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Chinese New Year 2026 begins on Tuesday, February 17, following New Year's Eve on February 16. The cultural season is longer than the statutory break: reunion travel starts before the first day, while many customary activities continue toward the Lantern Festival. Use this page for dates and holiday distinctions, then consult the broader Chinese New Year planning guide.
Chinese New Year follows the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, so its Gregorian date changes each year. It normally falls between late January and mid-February; for 2026, the first day is February 17. Book against the date for the actual travel year, not a copied annual itinerary. The Chinese New Year facts guide explains the calendar, zodiac and common terminology in more depth.
The customary sequence begins before New Year's Day and is often described as continuing through the fifteenth lunar day, the Lantern Festival. Household participation, public programming and business hours do not follow one identical fifteen-day timetable.
| Year | Chinese New Year Eve | Chinese New Year Date | Day of Week | Zodiac Animal |
| 2021 | February 11 | February 12 | Friday | Ox |
| 2022 | January 31 | February 1 | Tuesday | Tiger |
| 2023 | January 21 | January 22 | Sunday | Rabbit |
| 2024 | February 9 | February 10 | Saturday | Dragon |
| 2025 | January 28 | January 29 | Wednesday | Snake |
| 2026 | February 16 | February 17 | Tuesday | Horse |
| 2027 | February 5 | February 6 | Saturday | Goat |
| 2028 | January 25 | January 26 | Wednesday | Monkey |
| 2029 | February 12 | February 13 | Tuesday | Rooster |
| 2030 | February 2 | February 3 | Sunday | Dog |
Mainland public-holiday dates and any adjusted working weekends are issued for a specific year. Travelers should check the current State Council notice and then reconfirm rail, flight, attraction and hotel arrangements close to departure.
The statutory break is not the same as the full travel rush. Transport demand can rise before the holiday starts, while some businesses reopen on schedules chosen by their operators. Build flexibility into arrival days and use the pre-festival preparation timeline to understand why movement begins early.
Hong Kong publishes its own gazetted general-holiday calendar. In 2026, Lunar New Year's Day and the following two days fall on February 17–19; opening arrangements for individual attractions, restaurants and transport services still need separate confirmation.
The traditional calendar coordinates lunar months with the solar year and adds a leap month when required. Chinese New Year begins the first lunar month rather than simply following every twelfth new moon. The lunar year beginning on February 17, 2026 is associated with the Horse. Zodiac references are a cultural framework for naming years; they should not be presented as evidence that a traveler's personality or fortune can be predicted.
