Lunar New Year countdown
Lunar New Year starts on the new moon that falls between January 21 and February 20, calculated for China's time zone. The next one is Saturday, February 6, 2027, the start of the Year of the Goat, and the timer counts down to midnight at the start of that day in your time zone.
Countdowns run on your device's clock and time zone, so they reach zero at local midnight wherever you are.
Why the date moves
Chinese / Korean / Vietnamese New Year.
Dates for this event change every year; the table uses the published calendar dates.
How the date is worked out
The traditional Chinese calendar is lunisolar: months follow the moon, and an extra leap month is added about seven times every 19 years to keep the year aligned with the seasons. New Year's Day is the first day of the first month, which in most years is the second new moon after the winter solstice. That rule keeps it within a window from January 21 to February 20.
The new moon is calculated for UTC+8, Beijing time. Vietnam computes its calendar for UTC+7, so in rare years Tết begins a day earlier than the Chinese New Year; Korea's Seollal uses UTC+9 and almost always matches. The current time in Beijing helps if you are timing calls or video greetings to family across Asia.
Dates and zodiac animals for the next years
The cycle of twelve animals pairs with five elements to make a 60-year cycle. The Year of the Horse began on February 17, 2026. Next comes the Year of the Goat (also translated Sheep or Ram) on February 6, 2027, the Year of the Monkey on January 26, 2028, the Year of the Rooster on February 13, 2029 and the Year of the Dog on February 3, 2030. In Vietnam the Cat takes the place of the Rabbit and the Water Buffalo replaces the Ox.
A person's animal changes on Lunar New Year, not on January 1, so someone born on January 20, 2028 belongs to the Year of the Goat. The age calculator gives an exact age from any birth date.
Travel rush and holidays
Mainland China's Spring Festival holiday usually lasts around a week, and the surrounding travel season, chunyun, runs for about 40 days with billions of trips counted across the period. Train tickets in China go on sale weeks in advance and the most popular dates sell out within minutes, so planning early matters. South Korea has a three-day Seollal holiday, and Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia also close offices for several days.
Next dates for Lunar New Year
| Date | Weekday | Days until |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | in 110 days | |
| Wednesday | in 464 days | |
| Tuesday | in 848 days | |
| Sunday | in 1,203 days |
Other countdowns
Frequently asked questions
- When is Chinese New Year 2027?
- Saturday, February 6, 2027. It begins the Year of the Goat. Chinese New Year 2028 is Wednesday, January 26.
- What are the zodiac animals for 2028, 2029 and 2030?
- 2028 is the Year of the Monkey, 2029 the Year of the Rooster and 2030 the Year of the Dog, each starting on Lunar New Year rather than January 1.
- Why is Lunar New Year never earlier than January 21?
- It is tied to the second new moon after the winter solstice in most years, and that new moon can fall no earlier than January 21 and no later than February 20.
- Do Vietnam and Korea celebrate on the same day as China?
- Usually yes. Their calendars use their own time zones, UTC+7 for Vietnam and UTC+9 for Korea, so in rare years a new moon close to midnight puts Tết or Seollal on a different day from China.
- How long does the Lunar New Year festival last?
- Traditionally 15 days, from New Year's Day to the Lantern Festival on the first full moon. Official public holidays are shorter, typically three days to a week.