Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026

Overview

Lunar New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese festivals and is celebrated by Asian cultures throughout the world. Seen as a time of renewal, it is also known as Spring Festival in China.

Lunar New Year celebrations vary regionally in China, and other countries with Chinese populations, but they centre on family. A family reunion dinner is held, with specially prepared food. Incense is burned for ancestors; friends visit each other with presents, and cards are exchanged. To promote good fortune, gifts of money wrapped in lucky red paper envelopes are given, and houses and streets are decorated with lanterns. Traditional lion and dragon dances are performed, and fireworks are set off. Many families stay up to watch a special New Year broadcast on TV. The celebrations conclude with the annual Lantern Festival.

The Horse

The Chinese Zodiac is made up of a 12-year cycle and Chinese animal signs are used for dating the years. According to the lunar calendar, the year begins somewhere towards the end of January or early February. The Chinese zodiac is made up of a 12-year cycle, with animal signs used for dating the years. The recurring animal-year cycle is Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (or Sheep), Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

The Chinese New Year of the Horse begins on 17 February 2026 and ends on 5 February 2027. The seventh sign in the Chinese zodiac, the Horse symbolises perception and power. The fixed element for the Horse is fire and 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse in the sexagenary cycle. Lucky numbers for Horses are 1, 4, 5, 7 and 9, and numbers to avoid are 2, 3 and 6. Lucky flowers are jasmine, iris and calla lily. 

Horses are highly emotional and fall in love easily. They submit themselves totally, often at the expense of other relationships. The passionate Horse must take care not to dominate his or her partner. The best matches for Horses are the Dog and Tiger. Relationships with Rats, Oxen and Roosters are not advised. The Rat is too critical, the Ox too sedentary and realistic, and the Rooster is too demanding.

Those born in the Year of the Horse are confident and often have a dominant personality. They are strong leaders, active, social and self-assured, and they will hold their own in all situations. Horses make excellent teachers, publicists, journalists, politicians and performers. Famous Horses include artist Rembrandt, composer Chopin, musician Sir Paul McCartney, actor John Travolta, singer Barbara Streisand and celebrity Oprah Winfrey. Horse Years over the last century are 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 and 2026.

Stamp design

The stamps were designed by Chrissy Lau. The colours are red and gold, considered lucky in Asian cultures and abundantly displayed during New Year festivities. The colour theme and the flame mane and tail also refer to the year of the Fire Horse and the stipple texture is intended to emulate embers.