Lunar New Year 2026: Find Your Chinese Zodiac Animal and What It Means

On February 17, 2026 (ET) the Lunar New Year ushers in the Year of the Horse, a turning point on the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. Whether you celebrate or simply want to know which animal maps to your birth year, the zodiac offers a framework of traits and timing rooted in a lunisolar calendar that shifts from year to year.

How the Chinese zodiac is determined

The Chinese zodiac assigns one of 12 animals to each year in a repeating cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (often called Sheep), Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Unlike Western sun-sign astrology, which changes monthly and depends on your birth day, Chinese zodiac signs change by year. That means your animal is tied to the lunar year in which you were born.

The Lunar New Year date varies because it follows a lunisolar system; it always begins between January 21 and February 20. Practically speaking, if you were born in January or February you need to check whether your birthday occurred before or after the Lunar New Year in your birth year. If your birthday fell before that year's Lunar New Year, your sign will be the animal assigned to the previous lunar year.

Find your animal — the 12 signs and key traits

Below is a concise guide to the 12 animals, the modern birth-year ranges associated with each, and a short summary of characteristic traits linked to each sign. If you were born in an early-year month, double-check whether your birthday fell before the Lunar New Year for your birth year.

• Rat (e. g., 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020): Clever, adaptable, and ambitious; good at finding opportunity and building networks.
• Ox (e. g., 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021): Patient, hardworking and dependable; values routine and steady effort.
• Tiger (e. g., 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022): Bold, energetic and protective; thrives on challenge and excitement.
• Rabbit (e. g., 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023): Graceful, peace-seeking and diplomatic; prefers harmony and steady relationships.
• Dragon (e. g., 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012): Vibrant, ambitious and charismatic; often drawn to leadership and creativity.
• Snake (e. g., 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025): Mysterious and perceptive; thoughtful, strategic and resilient.
• Horse (e. g., 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026): Adventurous, optimistic and energetic; values freedom and bold action.
• Goat/Sheep (e. g., 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027): Creative, gentle and community-oriented; seeks balance and beauty.
• Monkey (e. g., 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028): Witty, curious and playful; excels at problem-solving and social situations.
• Rooster (e. g., 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029): Meticulous, punctual and hardworking; values order and personal responsibility.
• Dog (e. g., 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030): Loyal, honest and protective; steady in friendships and commitments.
• Pig (e. g., 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031): Generous, warm and sociable; often the heart of close-knit groups.

What the Year of the Horse may bring in 2026

The Horse is traditionally associated with momentum, opportunity and a taste for independence. In a Year of the Horse, themes of ambition and movement often take center stage: careers may shift, travel and exploration pick up, and people might feel a stronger urge to take bold steps. For many, the Horse year can be energizing — a time to launch projects or break free from routines. For others, the same energy can translate into impatience; balance is important.

Regardless of your sign, the practical takeaway for 2026 is to harness the Horse’s forward drive while keeping plans grounded. If your birthday falls close to the Lunar New Year boundary in January or February, confirm which lunar year applies to avoid any surprise about your zodiac animal.

Whether you treat the zodiac as cultural tradition, personal reflection or entertainment, the Lunar New Year offers a moment to pause, reset and consider the traits and rhythms that shape our lives.