Telephone 020 8295 5877
Telephone 020 8295 5877
In 2026 the Chinese New Year falls on Tuesday, February 17th. Welcome to the Year of the Fire Horse (马)! This momentous occasion, lasting 16 days from the New Year's Eve to the Lantern Festival on the 15th day, holds immense significance in Chinese culture as well as in many other countries around the world.
The Chinese zodiac, comprised of 12 animals, designates each year with unique characteristics associated with the respective animal sign. 2026 marks the Year of the Horse, the independent and energetic seventh sign. Previous Horse years include 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978 and 1966.
People born in the Year of the Horse are believed to possess qualities such as being hard-working, warm-hearted, sociable and patient. However, they can also be inflexible, opinionated and slightly extravagant. They tend to be optimistic and seize an opportunity when it arrives, with fire horses in particular believed to be smart, lively, and charismatic.
The Horse sign is said to be most compatible with the Tiger (寅), Goat (未) and Dog (戌) signs, forming harmonious and dynamic partnerships that bring good luck. However, they should exercise caution when interacting with the Rat (子) sign.
The Horse is seen as free-spirited and adventurous in Chinese culture, representing change, movement and success, as reflected by the Chinese phrase “马到成功” (mǎ dào chéng gong) which means “success arrives with the horse”. Individuals born under the Horse sign are believed to value their freedom and have a desire to follow their own path. They are self-reliant, decisive and known to bring good fortune and accomplishment through their perseverance and hard work.
Famous people born in the Year of the Horse include:
From all at Babel, we wish every Horse a happy, healthy and prosperous Chinese New Year!
To find out how you can work more effectively with your Chinese colleagues, clients or suppliers please get in touch for sample course outlines for Chinese Mandarin or Cantonese language programmes or Chinese cross-cultural workshops. All our courses are tailored to suit your needs currently delivered live online.
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