Chinese New Year Date Finder

Find the exact date of the next Chinese New Year.

Next Chinese New Year

What this calculator does

This calculator looks up the next Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) date from a confirmed multi-year table and the zodiac animal that year begins, along with how many days remain.

Worked example

Counting from September 2, 2026, the next Chinese New Year falls onSaturday, February 6, 2027, beginning the Year of the Goat.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming it always falls in February. Chinese New Year can land anywhere from late January to mid-February depending on the lunar cycle.
  • Mixing up the new year date with the zodiac year boundary. The zodiac animal officially changes on Chinese New Year itself, not January 1 — someone born in early January can still belong to the previous year's zodiac sign.
  • Assuming all Lunar New Year celebrations share the exact same date. Related lunisolar new year observances (like Tết or Seollal) are usually on the same day but can occasionally differ by a day.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Chinese New Year fall on a different date every year?+

Chinese New Year follows the Chinese lunisolar calendar and falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, so its Gregorian date shifts each year, landing sometime between January 21 and February 20.

Is Chinese New Year the same as Lunar New Year?+

Chinese New Year is one of several Lunar New Year celebrations observed around the same time — Vietnamese Tết and Korean Seollal typically fall on the same or a very close date, since they follow similar lunisolar calendars.

How long does the celebration last?+

The main celebration is New Year's Day itself, but the broader Spring Festival period traditionally runs about 15 days, ending with the Lantern Festival.

How far ahead are these dates known?+

Chinese New Year dates are calculated from the lunisolar calendar and can be determined years in advance with confidence — this calculator's table covers dates through 2032.

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