Chinese New Year 2026 falls on Tuesday, February 17th, starting a year of the Fire Horse. As a public holiday, Chinese people will get 8 days off from work from February 15th to February 22nd in 2026.
What is the Chinese New Year 2026 Animal? — Fire Horse
The Chinese zodiac gives each year an animal sign.Chinese New Year 2026 is a Year of the Horse, more specifically, Fire Horse, starting from February 17th, 2026, and lasting until February 5th, 2027.
Recent/upcoming years of the Horse are 2026, 2014, 2002, and 1990. If you were born in one of the above years, then you are a Horse. You will experience your zodiac birth sign year (benmingnian) in 2026, which is considered bad luck.
The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
You can use our free Chinese zodiac sign calculator tool below to find your zodiac animal sign and check your horoscope in 2026 on our page Year of the Horse 2026: Meaning, Predictions for 12 Zodiac signs
Things to do on Chinese New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to Get the Year-long Good Luck
Chinese people believe that what you do at the beginning of a new year will affect your luck in the coming year. Staying up on Chinese New Year's Eve (February 16th, 2026) and saying good words to your family/friends like Happy New Year after the clock strikes 12 will certainly bring good luck.
Giving out red packets to kids and elders will help cast away the bad luck (demon Nian) and bring good luck in.
Besides, decorating your house with kumquat trees (symbolizing wealth & good luck), wearing your lucky color (yellow, red), and eating lucky food like rice dumplings (family togetherness), fried flour-coated peanuts (vitality), walnut cookies (happiness), etc. are popular ways to get lucky.
Chinese New Year Taboos and Superstitions: 18 Things You Should Not Do >>>
Why Does Chinese New Year Date Change Every Year?
The date is decided by the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which is based on the cycles of the moon and sun and is generally 21–51 days behind the Gregorian (internationally-used) calendar.
The date of Chinese New Year changes every year, but it always falls between January 21st and February 20th. The day of Chinese New Year is a new moon day, usually the second after the winter solstice.
How Long is the Chinese New Year Holiday?
China's public holiday for Lunar New Year is 8 days, typically from Chinese New Year's Eve to the 7th day of the lunar calendar new year.
Offices, banks, factories, shops, and most non-essential services will close doors for a week's holiday. Hotels and large retail outlets stay open and may even be busier than usual! School holidays are four weeks long and migrant workers abandon their factory and construction jobs for weeks to return home.
Taiwan enjoys a 5-holiday from from February 16th to 20th in 2026. Hong Kong and Macau residents have a 3-day holiday from February 17th to 19th in 2026.
Holidays in other Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines usually are 1 to 3 days.
How Long is Chinese New Year 2026?
Celebrations of Chinese New Year traditionally last for 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival. The most notable dates of the Lunar New Year 2026 are these three days:
- Chinese New Year's Eve on February 16th, 2026
- Chinese New Year's Day on February 17th, 2026
- The Lantern Festival on March 3rd, 2026
Each day of the 16-day long festival has a name, and usually an assigned purpose or meaning. Below is a table of all the important dates and their meanings.
| Solar Date (2026) | Lunar Date | Title | Purpose / Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb. 16th | 12th month, 30th day 除夕 (Chúxì) |
New Year's Eve (除夕 Chúxì) |
The most important celebration, includes the family reunion dinner, and staying up until midnight. |
| Feb. 17th | 1st month, 1st day 初一 (Chūyī) |
New Year's Day 初一 (Chūyī) |
A day for visiting/greeting family and relatives, giving presents, and visiting ancestors' graves. |
| Feb. 18th | 1st month, 2nd day 初二 (Chū'èr) |
In-Law's Day (迎婿日 Yíngxùrì, or 开年 Kāinián) |
Married women visit their parents with their husbands and children. |
| Feb. 19th | 1st month, 3rd day 初三 (Chūsān) |
Day of the Rat (鼠日 Shǔrì) |
An ominous day, common to stay at home and rest with family, play games. |
| Feb. 20th | 1st month, 4th day 初四 (Chūsì) |
Day of the Sheep (羊日 Yángrì) |
An auspicious day, for prayer and giving offerings, or going to temples or fortune-tellers. |
| Feb. 21st | 1st month, 5th day 初五 (Chūwǔ) |
Break Five (破五 Pòwǔ) |
Commonly accepted as the day when taboos (from previous days) can be broken. |
| Feb. 22nd | 1st month, 6th day 初六 (Chūliù) |
Day of the Horse (马日 Mǎrì) |
Believed to be the best day to get rid of old, unwanted things. Also an acceptable day to resume labor. |
| Feb. 23rd | 1st month, 7th day 初七 (Chūqī) |
Day of Mankind (人日 Rénrì) |
Believed to be the day people were created. Encouraged to spend out in nature. |
| Feb. 24th | 1st month, 8th day 初八 (Chūbā) |
Day of the Grain (谷日节 Gǔrìjié) |
Good weather on this day will symbolize good crops for the year. Many families will have a second 'mini' reunion dinner. |
| Feb, 25th | 1st month, 9th day 初九 (Chūjiǔ) |
Providence Health (天公生 Tiāngōngshēng) |
The 'Jade Emperor's birthday, giving offerings, lighting incense, and setting off firecrackers. |
| Feb. 26th | 1st month, 10th day 初十 (Chūshí) |
Stone Festival (石头节 Shítoujié) |
The birthday of the 'god stone', similar to the previous day's rituals. |
| Feb. 27th | 1st month, 11th day 初十一 (Chūshíyī) |
Son-in-Law Day (子婿日 Zǐxùrì) |
Fathers are expected to 'entertain' or treat their sons-in-law on this day. |
| Feb. 28th – Mar.2nd | 1st month, 12th – 14th day 初十二 - 初十四 (Chūshí'èr - Chūshísì) |
Lantern Day Preparations | Preparations for the lantern festival: cooking, making lanterns, etc. |
| Mar. 3rd | 1st month, 15th day 初十五 (Chūshíwǔ) |
Lantern Festival (元宵节 Yuánxiāojié) |
Marks the end of the festival. Lanterns are lit and hung or flown, people watch dragon dances in the streets, and children answer lantern riddles. |
Chinese New Year Dates in 2026, 2027...
This table below shows you when Lunar New Year is celebrated from 2026 to 2037 and what the animal signs are for each Chinese zodiac year.
| Year | Date of Chinese New Year | Chinese New Year Holiday | Animal Sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, Feb.17 | Feb. 15-22 | Horse |
| 2027 | Saturday, Feb.6 | Feb. 5-11 | Goat |
| 2028 | Wednesday, Jan.26 | Jan. 25-31 | Monkey |
| 2029 | Tuesday, Feb.13 | Feb. 12-18 | Rooster |
| 2030 | Sunday, Feb.3 | Feb. 2-8 | Dog |
| 2031 | Thursday, Jan.23 | Jan. 22-28 | Pig |
| 2032 | Wednesday, Feb.11 | Feb. 10-16 | Rat |
| 2033 | Monday, Jan.31 | Jan. 30 to Feb 5 | Ox |
| 2034 | Sunday, Feb. 19 | Feb. 18-24 | Tiger |
| 2035 | Thursday, Feb. 8 | Feb. 7-13 | Rabbit |
| 2036 | Monday, Jan. 28 | Jan. 27-Feb. 2 | Dragon |
| 2037 | Sunday, Feb. 15 | Feb. 14-20 | Snake |