Chinese lunar calendar
2026 Chinese Lunar Calendar Guide
Year of the Fire Horse
2026 is commonly treated as a Fire Horse year, beginning with the Lunar New Year period in mid-February. Diaspora users should confirm local moon-sighting, temple, and public-holiday schedules where relevant.
Chinese New Year 2026: February 17, 2026. This is the first day of the first lunar month in the committed HKO conversion dataset.
Planning notes
- Use local civil dates for bookings and legal actions.
- Chinese lunar months do not align neatly with Gregorian months.
- Some festival windows are observed before or after the exact date because of travel, crowding, or venue rules.
- Auspicious-date guidance on Bai Bai is cultural and religious reference information for Chinese diaspora communities. It is not guaranteed fortune-telling, professional feng shui, medical advice, legal advice, financial advice, or a substitute for family elders, temple staff, qualified practitioners, or regulated professionals.
Exact Gregorian dates
2026 festivals and deity birthdays
Lunar month Gregorian ranges
Lunar months cross Gregorian month boundaries. Leap months are listed separately so planning dates remain unambiguous. Ranges are clipped to 2026; a note identifies months continuing from or into another Gregorian year.
| Lunar month | Gregorian start | Gregorian end | Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| month 11 | January 1, 2026Continues from previous year | January 18, 2026 | View month |
| month 12 | January 19, 2026 | February 16, 2026 | View month |
| month 1 | February 17, 2026 | March 18, 2026 | View month |
| month 2 | March 19, 2026 | April 16, 2026 | View month |
| month 3 | April 17, 2026 | May 16, 2026 | View month |
| month 4 | May 17, 2026 | June 14, 2026 | View month |
| month 5 | June 15, 2026 | July 13, 2026 | View month |
| month 6 | July 14, 2026 | August 12, 2026 | View month |
| month 7 | August 13, 2026 | September 10, 2026 | View month |
| month 8 | September 11, 2026 | October 9, 2026 | View month |
| month 9 | October 10, 2026 | November 8, 2026 | View month |
| month 10 | November 9, 2026 | December 8, 2026 | View month |
| month 11 | December 9, 2026 | December 31, 2026Continues into next year | View month |
Lunar month themes
Lunar month 1
New beginnings, temple prayers, family visits, starting work
Crowds and travel pressure can matter more than symbolic timing.
Lunar month 2
Spring planning, weddings, renovations, contracts
Check zodiac clashes for major commitments.
Lunar month 3
Qing Ming remembrance and family duties
Cemetery and columbarium rules control many visits.
Lunar month 4
Steady planning, travel, health prayers
Medical needs must follow clinicians.
Lunar month 5
Dragon Boat season, protection, water and travel awareness
Weather and outdoor safety are practical priorities.
Lunar month 6
Purchases, business preparation, family logistics
Avoid spending beyond budget because of symbolic dates.
Lunar month 7
Zhong Yuan and ancestor or wandering-spirit observances
Many families avoid weddings and major beginnings.
Lunar month 8
Mid-Autumn, reunion, weddings, moving, prayers
Popular venues can become expensive or crowded.
Lunar month 9
Chong Yang, elder respect, ancestor remembrance
Plan accessibility for elders.
Lunar month 10
Renovation, business preparation, contracts
Year-end deadlines may pressure decisions.
Lunar month 11
Dongzhi, family reunion, major purchases, travel
Winter weather and holiday travel can disrupt plans.
Lunar month 12
Kitchen God sendoff, cleaning, closing the year
Avoid overloading the last lunar month with rushed obligations.
Use with purpose guides
Wedding Dates
Choose wedding dates with emphasis on harmony, family availability, ancestor respect, and avoiding zodiac clashes for the couple and immediate elders.
Moving House Dates
Select move-in days for entering a new home, lighting the stove, placing household essentials, and inviting settled energy into the residence.
Renovation Dates
Use renovation dates for ground-breaking, hacking, drilling, altar relocation, and the first disruptive work in a home or shop.
Opening Business Dates
Plan business openings, first trading day, shop blessings, and public launch events with attention to prosperity symbolism and legal readiness.
Starting Work Dates
Use starting-work dates for returning after Lunar New Year, beginning a new job, first project day, or restarting a business team.
Signing Contract Dates
Use contract-signing dates for agreements, leases, purchases, partnerships, and major commitments while treating legal review as essential.
Praying Dates
Choose dates for temple visits, home altar prayers, thanksgiving, vow returns, first-and-fifteenth prayers, and quiet devotional practice.
Ancestral Worship Dates
Plan ancestor remembrance, tomb-sweeping, columbarium visits, home altar offerings, and seasonal family rites with respect and practicality.
Travel Dates
Choose travel dates for pilgrimages, family trips, relocation travel, and important journeys while prioritizing safety, documents, and local conditions.
Medical Procedure Dates
Use medical-date references only as cultural support after clinical urgency, doctor availability, hospital scheduling, and informed consent are settled.
Major Purchase Dates
Plan dates for buying property, cars, business equipment, expensive household goods, or other major purchases with cultural care and financial caution.
General Good and Bad Days
Understand general auspicious and inauspicious day references, what they can and cannot tell you, and how to apply them without overclaiming.