If your 2026 New Year’s resolutions have gone out the window, fear not. Chinese New Year, sometimes called Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, arrives on 17 February 2026, along with a new moon in Aquarius and a solar eclipse, bringing the fresh start energy we all need to get back on track.
Lunar New Year is celebrated by billions of people across the globe and is a huge annual event in China, Vietnam, South Korea, Tibet and much of South East Asia. And if you’ve been anywhere near your phone in the last few weeks, you may have noticed it’s big on TikTok, too. You don’t have to scroll for long to find someone exclaiming that the upcoming Year of the Horse is going to fix everything! Incoming energy! Passion and purpose! Reinvention! Freedom! Movement! Momentum! Sounds pretty good, right? But what does it all mean?
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What exactly is the Year of the Horse?
In Chinese astrology, the zodiac features 12 animal signs – Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog & Pig – each representing different personality types and traits. Each animal sign presides over a year in turn, in a repeating 12-year cycle that begins each Lunar New Year. On Lunar New Year 2025 we entered the Year of the Snake, which means the Year of the Horse begins on 17 February 2026.
How do I discover which Chinese zodiac animal I am?
It all depends on what year you were born! Enter your date of birth here to find out. Or for a quick check, consult the list below. Note: if your birthday is January or February and before the Chinese New Year, you’ll share the same animal as people from the previous year. For example, if you were born on 5 February 1989 your zodiac animal is a Dragon along with everyone born from 17 February 1988 onwards, but if you were born a day later on 6 February (Lunar New Year 1989) you’re a Snake!
- Rat: 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 2020
- Ox: 1949 1961 1973 1985 1997 2009 2021
- Tiger: 1950 1962 1974 1986 1998 2010 2022
- Rabbit: 1951 1963 1975 1987 1999 2011 2023
- Dragon: 1952 1964 1976 1988 2000 2012 2024
- Snake: 1953 1965 1977 1989 2001 2013 2025
- Horse: 1954 1966 1978 1990 2002 2014 2026
- Goat: 1955 1967 1979 1991 2003 2015 2027
- Monkey: 1956 1968 1980 1992 2004 2016 2028
- Rooster: 1957 1969 1981 1993 2005 2017 2029
- Dog: 1958 1970 1982 1994 2006 2018 2030
- Pig: 1959 1971 1983 1995 2007 2019 2031
What’s all this about a Fire Horse?
Chinese astrology also references five different elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. These move through a 60-year cycle and are associated with different traits, fortunes and seasons. The last Year of the Horse was in 2014 and was a Wood Horse year, which means it’s a Fire Horse year in 2026. Fire years are said to usher in action, change, intensity and progress. Chinese astrology also sees each year alternate between Yin (softer, gentler) and Yang (active and purposeful) energy, with 2026 being a Yang year. You can use the link above to discover what element is connected to your zodiac animal.
So, how will the Year of the Fire Horse affect me?
Every Lunar New Year ushers in fresh starts and new beginnings and according to Chinese astrology the horse represents traits such as independence, confidence, energy and dynamism. The element of fire adds intensity, motivation and passion to the mix, bringing the kind of forward-thinking energy we need to get stuff done as 2026 hits its stride.
There’s also the ending of the Year of the Wood Snake to factor in here. We all know snakes shed their skins and snake years can usher in a sense of letting go and release. Snake years are introspective, transformational and focussed on creating space for better things to come. So, if you’ve been through the mill lately and feel ready to leave one version of you behind as you step into a brighter, better more focused 2026, the Fire Horse has got your back.
This Lunar New Year is the ideal time to release anything that no longer serves you and make a brand new start.
Which Chinese zodiac signs are the luckiest in a Fire Horse year?
The Year of the Fire Horse anticipates luck for those born in Tiger, Dog, Goat, Snake and Rabbit years, as well as those also born in Horse years. This doesn’t mean there’s no luck ahead if you happen to be an Ox or Rat… just a few possible challenges along the way!
What can I do to embrace the energy of the Fire Horse this Lunar New Year?
Taking some time out to celebrate with friends and family and usher in a fresh start.
Embrace an out with the old and in with the new vibe by clearing your space and your energy, joining community celebrations, watching fireworks and eating good food in good company.
How does Lunar New Year connect to my Western zodiac sign and what does it mean for me in 2026?
Lunar New Year always falls on a new moon but this one is special because it’s also a solar eclipse. In astrology eclipses bring forth plot twists, revelations and realisations, and the 17 February eclipse represents the first in a brand new cycle of eclipses (in Aquarius and Leo) set to shake up your life over the next 18 months. Read on to discover what this means for you and your sign this Lunar New Year.
What the Lunar New Year and Aquarius/Leo eclipse cycle means for you and your sign…
Expect a wake-up call connected to your social circle this Lunar New Year. It’s time for Aries to level up, learn to enjoy life more and put themselves out there.
It’s all change for your career, Taurus. Be ready to get to grips with your work/life balance over the next 18 months and you find a new, better way of doing things.
Adventure calls. Stop dreaming about a future where everything is different and start taking steps towards making it happen, Gemini.
This Lunar New Year is all about power, purpose and getting your finances in order. Accepting help or support from someone could be your biggest gain in the next 18 months.
Love rules for Leo this Lunar New Year. Finding a balance between ‘we’ and ‘me’ is your key to long-term happiness. Get the give and take right and the rest will fall into place.
Creating a life you don’t feel the need to escape from is everything right now. Pay attention to the signs this Lunar New Year and be ready to put your wellbeing first.
Creativity is key for you right now. Trust your talent to take you somewhere unexpected over the next 18 months. It’s time to step into the spotlight and allow yourself to be seen.
Getting your foundations in order is essential this Lunar New Year. Find the stability you need to allow you to build a big dream. It’s closer than you think, Scorpio.
This Lunar New Year sees you taking a chance on a project you once wouldn’t have dared launch into the world. This is your time, Sagittarius. Your story needs to be told!
Invest in yourself this Lunar New Year and you’ll soon see the pay off you want most. A new era of financial stability and confidence awaits you as soon as you start to believe in yourself.
It’s time for you to become the person you’ve always known you can be. Take a brave step forwards and follow your own rules for a change. Love lies on the other side of an honest conversation in 2026.
Themes of healing and closure abound this Lunar New Year. You’re ready to leave something behind and step into a new version of yourself. The time is now.
