Cultural calendar
Chinese Zodiac 2026 — Year of the Fire Horse
2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese New Year falls on February 17, 2026, beginning year 4724 in the traditional count.
Key dates in the 2026 Chinese calendar
- Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) — February 17, 2026 (Year of the Horse begins).
- Lantern Festival — March 3, 2026 (15th day of the 1st lunar month).
- Qingming Festival — April 5, 2026 (tomb-sweeping day).
- Dragon Boat Festival — June 19, 2026 (5th day of the 5th lunar month).
- Qixi (Chinese Valentine's) — August 19, 2026.
- Mid-Autumn Festival — September 25, 2026 (15th day of the 8th lunar month).
- Chongyang Festival — October 19, 2026.
- Winter Solstice (Dōngzhì) — December 22, 2026.
The 12 zodiac animals and their years
The 12-year cycle repeats: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.
| Animal | Recent years |
|---|---|
| Horse | 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038 |
| Goat | 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039 |
| Monkey | 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040 |
| Rooster | 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041 |
| Dog | 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042 |
| Pig | 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043 |
About the Year of the Horse
The Horse is the 7th animal in the cycle, paired in 2026 with the Fire element. Fire Horse years are traditionally seen as energetic, adventurous, and spirited. The previous Fire Horse year was 1966.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Chinese zodiac year actually start?
On Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year), not January 1. People born in January or early February may belong to the previous year's animal.
What's the difference between the Chinese zodiac and Chinese astrology?
The zodiac is the 12-animal cycle. Full Chinese astrology adds the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) and other factors to create a 60-year cycle.