The Lantern Festival (元宵节, Yuán xiāo jié) marks the final day of the Chinese New Year celebrations, glowing with thousands of lanterns. It falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month; in 2026 that's in early March. Here's the history.
See the Lantern Festival holiday page for the exact date, or China's holiday calendar.
What is the Lantern Festival?
Held on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar — the night of the first full moon of the new lunar year — the Lantern Festival brings the roughly two-week Chinese New Year period to a close. Its history stretches back over 2,000 years, to the Han dynasty.
The full moon symbolises reunion and completeness, and the lights celebrate the return of spring.
Traditions of the Lantern Festival
- Lanterns — displaying, carrying, and releasing glowing lanterns of every shape and size.
- Lantern riddles (cāi dēngmí) — riddles written on lanterns for people to solve, a centuries-old game.
- Tangyuan / yuanxiao (汤圆) — sweet glutinous rice balls, often filled with sesame or red bean; their round shape symbolises family togetherness.
- Dragon and lion dances and, in some places, fireworks.
Why the date changes each year
Because the festival is fixed to the 15th day of the first lunar month, its Gregorian date shifts each year, usually falling in February or early March. Check the holiday page for the exact date.
Quick answers
What is the Lantern Festival? A Chinese festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month that marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations, famous for lanterns and tangyuan.
What food is eaten at the Lantern Festival? Tangyuan (yuanxiao) — sweet glutinous rice balls whose round shape symbolises family reunion.
What are lantern riddles? Riddles written on or attached to lanterns for festival-goers to solve — a traditional game.
When is the Lantern Festival 2026? It falls in early March 2026 — see the holiday page for the exact date.