Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, for people born roughly from July 23 to August 22. It is a fixed fire sign ruled by the Sun: warm, generous and confident, a natural performer and leader. Its symbol is the Lion and its tarot card is Strength. Read today's Leo horoscope.
Leo at a glance
| Dates | July 23 – August 22 (varies by a day; see the finder) |
|---|---|
| Element | Fire: passion, courage and energy |
| Modality | Fixed: sustains, commits and resists change |
| Ruling planet | the Sun |
| Symbol | The Lion |
| Tarot card | Strength |
| Opposite sign | Aquarius |
Are you really a Leo? Exact sign finder
Sign dates shift by a day from year to year. Enter your birth date (and time, if you know it) and we calculate where the Sun really was, so cusp birthdays get the right answer.
Leo personality: strengths and challenges
Leo in love and compatibility
Leo loves with warmth and drama: generous, devoted and proud of its partner. Being admired and appreciated matters. The growth point is sharing the spotlight and showing vulnerability, not only strength.
| Match type | Signs | Why, in traditional astrology |
|---|---|---|
| Easiest matches | Sagittarius, Aries, Libra, Gemini | Signs of the same element, or of the element that complements fire, tend to understand each other easily. |
| Opposites attract | Aquarius | The opposite sign has what Leo lacks: strong attraction, and something to learn from each other. |
| More friction | Scorpio, Taurus | Signs three apart ("square") have different needs; it can work, but takes more compromise. |
Sun signs are only one part of compatibility. For a reading based on your birth cards instead, try the tarot love compatibility calculator.
Leo careers
Leo tends to shine where it can lead or perform: management, entertainment, acting, events, teaching, politics, fashion and any role with an audience.
Leo tarot card: Strength
In the tradition of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, each zodiac sign is linked with a Major Arcana card. Leo's card is Strength. Reading it alongside your sign adds another layer: its themes often echo the strengths and lessons above.
Born on the cusp?
Born on July 22 or 23, or on August 22 or 23? The Sun changes sign at a different time each year, so use the sign finder above with your birth time to know whether you are Cancer or Leo, or Leo or Virgo.
Leo horoscope
Read the Leo horoscope today, the weekly Leo horoscope or the monthly Leo tarot horoscope, each with a tarot card drawn for the sign.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dates for Leo?
Usually July 23 to August 22. The exact start and end change by a day or so from year to year, so people born on those edges should check with the sign finder on this page.
What is Leo's element and ruling planet?
Leo is a fixed fire sign, ruled by the Sun.
Which signs are most compatible with Leo?
Traditionally the other fire signs, Aries and Sagittarius, and the air signs Gemini and Libra. Aquarius, the opposite sign, often brings strong attraction.
What tarot card is Leo?
Strength, the card of courage, patience and gentle power.
Why is Leo ruled by the Sun?
Leo season falls at the height of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and in traditional astrology the Sun rules Leo, the sign of warmth, light and self-expression.
Other zodiac signs
Sources and further reading
- Zodiac · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Astrology · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Jean Meeus, Astronomical Algorithms (2nd ed., 1998), chapter 25: the solar position formula used by the sign finder
- How our readings work: randomness, use of AI and limits · The Mystica
Written by The Mystica Editorial Team under our editorial standards. Last reviewed: October 25, 2026. Astrology is a traditional belief system; personality descriptions are offered for reflection and entertainment, not as scientific findings.