Lunar New Year celebrations will begin on February 17, 2026, marking the start of a significant holiday observed by many cultures around the world. The festival, sometimes called Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is rooted in ancient Chinese traditions and is recognized as a time for new beginnings and the arrival of spring.
The timing of Lunar New Year varies each year because it follows the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. In 2026, festivities are expected to last about 16 days. According to this calendar system, both the sun’s position and the moon’s phases are considered when determining dates.
A notable aspect of Lunar New Year is its connection to the zodiac cycle, which repeats every twelve years with a different animal sign representing each year. Although some sources refer to 2026 as the Year of the Horse, this year will actually be marked as the Year of the Dragon according to traditional calculations.
“Best wishes to all who celebrate!” reads a message from organizers.
For more information about Lunar New Year traditions and history, educational resources are available from institutions such as the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art (https://asia.si.edu/lunarnewyear/), National Geographic Education (https://www.nationalgeographic.org/education/resource-library/topic/lunar-new-year/), History.com (https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/chinese-new-year), and Parade magazine (https://parade.com/living/chinese-new-year).
Art for these celebrations is often featured on platforms like ChineseNewYear.net.
