Astrology, horoscope dates and zodiac sign guides
Astrology, horoscope dates and zodiac sign guides
Last updated: September 27, 2026
The Leo horoscope dates run from July 23 to August 22 each year. If your birthday falls in that window, your Sun sign is Leo — confident, warm, and magnetic, a natural-born leader who loves to shine. Below: the exact dates, what happens if you were born on the cusp, Leo’s three decans, a quick compatibility snapshot, and answers to the most common Leo dates questions.
Leo at a Glance · When Leo Starts and Ends · Born on the Cusp? · The Three Decans · Leo Personality · Compatibility · FAQ
| Dates | July 23 – August 22 |
|---|---|
| Element | Fire |
| Modality | Fixed |
| Ruling planet | The Sun |
| Symbol | The Lion ♌ |
| Sign before / after | Cancer / Virgo |
| Most compatible | Aries, Sagittarius, Gemini, Libra |
| More challenging match | Taurus, Scorpio |
Leo season begins on July 23 and ends on August 22. You may see these dates listed a day earlier or later on other sites — that’s not an error. The Sun doesn’t change signs at the same clock time every year, so the exact start and end can shift by about a day depending on the year and your time zone. For almost everyone, July 23–August 22 is exactly right. Born right on the edge? See the cusp section below.
Born right at the edge of Leo? You were born on a cusp — the changeover point between two signs. July 23 sits on the Cancer–Leo cusp; August 22 sits on the Leo–Virgo cusp. Astrologically, there’s no such thing as being “half and half” — you’re fully one sign or the other. The only way to know for certain is to check the exact moment the Sun changed signs in your birth year, since a boundary birthday can fall under either sign depending on the year and hour you were born.
Every sign divides into three decans of roughly ten days, each with a sub-ruler that shades the core personality:
As a fire, fixed sign ruled by the Sun, Leo is confident, warm, and magnetic — a natural-born leader who loves to shine.
That’s the short version — for the full breakdown of Leo traits, the Leo man and woman, career, and mythology, read the complete Leo zodiac sign guide.
Leo pairs most naturally with fellow fire signs Aries and Sagittarius — shared confidence, warmth, and a love of adventure — plus air signs Gemini and Libra, who admire Leo’s charisma and match its social energy. Leo and Aquarius, sitting opposite each other on the wheel, often create a magnetic push-pull precisely because they’re so different — Aquarius brings detachment, Leo brings warmth. Leo and Sagittarius build one of the zodiac’s most fun, adventurous partnerships. Taurus and Scorpio tend to need the most patience as matches, since their more private, fixed style can clash with Leo’s need for recognition. For a full compatibility reading, try the Love Compatibility Calculator.
Barack Obama, Jennifer Lawrence, Madonna, Chris Hemsworth, and Whitney Houston all share the Leo sign.
The Leo date range is July 23 to August 22. Anyone born in this window falls under the fifth sign of the zodiac.
Leo season runs the same window every year, July 23 through August 22 — so if today’s date falls in that range, it’s currently Leo season.
July 23 is the first day of Leo. Born on this exact date, you’re on the Cancer–Leo cusp but officially a Leo in most years.
August 22 is the last day of Leo. The Sun moves into Virgo the following day, August 23.
They’re close but not identical. The Sun enters each sign at a specific time, not a fixed calendar moment, so the exact date can shift by about a day depending on the year and your time zone — mainly relevant if your birthday sits right on July 23 or August 22.
Cancer comes just before Leo, and Virgo comes just after.
Aries and Sagittarius are often considered Leo’s strongest long-term matches, thanks to shared fire-sign confidence and passion. Gemini and Libra also build lively, sociable connections with Leo.
Leo and Aquarius, as opposite signs, often create a magnetic connection despite — or because of — their differences. Leo and Sagittarius share fire-sign enthusiasm and build one of the zodiac’s most adventurous, fun-loving pairings. Leo and Libra bond easily over a shared love of romance, beauty, and social life.
Explore more: the full Leo zodiac sign guide, or the horoscope dates for neighboring signs, Cancer and Virgo.