Chinese New Year 2026
Year of the Horse
Happy Chinese New Year! Wishing you health and prosperity in 2026!
Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, is the best time of the whole year to experience Chinese traditions, parties, banquets, taste various gourmet foods & deserts, and enjoy sheer happiness. And the best thing is that there are so many New Year gifts and red envelops.
Can't wait to celebrate Chinese New Year? We should first know when it is, why to celebrate it, what to eat, the most popular activities and decorations. It is also very interesting and important for you to figure out what your Chinese zodiac animal and what to do to bring good fortune in the upcoming new year.
So now let's follow the local custom, put on your best Chinese New Year outfits, say "xīn nián hǎo" to each other and start celebrating!
Chinese New Year 2026 Dates
Chinese New Year date varies every year due to the Chinese calendar. The celebrations actually starts from the little year for the preparations, and officially begin on New Year's Eve and Spring Festival, when everything is ready for the this big event. Lasting up to 15 days, Lunar New year finally ends with the Lantern Festival.
When is Chinese New Year of Horse 2026
Chinese New Year 2026 kicks off on February 17th, 2026. The New Year's Eve is February 16th, 2026. It is time for new beginnings and fresh starts!
Spring Festival 2026 Holiday
Spring Festival is to Chinese as Christmas is to the Westerns. It begins with a wide range of activities and traditions.
Lantern Festival 2026
Lantern Festival marks the culmination of Lunar New Year celebrations. Enjoy lantern shows, guess riddles, and taste Tangyuan.
Chinese New Year Zodiac Animals
The Chinese Zodiac assigns an animal sign to each year. 2026 is the year of the Horse.
Chinese New Year Traditions & Celebrations
Here are the greatest and most celebrated traditional festivals in China, including the top four ancient China festivals: Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival, Qingming Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival.
Legends and Stories
The most significant traditional celebration in China is the Chinese New Year. It is the subject of numerous myths and stories.
15-Day Celebration
People engage in a variety of activities for festivities based on Chinese New Year traditions.
Red Envelope (Hong Bao)
The red envelope is the money given to children and the elderly during Spring Festival.
Greetings & Wishes
How to say happy New Year in Chinese? It is "Xīn nián kuài lè" (新年快乐).
Best New Year Gifts
Apart from red envelope, there are many other wonderful gifts for parents, kids and friends.
Taboos to Avoid
To have a lucky and prosperous new year, make sure you avoid new year taboos.
Tai Sui 2026
Learn about Tai Sui, Fan Tai Sui, and how to placate Tai Sui for good fortune.
Ben Ming Nian
Ben Ming Nian means "the year of one's destiny". Learn about this tradition.
Village Tour Customs
Learn about the old Spring Festival customs of quaint, isolated ancient Chinese villages.
Chinese New Year Colors, Outfits, and Decorations
Having trouble deciding what to wear or how to decorate for the Chinese New Year? Look into the ideal guidance.
Best Decorations and Crafts
Red represents happiness and good fortune. Decorate your home with red paper cutting arts, red door gods, red couplets.
What to Wear
New clothes are part of Spring Festival traditions. Hanfu, Qipao and Tangzhuang are popular.
New Year Paintings
Celebrate Spring Festival in the old way with New Year paintings, and learn how to make it.
