When Is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year 2027 is on Saturday, February 6 — in 93 days. It is always the new moon between January 21 and February 20 (China Standard Time).
Updated · By the YearlyCalendar.org team
Lunar New Year — Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival — starts the year in the Chinese lunisolar calendar and is celebrated across East and Southeast Asia, including as Seollal in Korea and Tết in Vietnam. Lunar New Year 2027 begins the Year of the Fire Goat.
February 2027 calendar
Lunar New Year is marked on Saturday, February 6, 2027, along with the other US federal holidays and observances of the month.
- Federal holiday / day off
- Observance
- Weekend
February 2027 – Lunar New Year 2027
| Wk | SundaySun | MondayMon | TuesdayTue | WednesdayWed | ThursdayThu | FridayFri | SaturdaySat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | 2Groundhog Day | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6Lunar New Year | |
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) | 10Ash Wednesday | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 7 | 14Valentine's Day | 15Presidents' Day | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 8 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 8 | 28 |
Lunar New Year dates 2020–2040
Between 2020 and 2040, Lunar New Year falls as early as January 22 (2023) and as late as February 19 (2034).
How the date is set
The Chinese calendar starts each month on the day of a new moon, reckoned in China Standard Time (UTC+8). New Year's Day is the new moon that falls between January 21 and February 20: the second new moon after the winter solstice, or the third when a leap month intervenes, as in 2033–34. Because the date is set in China time, the exact new moon can fall on the previous day in the Americas.
The 12 animals
Each year is linked to one of 12 animals and one of five elements, giving a 60-year cycle. The sign changes at Lunar New Year, not on January 1, so someone born in January or early February may belong to the previous year's animal.
| Year | Lunar New Year | Animal | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Goat | Fire | |
| 2028 | Monkey | Earth | |
| 2029 | Rooster | Earth | |
| 2030 | Dog | Metal | |
| 2031 | Pig | Metal | |
| 2032 | Rat | Water | |
| 2033 | Ox | Water | |
| 2034 | Tiger | Wood | |
| 2035 | Rabbit | Wood | |
| 2036 | Dragon | Fire | |
| 2037 | Snake | Fire | |
| 2038 | Horse | Earth |
Sources
- Hong Kong Observatory – Gregorian–lunar calendar conversion (2028)
- Yuk Tung Liu – Rules for the Chinese calendar
- Gov.cn – China adds two days to public holidays from 2025
- Governor of New York – Lunar New Year school holiday law
- CalHR – State holidays
- Library of Congress – Transition from the lunar calendar to the Western calendar under Chinese law
Frequently asked questions
When is Lunar New Year 2028?
Lunar New Year 2028 is on Wednesday, January 26, 2028.
How long is Lunar New Year celebrated?
Traditionally until the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month. In mainland China the statutory Spring Festival holiday has been four days since 2025 (New Year's Eve plus the first three days), and swapped workdays stretch it to a break of about eight or nine days.
Is Lunar New Year a holiday in the US?
It is not a federal holiday. New York requires all public schools to close for it, under a law signed in 2023 (New York City schools have closed for it since 2016). California recognizes it as a state holiday that state employees may take using leave, not as a paid closure.