Chinese New Year

When Is the Next Chinese New Year?

Upcoming Chinese New Year Dates

Chinese New Year Dates, 1930–2040

The date changes every year because Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar rather than the fixed Gregorian one. Across the whole range below it never falls earlier than January 21 or later than February 20. Find any year's date, animal, and element below.

The Spring Festival

Chinese New Year — known in Mandarin as Chūnjié (春节, Spring Festival) — is the most important holiday in the Chinese cultural calendar, celebrated by over 1.5 billion people worldwide. It marks the transition from one zodiac year to the next, and the identity of the incoming animal shapes the celebrations, decorations, predictions, and cultural mood for the entire year ahead.

The festival spans fifteen days, from the first new moon of the lunar year to the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day. Each day carries specific traditions: the first day is for welcoming the gods of heaven and earth; the second day for visiting in-laws and praying to the ancestors; the fifth day for welcoming the God of Wealth.

Traditions & Customs

Chinese New Year customs center on family, fortune, and a fresh start: red envelopes of money pass from elders to children, families share a reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, homes are cleaned before — never after — the new year arrives, and firecrackers and lion dances fill the streets to drive away misfortune.

The Zodiac Connection

The zodiac animal of the incoming year permeates every aspect of the celebration. In a Dragon year, dragon imagery dominates decorations, products, and marketing. Children born in that year are considered specially blessed. Astrologers publish detailed forecasts for each of the twelve signs — predictions covering wealth, health, love, and career that are consumed with deep cultural significance.

Every twelve years, your animal year returns — a phenomenon known as Běn Mìng Nián (本命年). Contrary to expectations, this is considered a year of potential difficulty. The traditional remedy? Wear red underwear throughout the year — a practice observed by millions, from farmers to Fortune 500 executives.

Chinese New Year by Year

Each Chinese New Year has its own character, set by the animal and element that govern it: its own lucky foods, decorations, greetings, and taboos. The guides below cover the year-specific traditions, celebration dates, and customs for every upcoming Spring Festival.