All 2026 Holidays
Chinese Lunisolar Calendar & Zodiac
The Chinese calendar (农历, Nónglì) is a lunisolar system: months follow the moon (29 or 30 days) and an intercalary 13th month is inserted roughly every three years so the calendar stays in sync with the solar year. Years are also counted in a 60-year sexagenary cycle (干支, Gānzhī) — a combination of 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches, the latter giving rise to the famous 12-animal zodiac.
Current Chinese Year
Year of the Horse (丙午)
Heavenly Stem: 丙 Bǐng · Earthly Branch: 午 Wǔ
The 12-Year Zodiac Cycle
Major Festival Dates — 2026 · 2027 · 2028
| Festival | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese New Year | February 17, 2026 (Tue) | February 6, 2027 (Sat) | January 26, 2028 (Wed) |
| Lantern Festival | March 3, 2026 (Tue) | February 20, 2027 (Sat) | February 9, 2028 (Wed) |
| Qingming Festival | April 5, 2026 (Sun) | April 5, 2027 (Mon) | April 4, 2028 (Tue) |
| Dragon Boat Festival | June 19, 2026 (Fri) | June 9, 2027 (Wed) | May 28, 2028 (Sun) |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | September 25, 2026 (Fri) | September 15, 2027 (Wed) | October 3, 2028 (Tue) |
| Double Ninth Festival | October 18, 2026 (Sun) | October 8, 2027 (Fri) | October 26, 2028 (Thu) |
| Winter Solstice | December 22, 2026 (Tue) | December 22, 2027 (Wed) | December 21, 2028 (Thu) |
Dates are computed from the official Chinese lunisolar calendar. Statutory holiday "make-up" weekend swaps are set annually by the State Council and are not shown above.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does China have?
China has 14 major public holidays.
What are the main holidays in China?
New Year's Day, Laba Festival, Chinese New Year's Eve (Chuxi), Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), Lantern Festival (Yuanxiao), Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day), Labour Day, Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu), Double Seventh Festival (Qixi), Hungry Ghost Festival (Zhongyuan), Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhongqiu), Double Ninth Festival (Chongyang), National Day, Winter Solstice (Dongzhi).
When is Chinese New Year this year?
Chinese New Year (Spring Festival, 春节) falls on the first day of the first lunar month. The table above lists the exact Gregorian date for the current year and the next two.
How does the Chinese lunisolar calendar work?
Months follow the lunar phases (29 or 30 days each); an intercalary 13th month is inserted roughly every three years to keep the calendar aligned with the seasons. Years are labelled both by a 12-animal zodiac and by the 60-year sexagenary cycle of 10 Heavenly Stems combined with 12 Earthly Branches.
What are the 24 solar terms (节气)?
Alongside the lunar months, the Chinese calendar tracks 24 equally-spaced solar terms that mark seasonal change. Qingming and the Winter Solstice (Dongzhi) are two of these solar terms observed as traditional festivals.