The current lunar year · 12 September 2026 · UTC+8
Chinese year 2026: the year of the Fire Horse
The current Chinese year is 2026, the year of the Fire Horse (丙午): it runs from 17 February 2026 to 5 February 2027, 354 days in 12 lunar months, and 2027 will be the year of the Fire Goat from 6 February 2027.
Where we are in the year
Day 208 of 354 · 146 days remain after today.
Fire is both the year element and the Horse’s fixed element, so this pairing reinforces Fire.
The year contains 12 lunar months, with no leap month. Lunar months have 29 or 30 days.
How leap months work →The next Chinese New Year
147 days to go
Lunar year 2027 opens with the Fire Goat. The date is lunar month 1, day 1—not January 1 and not the Beginning of Spring solar term.
Chinese New Year: dates & traditions →This lunar year began on 17 February 2026. Its final days fall in the following Gregorian year.
The year at a glance
Lunar months in 2026
These are Chinese lunar months. Each card shows the actual Gregorian dates it covers; a leap month repeats a month number, not its dates.
Month 1
17 February 2026
to 18 March 202630 days · completed
View on calendar →Month 2
29 days · completed
View on calendar →Month 3
30 days · completed
View on calendar →Month 4
29 days · completed
View on calendar →Month 5
29 days · completed
View on calendar →Month 6
30 days · completed
View on calendar →Month 7
13 August 2026
to 10 September 202629 days · completed
View on calendar →Month 8
Current month11 September 2026
to 9 October 202629 days · day 2 today
View on calendar →Month 9
10 October 2026
to 8 November 202630 days · begins in 28 days
View on calendar →Month 10
9 November 2026
to 8 December 202630 days · begins in 58 days
View on calendar →Month 11
9 December 2026
to 7 January 202730 days · begins in 88 days
View on calendar →Month 12
8 January 2027
to 5 February 202729 days · begins in 118 days
View on calendar →
Celebrations through this lunar year
5 listed festivals still to come
Dates below belong to this lunar year, including celebrations in early 2027. Open any festival for its full explanation and traditions.
- Chinese New Year
The first day of the first lunar month and the opening of a new lunar year.
17 February 2026Earlier this lunar year
- Lantern Festival
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month, near the first full moon of the new year.
3 March 2026Earlier this lunar year
- Qingming Festival
An observance fixed by the Qingming solar-term instant rather than by a numbered lunar day.
5 April 2026Earlier this lunar year
- Dragon Boat Festival
The fifth day of the fifth lunar month, often called the double-fifth.
19 June 2026Earlier this lunar year
- Qixi
The seventh day of the seventh lunar month, the double-seventh.
19 August 2026Earlier this lunar year
- Ghost Festival
The fifteenth day of the seventh lunar month.
27 August 2026Earlier this lunar year
- Mid-Autumn Festival
The fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, near that month's full moon.
25 September 2026In 13 days
- Double Ninth Festival
The ninth day of the ninth lunar month, the double-ninth.
18 October 2026In 36 days
- Winter Solstice
A seasonal observance fixed by the Winter Solstice solar-term instant.
22 December 2026In 101 days
- Laba Festival
The eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, in the run-up to the new year.
15 January 2027In 125 days
- Lunar New Year's Eve
The last day of the twelfth lunar month, which can be day 29 or day 30.
5 February 2027In 146 days
The solar half of the calendar
Solar terms during this lunar year
Solar terms follow the Sun, while lunar months follow the Moon. This lunar year contains 1 occurrence of Beginning of Spring; that count does not change the Chinese New Year boundary.
- Rain Water
18 February 2026 · 23:51:56 UTC+8
- Awakening of Insects
5 March 2026 · 21:59:00 UTC+8
- Spring Equinox
20 March 2026 · 22:45:59 UTC+8
- Pure Brightness
5 April 2026 · 02:40:00 UTC+8
- Grain Rain
20 April 2026 · 09:39:08 UTC+8
- Beginning of Summer
5 May 2026 · 19:48:44 UTC+8
- Grain Buds
21 May 2026 · 08:36:45 UTC+8
- Grain in Ear
5 June 2026 · 23:48:21 UTC+8
- Summer Solstice
21 June 2026 · 16:24:30 UTC+8
- Minor Heat
7 July 2026 · 09:56:57 UTC+8
- Major Heat
23 July 2026 · 03:13:05 UTC+8
- Beginning of Autumn
7 August 2026 · 19:42:43 UTC+8
- End of Heat
23 August 2026 · 10:18:49 UTC+8
- White Dew
7 September 2026 · 22:41:16 UTC+8
- Autumn Equinox
23 September 2026 · 08:05:14 UTC+8
- Cold Dew
8 October 2026 · 14:29:17 UTC+8
- Frost's Descent
23 October 2026 · 17:37:57 UTC+8
- Beginning of Winter
7 November 2026 · 17:52:05 UTC+8
- Minor Snow
22 November 2026 · 15:23:21 UTC+8
- Major Snow
7 December 2026 · 10:52:32 UTC+8
- Winter Solstice
22 December 2026 · 04:50:14 UTC+8
- Minor Cold
5 January 2027 · 22:09:58 UTC+8
- Major Cold
20 January 2027 · 15:29:50 UTC+8
- Beginning of Spring
4 February 2027 · 09:46:18 UTC+8
Every lunar year, 1902–2049
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Each year opens on its Chinese New Year and is named by its heavenly stem and animal. Open a year for its lunar months, festivals, solar terms and the twelve Gregorian month calendars of that numbered year.
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Find your place in the calendar
The year animal is shared by a whole lunar year. Enter your birthday to find your own lunar date and compare the coming days.