Lunar New Year 2026: Eat well for the Year of the Horse

The first full moon of the lunar calendar falls on February 17th 2026, and this marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year, also known as Chunjie or the Spring Festival. The 15-day period of celebrations for the new lunar year consists of eating traditional dishes, dressing up in festive (red) clothing, many fireworks, and spring banners to keep one’s fortune as priority number one. 

This new year will be the Year of the Horse in the lunar calendar, more specifically the Year of the Fire Horse. There are many ways to invite luck and celebrate the new year. Especially on Lunar New Year’s Eve, a big feast for the whole family takes place in many Chinese cities and communities. 

Traditional dishes for the Lunar New year

The dishes for the Lunar New Year are traditionally aimed at bringing prosperity and luck into one’s life. Big feast for the whole family on the Lunar New Year’s Eve usually includes dishes that are believed to be bearer of fortune: Steamed fish, rice cakes, long noodles, dumplings, and sweet dumplings are the most popular choices as they each represent longevity, success, prosperity, and fortune in their own way. It is also common to eat vegetarian on the first day of the new year to cleanse the body and start the year fresh. 

Read even more on how to prepare for the Lunar New Year here, and dive into the recipes to celebrate!