When is Chinese New Year 2026?
It was on Tuesday 17 February 2026 (China time). The Fire Horse year runs until Friday 5 February 2027.
Chinese New Year 2026: Year of the Fire Horse
Chinese New Year 2026 was on Tuesday 17 February 2026.
It began the Year of the Yang Fire Horse (丙午, Bǐng-wǔ), which lasts until Friday 5 February 2027.
The 2026 Chinese year at a glance
- Starts
- Tuesday 17 February 2026
- Ends
- Friday 5 February 2027
- Animal
- Horse 马
- Element
- Fire, yang
- Stem-branch
- 丙午 Bǐng-wǔ
- New moon
- 17 February 2026, 12:01 UTC (20:01 China time), Moon in Aquarius — with an annular solar eclipse
- Lichun (Start of Spring)
- Wednesday 4 February 2026, 04:01 China time
Born in 2026 or early 2027?
Babies born from 17 Feb 2026 to 5 Feb 2027 are Fire Horses. Those born in 2026 before 17 Feb 2026 belong to the Wood Snake year.
Ben Ming Nian: your own zodiac year
2026 is the Ben Ming Nian of everyone born in a Horse year — for example 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930 (from Chinese New Year of each). Tradition treats it as a year to take care, and many people wear something red for luck.
Clashing and harmonious signs
In tradition, the Rat clashes with the year’s Horse, and the Ox forms a harm pair with it. The Tiger and Dog (trine) and the Goat (secret friend) are considered in harmony with it. Compatibility chart.
Traditions, not predictions. Chinese New Year 2027 → · All dates 1900–2100
Questions and answers
What Chinese zodiac is 2026?
The Yang Fire Horse (丙午, Bǐng-wǔ). People born between 17 Feb 2026 and 5 Feb 2027 belong to this sign.
What is Ben Ming Nian?
Your “zodiac year”: the year of your own animal, which comes round every 12 years. In 2026 it is the Horse’s Ben Ming Nian. Tradition treats it as a year to be careful, and many people wear red for luck.
Which animal clashes with the Horse?
The Rat, its opposite in the cycle. In tradition, people of a year’s clashing sign are also advised to take extra care that year.