When is Chinese New Year 2026?

Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival (Chūnjié), is the most important traditional holiday in Chinese culture. It begins on the first new moon of the lunar calendar — between 21 January and 20 February — and the full celebration lasts 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival. Each year is associated with one of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.

The festival has been observed for over 3,500 years, with roots in the harvest rituals of the Shang Dynasty. Legend holds that the monster Nian would attack villages at the start of each year, and was frightened away by loud noises and the colour red — hence the traditions of firecrackers and red envelopes (hóngbāo). The reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, when family members gather for a large meal, is the most important moment of the celebration.

Chinese New Year is not only a Chinese holiday. It is observed across East and Southeast Asia as Lunar New Year: as Tết in Vietnam, Seollal in South Korea, and Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia. Versions of the celebration are observed by Chinese and Vietnamese diaspora communities worldwide. It is a public holiday in China, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and many other countries.