Chinese New Year 2026 Date Hong Kong: Dates, Zodiac, and Calendar Guide
- Aileen Ting
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
If you are planning travel, family visits, lessons, or business schedules around the Lunar New Year, the most important thing is getting the dates right. This guide covers the official Hong Kong public holidays, the meaning of the "Fire Horse," and the key festival timeline so you can plan with confidence.
Quick Answer: The Chinese New Year 2026 date Hong Kong is Tuesday, 17 February 2026. In Hong Kong, the public holidays run from 17–19 February 2026.
What are the official Chinese New Year 2026 dates in Hong Kong?
Because the festival follows a lunisolar calendar, the date changes every year. For 2026, these are the critical dates to mark in your calendar:
Chinese New Year’s Eve: 16 February 2026 (The traditional reunion dinner)
Chinese New Year Day 1: 17 February 2026
Hong Kong Public Holidays: 17, 18, and 19 February 2026
Planning Tip: If you work with Hong Kong or Mainland China, plan ahead. While essential services remain running, many offices close or run reduced hours, and some shops change their opening times during the first few days of the New Year.
What animal is the next Chinese New Year 2026?
Chinese New Year 2026 is the Year of the Horse, specifically the Fire Horse.
The Chinese zodiac rotates through 12 animals and five elemental types (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). This specific combination—the Fire Horse—is associated with energy, bright spirit, and forward momentum. A common blessing you will hear this year is:
馬到成功 (Mǎ dào chéng gōng) "May you achieve success instantly (as soon as the horse arrives)."
Why is there confusion about January 29 for Asians?
You might see searches or old posts mentioning January 29. This is because the Lunar New Year in 2025 began on January 29.
In 2026, the New Year does not start until February 17. However, the weeks leading up to February 17 are still busy! In Hong Kong, this period is used for:
Spring Cleaning (掃塵): sweeping away the "old luck" to make room for the new.
Flower Markets: buying festive blooms like orchids and peach blossoms.
Reunions: planning family gatherings and travel.
How long does the Chinese New Year festival last?
Traditionally, Chinese New Year is a 15-day festival that concludes with the Lantern Festival. In 2026, the Lantern Festival falls on 3 March 2026.
In practice, while the Hong Kong public holidays are short (3 days), the festive atmosphere, family dinners, and corporate "Spring Dinners" continue well until the Lantern Festival.
Master the Language of the Festival
If you want to enjoy the season with confidence, learning a few practical phrases makes a big difference.
Learn the Zodiac Logic: Understand the culture and real-life communication.
Speak Like a Local: Learn essential phrases for daily life in Hong Kong.
This article is written by Mandarin & Cantonese Tutor Hong Kong founder - Aileen Ting.