Chinese New Year in 2026 is the Year of the Horse and is scheduled to start on Tuesday, Feb. 17, and last until the Lantern Festival on March 3, the date of the next full moon.
It is the most important traditional festival in China. It marks the beginning of the new year on the traditional lunar calendar. The history of Chinese New Year dates back over 4,000 years, rooted in ancient agricultural practices, seasonal cycles, and mythology.