The First Planet Parade of 2026 Is in February: Here’s How to See It

Skygazers, mark your calendars because one of the coolest celestial events returns near the end of February. Six planets will be visible in the night sky at the same time for a few weeks. This phenomenon is known as a planetary parade and only happens a few times a year.

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This particular planetary parade will include Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Only one planet remains to reach the complete set, a fairly rare phenomenon and the most recent occurred in February 2025. You’ll also need a telescope to see everything, especially since much of this will happen at dusk, making some planets harder to see.

When will the parade of planets take place?

The Northern Hemisphere will have its best glimpse during the planetary sunset parade during the last week of February. This one will be particularly difficult for skywatchers, because it’s much harder to spot planets with the sun, even partially raised, due to light pollution. Your best bet is around 6:45 p.m. local time, and your window will be extremely short. Mercury and Venus fall below the horizon about 30 to 45 minutes later, so that’s all the time you’ll have.

The good news is that Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Neptune are all clustered on the western horizon, near the setting sun. Venus and Mercury will be next to each other, and Saturn and Neptune will be clustered close together. This should make all four of them a little easier to spot, which is a boon for skywatchers given the short window.

Jupiter and Uranus will be the easiest to spot and will remain in the sky long after the other four planets have dipped below the horizon. Uranus will cross the southern sky alongside the constellation Taurus before dropping below the western horizon a few hours after midnight. Jupiter will follow a very similar path to Uranus, but hangs out with the constellation Gemini.

Overall, the best dates to watch the parade of planets in the United States, Canada and Mexico are February 21-28. Before February 21, Venus and Mercury will be too close to the sun. Once March begins, Mercury will move closer to the sun again, dipping below the horizon before becoming easily visible. Once this happens, the parade of five planets will continue for about a week before Neptune and Saturn dip below the horizon, ending the parade and leaving only Venus, Jupiter, and Uranus visible in the sky.

Will the planetary parade be visible in my region?

Yes. We checked the Stellarium sky map from several locations in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, and the planetary parade was visible everywhere we checked. According to Star Walk, the parade will be seen everywhere from Tokyo to London. We also checked the southern hemisphere, and it will be visible there as well. Dates vary depending on location, but most places should be able to see it at some point between February 21 and 28.

How can I find the different planets in the sky?

The image above gives you a general idea of ​​their position relative to each other, but the best thing to do is to look at a sky map and plan ahead. We recommend Stellarium Star Map if you are using a desktop computer and Stellarium Mobile (Android and iOS) if you are using your phone.

We recommend looking for Venus first, as it is the easiest planet to spot of the four planets near the sun. You can then use the app to find the other three. Jupiter and Uranus are alone in the night sky and will be there after the other four have dipped below the horizon. So we recommend finding these as they will stay there longer.

Will I need any special equipment to attend the parade?

Yes. With four planets close to the sun, they will be difficult to spot with the naked eye, due to light pollution. Uranus and Neptune are impossible to see without a magnifying device, even in complete darkness. A telescope is highly recommended. Astronomers suggest a minimum aperture of 8 inches and 50x magnification for best results. It’s strong enough to see the rings of Uranus and Saturn. You need a telescope with around 150x magnification to observe Neptune’s rings.

The usual space visualization tips also apply. Move away from the city to a place with as little light pollution as possible, since you’re already fighting the sun to see these things. And be very careful not to point your telescope at the sun, as this could damage your eyes. Try to choose a night with as few clouds as possible.

The first of three planetary parades in 2026

Planetary parades are rare, but sometimes the universe smiles on Earth. This year promises to be really rich in global parades, since three are expected in 2026. February is the first. The other two are scheduled for April (five planets) and August (six planets). This means there are two more chances to see a planetary parade in 2026 if you have to miss the one in February.