Days Until Chinese New Year

A live countdown to the start of Chinese New Year 2026

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Days Until Chinese New Year 2026

08Days
23Hours
17Minutes
00Seconds

Detailed Breakdown
February 17, 2026Date
TuesdayDay of Week
1.3 WeeksWeeks Left
0.3 MonthsMonths Left
HorseZodiac Animal
Spring FestivalTraditional Name
Summary

There are 8 days, 23 hours, and 17 minutes left until Chinese New Year 2026.

Upcoming Chinese New Year Dates
YearDateZodiac AnimalDays Left
2026February 17Horse8 days
2027February 6Goat362 days
2028January 26Monkey716 days
2029February 13Rooster1100 days
2030February 3Dog1455 days
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Your Ultimate Countdown: How Many Days Until Chinese New Year?

Discover the exact time remaining until the next Chinese New Year with our live, second-by-second countdown.
A detailed and festive tool to help you prepare for the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is one of the most vibrant and significant holidays celebrated worldwide. It's a time of family reunions, feasting, fireworks, and rich cultural traditions. Unlike the Gregorian New Year, its date changes annually, leading many to ask, "When is Chinese New Year?"

Our Live Countdown Timer is here to answer that question precisely. It automatically calculates and displays the time left until the next Chinese New Year, down to the very last second. This guide will walk you through all the features of this tool, explain the significance of the holiday, and help you get ready to say "Happy New Year in Chinese" when the moment arrives.


When Is Chinese New Year 2026? (Year of the Horse)

Chinese New Year 2026, also known as the Lunar New Year, marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac calendar.This major cultural festival will be celebrated on February 17, 2026.

Chinese New Year is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the world, featuring family reunions,fireworks, traditional food, and cultural traditions. Because it follows the lunar calendar, the date changes every year, making a live countdown helpful for planning ahead.


How to Use the Chinese New Year Countdown

This tool is designed for ease of use and provides a wealth of information at a glance. Here’s how to navigate its features.

  1. View the Live Countdown: The main display at the top is the heart of the tool. It shows the remaining Days, Hours, Minutes, and Seconds until the next Chinese New Year. The timer is live and updates every second.
  2. Explore the Detailed Breakdown: This section offers deeper insights for planning:
    • Target Date & Day: See the exact date and the day of the week for the upcoming Chinese New Year's Day.
    • Business & Weekend Days: Know how many workdays and weekend days you have left to prepare for the festivities.
  3. Plan for the Future & Look to the Past: The two tables on this page are a powerful resource.
    • The "Upcoming Years" table shows the dates and zodiac animals for the next five celebrations.
    • The "Past Years" table provides historical data for recent Chinese New Years.

Why a Countdown to Chinese New Year is So Special

Tracking the days until the Lunar New Year is more than just watching a clock; it's about connecting with a rich cultural heritage and preparing for a period of renewal and celebration.

A Time for Family and Tradition

The countdown builds anticipation for the most important part of the festival: family reunions. It’s a time when relatives travel across countries to share meals, exchange red envelopes (hóngbāo), and honor their ancestors.

Welcoming a New Zodiac Animal

Each Lunar New Year ushers in a new animal from the Chinese zodiac. The countdown marks the transition from one animal's year to the next, such as from the Year of the Dragon to the Year of the Snake. Our tables show you which animal is coming up!


Understanding the Chinese New Year

So, when is Chinese New Year, and why does the date change? It's all based on the lunar calendar.

The holiday marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. The first day falls on the new moon that appears between January 21st and February 20th. This is why the date is different each year. The festival lasts for 15 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival.

How to Say "Happy New Year" in Chinese

One of the most joyful parts of the celebration is exchanging greetings. If you want to wish someone a happy new year in Chinese, here are the most common phrases:

  • In Mandarin: Xīn Nián Kuài Lè (新年快乐), which means "Happy New Year."
  • In Cantonese: Gong Hei Fat Choy (恭喜发财), which means "Wishing you great happiness and prosperity."

Practical Uses for the Countdown Timer

Knowing the exact time remaining is incredibly useful for planning. Here’s how you can use this tool:

Home Preparations

Traditionally, homes are thoroughly cleaned before the New Year to sweep away bad luck. Use the countdown to schedule your cleaning and decorating days.

Travel Planning

The Spring Festival travel rush is the largest annual human migration in the world. Use our future dates table to book your flights and trains far in advance to avoid high prices.

Shopping for Festivities

From new clothes (to symbolize a new start) to ingredients for festive meals, there's a lot to buy. The countdown helps you plan your shopping trips without last-minute stress.

Cultural and Educational Use

For students and teachers, this tool is a great resource for learning about different cultures and the mechanics of a lunisolar calendar. Track the days and explore the traditions of each zodiac year.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The date is based on the lunisolar calendar, which follows the cycles of the moon. The new year starts on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which falls on a different day each year between January 21st and February 20th.

The countdown is highly accurate. It uses your device's local clock and calculates the difference to the target date (set to midnight UTC, the beginning of the day) every second.

The dates for future and past Chinese New Years are based on well-established astronomical calculations. We maintain a list of these dates within the tool to ensure accuracy. This list is updated periodically to include more future years.

Conclusion: Get Ready to Celebrate!

The countdown to Chinese New Year is a special time filled with excitement and preparation. Our tool is designed to be your perfect companion on this journey, providing all the information you need in one clear, festive, and easy-to-use page.

Bookmark this page to stay updated on the remaining time, explore the dates for coming years, and get ready to welcome the new lunar year with joy and prosperity.

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