Chinese New Year — the Spring Festival — is the most important holiday in Chinese culture and the world's largest annual human migration, as families travel home to reunite. In 2026 it falls on 17 February, beginning the Year of the Horse. Here are the key traditions and what they mean.
For the full overview, see our Chinese New Year 2026 guide, or the Chinese calendar.
When is Chinese New Year 2026?
Chinese New Year 2026 begins on 17 February 2026, starting the Year of the Horse. The festival officially runs for 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival. The date changes each year because it follows the lunisolar Chinese calendar, falling between 21 January and 20 February.
The reunion dinner
The most important meal of the year is the reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, when the whole family gathers. Dishes are chosen for their lucky meanings:
- Fish (yú) — sounds like "surplus," so there's abundance year to year.
- Dumplings — shaped like old gold ingots, symbolising wealth.
- Niangao (sticky rice cake) — "higher year," for growth and progress.
- Longevity noodles — long, uncut, for a long life.
Red envelopes (hongbao)
Elders give children and unmarried adults red envelopes (hongbao / lai see) filled with money. Red symbolises luck and warding off evil; the amounts often avoid the unlucky number 4 and favour even, "lucky" numbers like 8. Today digital red envelopes sent by phone are hugely popular.
Lucky colours, decorations and the lion dance
- Red everywhere — couplets (chunlian) on doorways, lanterns, and clothing.
- Spring cleaning before the new year sweeps away bad luck (but you must not sweep during the first days, or you sweep luck away).
- Firecrackers and fireworks to scare off the mythical beast Nian.
- Lion and dragon dances in the streets for good fortune.
New Year taboos (things to avoid)
Tradition says the first days set the tone for the year, so people avoid:
- Sweeping or taking out rubbish — it sweeps away good luck.
- Saying unlucky words like "death" or "sick."
- Breaking things, or using scissors/knives (cutting off fortune).
- Wearing black or white (associated with mourning) — red is preferred.
The 15 days & Lantern Festival
The festival ends on the 15th day with the Lantern Festival (Yuanxiao), when people light and release lanterns and eat sweet rice balls (tangyuan). See Lunar New Year by country for how Korea, Vietnam and others celebrate the same lunisolar new year.
Quick answers
When is Chinese New Year 2026? 17 February 2026, beginning the Year of the Horse. The festival runs 15 days.
What are red envelopes? Hongbao — red packets of money given by elders for luck and prosperity.
Why is the reunion dinner important? It's the central family gathering on New Year's Eve, with foods chosen for their lucky meanings.
What should you avoid at Chinese New Year? Sweeping or throwing out rubbish (sweeps away luck), unlucky words, breaking things, and wearing black or white.