August 2026 horoscopes: What the Lion’s Gate Portal and 2 eclipses mean for you

August has arrived, bringing both a solar and a lunar eclipse alongside a number of other astrological happenings. Astrologer Inbaal Honigman says: “In August of 2026, we enjoy the Lion’s Gate Portal, which highlights the Dog Days of summer.

“Generally thought of as 8/8, the Portal is actually a series of dates throughout the month, when the bright star Sirius can be seen as the morning star. Those days highlight courage, strength and achievement for all, especially for Leos. The Total Solar Eclipse on 12/8 is in the sign of Leo, and will centre around boosting success and moving out of your comfort zone. The Lunar Eclipse on 28/8 is in the sign of Pisces, and is the date when secrets are revealed.”

Here’s a breakdown of what August 2026 has in store for each star sign, according to Inbaal:

Aries: March 21 to April 19

It’s not an easy August for you, Aries. There are two planets in your sign all month, and they’ve been there for a while. Saturn, planet of karma and Neptune, planet of dreams. Together, they’re making you work hard to make your dreams a reality, and together they are helping you believe that your dreams will come true. This month, both those planets are in retrograde in your sign. Delays and mix-ups abound, causing you to question whether you even want your dreams to come true at all. The good news is that fast developments are not really compatible with Saturn nor with Neptune, so this pair of retrogrades is doing sterling work in bringing your changing life down to a manageable pace.

Taurus: April 20 to May 20

Venus, planet of love, is your ruling planet, Taurus, which is why love is a priority for you. During the month of August, this planet will be moving between two of your favourite signs, and the influence on you will go from good to better. For the first five days of the month, Venus is in the earthy and organised sign of Virgo. During those days, you feel grounded, safe and alert. On the 6th, this planet moves to the graceful and calm sign of Libra, a sign that’s also ruled by the planet Venus. You will have luck at home during the Libra weeks, and will feel motivated to decorate and tidy your space.

Gemini: May 21 to June 21

You’re a lover, not a fighter, Gemini, but you also won’t stand by if you see injustice. For the first 10 days of the month, the planet Mars, the planet of passion and war, is in your sign, which makes you more fiery. You feel compelled to take action and make a stand, and you don’t shy away from conflict. Interestingly, the Mars influence only lasts 10 days, but in the background, something bigger is brewing. Uranus, planet of rebellion, is in your sign all month long; it’s been there a couple of months, and it’s staying for the next six years. This big planetary journey will help you become more courageous, slowly and surely.

Cancer: June 21 to July 22

What’s going on in Cancer this month is so interesting, as three celestial bodies make their journey through your sign, consecutively, but they don’t really meet. Each of them influences you for a few days, then hands you over to the next planet. The month starts under the watchful eye of Mercury, the planet of communication. For nine days, you are in meetings, conversations, emails and presentations. When Mercury leaves you, the moon enters your sign, and between the ninth and the 11th, you are more intuitive thanks to the lunar influence. Your dreams reveal what lies ahead, and you’re more forgiving. As soon as the moon exits, Mars, the planet of passion, sets up camp in Cancer. Just a few hours ahead of the Total Solar Eclipse, you’re ready to put up a fight thanks to Mars, and you won’t accept defeat.

Leo: July 23 to August 22

Happy Leo season!

The Total Solar Eclipse in Leo will inject you with some much-appreciated sunshine, not that you need it particularly. You’re a sunny, courageous, fiery sign anyway, and for the first three weeks of August, the Sun is in your sign, which makes you even bouncier. Throughout the entire month, Jupiter, the planet of luck, is in your sign too, which will add to your good fortune in ways of earnings, success and luck at home. As if that’s not enough, Mercury, the planet of communication, is in your sign from the 9th to the 25th, which will bring some good phone calls which work in your favour.

Virgo: August 23 to September 22

You’re a hardworking, focused sign, and you don’t like too much attention on you, Virgo, preferring to get your head down and find joy in completing your jobs, chores and hobbies without interference. As the Lunar Eclipse arrives at the start of Virgo season, you won’t be able to keep your secrets covered up. The Sun goes into Virgo on the 22nd, which is when your season begins, and your focus will be on personal relationships, work and studies. The Lunar eclipse during the full moon in Pisces on the 28th will blow any secrets out into the open, so make sure that those secrets aren’t your own. For the first six days of the month, Venus, the planet of love, is in Virgo, so there will be romance around. Then, at the end of the month, on the 25th, Mercury, the planet of communication, is in your sign, which highlights contracts, job offers and success with banking.

Libra: September 23 to October 22

Your ruling planet is Venus, the planet of love, beauty and the home, and this is the planet that makes you who you are, Libra. In August, you have the inimitable pleasure of having this planet, Venus, in your sign of Libra for an extended stay. From the 6th onwards, this gentle, romantic planet will bless your month with warmth, acceptance and more secret admirers than you could imagine. You’re a graceful and elegant sign, and you may struggle to let them down gently, but do your best to take control over the situation, so that you can enjoy those gifts of love on your own terms.

Scorpio: October 22 to November 21

Your ruling planet, Pluto, is the planet of rebirth, and therefore, you, Scorpio, can always create yourself anew. This August, Pluto is heading retrograde for the whole of the month. It is in Aquarius, the humanitarian sign that values charity and creativity, so you can’t help but prioritise the welfare of others alongside your creative pursuits. The fact that it will be going backwards all month indicates that life won’t go exactly the way you want it to go, but your goal is the same: to do good and to be a good person. While the retrograde takes place, this might be a suitable moment for you to prioritise your own needs and desires.

Sagittarius: November 22 to December 21

You’re a sociable sign, Sagittarius, and this month your most valuable friend is the Leo. For the majority of August, we are in Leo season, so this sign is the most important one in the zodiac, but there are other celestial reasons for Sagittarius and Leo to work together this month. Jupiter, planet of luck, is your ruling planet, and it is in Leo all month long, so you’ll feel happier and luckier with Leos around you. In addition, the moon is in Sagittarius from the 20th to the 22nd, ending just at the end of Leo season, so both signs will feel a sense of relief at the same time, so you could go on holiday together with a Leo after the 22nd.

Capricorn: December 22 to January 19

You’re a lone wolf at times, Capricorn, because you are more focused, more direct, more ambitious than anyone else, so nobody can keep up with you. Almost no one… because Virgo friends, for example, can get on board with your way of doing things. This August, the moon is in Capricorn from the 22nd to the 25th, which infuses you with extra magic, and you come up with unusual solutions to even the toughest of problems. There’s a symbiotic relationship between you and your Virgo companions at this time, because the Sun goes into Virgo just when the Moon goes into Capricorn, and you find yourselves side by side, then Mercury, the planet of communication, goes into Virgo just when the Moon leaves Capricorn, so your Virgo friends can stay on board with the plans you make together.

Aquarius: January 20 to February 18

You’re all heart, and you feel for everybody all of the time, Aquarius, as your humanitarian nature moves you to take care of others before you take care of yourself. This August, a Moon-Pluto conjunction merges your emotional heart in the Moon with ideas of metamorphosis and psychic skill in Pluto. The moon and the planet of rebirth meet up in Aquarius on the 26th, and the day before, and the day after, and this conjunction shows you where you need to change yourself in order to give yourself some much-needed love and care, too.

Pisces: February 19 to March 20

Your joys in life are simple and straightforward, Pisces – love, creativity and laughter. The Lunar eclipse in your sign doesn’t exactly encourage any of those, but it does a great job at removing anything unwanted from your life. Eclipses are a time for beginnings and endings, and you can take charge. What do you want to see less of? What do you want to see more of? The Lunar eclipse is on the 28th^, which gives you plenty of time to decide what you’re taking into autumn and what you’re leaving behind.