In the Chinese zodiac 2026 is the Year of the Horse | © Illustration/Jennifer Borresen
By Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK/MSN
Happy Lunar New Year!
Today, Tuesday, Feb. 17, marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, sometimes called Chinese New Year.
This is the year of the horse and follows the year of the snake.
Here’s what you should know.
When is Lunar New Year 2026?
The Lunar New Year begins Feb. 17, 2026.
When will 2026 Lunar New Year end?
The Lunar New Year starting Tuesday, Feb. 17, will end Feb. 5, 2027, according to chinesenewyear.net.
Is Chinese New Year same as Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year is a general term used to include all celebrations marking the new year according to a lunar calendar, according to China Highlights.
More than a dozen countries celebrate the new year at this time, including Vietnam — where the holiday is called Vietnamese New Year or Tet — and Korea — here the holiday is called Korean New Year or Seollal.
While the dates usually fall on the same day, cultural celebrations are unique in each country, according to alibaba.com.
In China, the Lunar New Year is called Spring Festival or Chinese New Year and is the most important holiday in China, according to the Smithsonian Institution.
Lunar New Year starts the Spring Festival season, which ends 15 days later on the evening of the Lantern Festival.
Why are Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year celebrated on different dates every year?
The Chinese New Year is almost always celebrated on the second new moon following the winter solstice.
The winter solstice was on Dec. 21, 2025.
Article continues here.
