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Chinese New Year—also called Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival—is the biggest annual holiday in China and one of the most widely celebrated cultural festivals in the world. It marks the start of a new year on the Chinese lunisolar calendar and is celebrated with family gatherings, symbolic foods, red decorations, fireworks (where permitted), and community events such as lion dances and temple fairs.
When is Chinese New Year 2026?
Chinese New Year 2026 date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
- Zodiac year: Year of the Horse (often described as a “Fire Horse” year in popular astrology sources)
- China’s Spring Festival public holiday: Feb 15–23, 2026 (official schedule)
- What it means: A 15-day celebration period that traditionally ends with the Lantern Festival
Key Metrics (2026)
| Metric | Figure | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese New Year date | February 17 | 2026 | China Highlights |
| Official China Spring Festival holiday | Feb 15–23 (9 days) | 2026 | China Briefing (official schedule summary) |
| Projected passenger trips during “chunyun” | 9.5 billion passenger trips (reported projection) | 2026 | Reuters |
Why Chinese New Year matters
For families, Lunar New Year is about reunion and renewal. For businesses and the wider economy, it’s a massive seasonal moment: travel spikes, gifting rises, entertainment attendance surges, and many factories and offices pause or operate at reduced capacity.
Traditions you’ll see most often
- Reunion dinner: Many families gather the night before the new year for a large, symbolic meal.
- Red decorations: Red is associated with luck and prosperity, so you’ll see red couplets, lanterns, and paper cuttings.
- Red envelopes (hongbao): Monetary gifts are commonly given to children and younger relatives.
- Cleaning before the holiday: Homes are cleaned ahead of time to “sweep away” the old year.
- Lantern Festival finale: Celebrations traditionally culminate with lantern displays and sweet rice dumplings (tangyuan).
Chinese Zodiac: recent and upcoming years
- 2023: Rabbit
- 2024: Dragon
- 2025: Snake
- 2026: Horse
- 2027: Goat
- 2028: Monkey
- 2029: Rooster
- 2030: Dog
FAQ
How long does Chinese New Year last?
Traditionally, the festival season is about 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival. The official public holiday period varies by country and year.
What is China’s official public holiday for Chinese New Year 2026?
China’s official Spring Festival holiday in 2026 is Feb 15–23 (9 days), per published government schedule summaries.
Why is it called the Spring Festival?
In China, it’s commonly referred to as the Spring Festival because it marks the seasonal transition and a symbolic “fresh start,” even though it occurs in winter by the Gregorian calendar.
What is “chunyun”?
Chunyun is the Spring Festival travel rush—an annual period when huge numbers of people travel to reunite with family. It’s often described as the world’s largest recurring human migration event.
Sources
