology pro to use this energy.
The simplest way to honor your Venus Return is to treat it like a "Second Birthday." Plan something that feels luxurious to you. For some, that’s a $200 tasting menu. For others, it’s a solo hike and a really good book. The point is to signal to the universe that you value yourself.
When you show the world how you want to be treated, Venus usually makes sure the world follows suit.
Your next steps:
- Find your natal Venus degree using a free birth chart tool.
- Calculate your next return date for 2026 or 2027.
- Clear your schedule for that 48-hour window. Avoid high-stress meetings or difficult conversations if you can.
- Set a specific "Value Intention." Write down one thing you want to attract—whether it's a specific amount of money or a deeper sense of peace in your marriage—and keep it in your wallet until your next return.