A Chinese-American family planning Lunar New Year celebrations needs to know the exact Gregorian date of Chinese New Year. In 2026, Chinese New Year falls on February 17. They use this converter to find the lunar date and plan travel, family gatherings, and traditional food preparation.
A wedding planner in Shanghai helps couples pick auspicious dates using the lunar calendar. The couple wants to marry on the 8th day of the 8th lunar month for luck. The converter shows that this corresponds to September 18, 2026 in the Gregorian calendar.
A student of Chinese astrology researches their birth date in the lunar system. Born on July 28, 1995, they discover their lunar date is the 3rd day of the 7th month in the year of the Pig. The stem-branch (ganzhi) for their birth year is Yi Hai, which they use for BaZi readings.
A business importing goods from China needs to plan around Chinese public holidays. The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. By converting this to the Gregorian date, they can schedule shipments around factory closures.
The Chinese lunar calendar is a lunisolar calendar. Months follow the phases of the moon, with each month beginning on the day of the new moon. Because a lunar month is about 29.5 days, a lunar year of 12 months is about 354 days, which is 11 days shorter than the solar year. To keep the calendar aligned with the seasons, a leap month is added approximately every 3 years.
This converter uses the solarlunar library, which covers the period 1900 to 2100. It calculates the lunar date from a Gregorian date by finding which lunar month and day the Gregorian date falls into, based on precomputed lunar month lengths for each year.
The sexagenary cycle (ganzhi) combines 10 heavenly stems with 12 earthly branches to create a 60-year cycle. Each year in the cycle has a unique stem-branch combination, such as Jia Zi or Yi Chou. The 12 earthly branches also correspond to the 12 zodiac animals.
Leap months in the Chinese calendar are numbered the same as the preceding month. For example, if the 6th month is followed by a leap month, it is called the leap 6th month. The converter indicates whether a date falls in a leap month.
Input
Gregorian: February 17, 2026
Output
Lunar: Year of the Horse, 1st month, 1st day (Chinese New Year)
The start of the lunar year 2026. Ganzhi: Bing Wu.
Input
Gregorian: July 28, 2026
Output
Lunar: Year of the Horse, 6th month, 15th day
Mid-month in the lunar calendar. The 15th day often coincides with a full moon.
Input
Lunar: 2026, 8th month, 15th day
Output
Gregorian: September 25, 2026 (Friday)
Mid-Autumn Festival, the 15th of the 8th lunar month.
Input
Gregorian: January 29, 2025
Output
Lunar: Year of the Snake, 1st month, 1st day
Chinese New Year 2025. The snake is the 6th animal in the zodiac cycle.
Pitfalls to avoid
What is the Chinese lunar calendar?
The Chinese lunar calendar is a lunisolar calendar that tracks both the moon phases and the solar year. Months begin on the new moon and last 29 or 30 days. A leap month is added about every 3 years to keep the calendar aligned with the solar year.
How is Chinese New Year determined?
Chinese New Year falls on the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice (December 21). This means it can occur anywhere from January 21 to February 20 in the Gregorian calendar. In 2026, it falls on February 17.
What is the sexagenary cycle (ganzhi)?
The sexagenary cycle combines 10 heavenly stems with 12 earthly branches to create a 60-year cycle. Each year has a unique combination, such as Jia Zi (year 1) or Yi Chou (year 2). The 12 earthly branches also correspond to the 12 zodiac animals.
How do leap months work in the Chinese calendar?
A leap month is inserted about every 3 years to keep the lunar calendar aligned with the solar year. The leap month has the same number as the preceding month. For example, a leap 6th month follows the regular 6th month. About 7 leap months occur in every 19 years.
What zodiac animal is 2026?
2026 is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac. The horse is the 7th animal in the 12-year zodiac cycle. The zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year (February 17, 2026), not January 1.
What is the Mid-Autumn Festival date?
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. In 2026, this corresponds to September 25. The festival celebrates the harvest and is associated with mooncakes and family gatherings.
Can I convert dates before 1900?
This converter uses the solarlunar library, which covers 1900 to 2100. Dates outside this range may not convert accurately. For historical research involving dates before 1900, consult a specialized Chinese calendar reference.
Does the converter account for timezone differences?
The Chinese lunar calendar is based on Beijing time (UTC+8). The converter takes the date you enter at face value without timezone adjustment. If you are converting a date from another timezone, consider whether the Beijing date might differ.
The converter uses the solarlunar library for date conversion between 1900 and 2100. Lunar month lengths and leap month placements follow the standard Chinese calendar rules. The zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year (the second new moon after the winter solstice), not January 1. For dates near the boundary of Chinese New Year, verify the result against an official Chinese calendar.