When is Chinese New Year?
Quick Answer
Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which always falls between 21 January and 20 February.
The Full Story
The traditional Chinese calendar is lunisolar, combining lunar months with adjustments to keep pace with the solar year. New Year celebrations begin with the new moon and traditionally last 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival under the first full moon. Each year is associated with one of 12 zodiac animals, and 2026 is the Year of the Horse, which began on 17 February 2026. The holiday sparks the largest annual human migration on Earth, known as chunyun, when hundreds of millions of people travel home. It is also celebrated in Vietnam as Tet, in Korea as Seollal and in Chinese communities worldwide.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"When Is Chinese New Year — The Moon, the Zodiac and the Great Migration"