Chinese New Year Feb. 17, 2026

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar. This calendar follows the phases of the moon and the rhythms of the seasons. Red lanterns—like the ones shown in today"s image—are widely associated with the celebration. The holiday falls on the new moon between January 21 and February 20 and has been observed for more than 2,000 years. In 2024, UNESCO added the Spring Festival to its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, recognising its cultural and historical importance.

© Gins Wang/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Let the Great Backyard Bird Count begin!
Feb. 17, 2024Sassnitz lighthouse, Rügen, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
Feb. 17, 2025Coll dAres, Catalan Pyrenees

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Getting starry-eyed at the moon
This clever bird passes with flying colours
Dec. 7, 2024Lake Ontario, Toronto, during winter
Sep. 8, 2024International Literacy Day
A glimpse of Yoho National Park
Jan. 16, 2024Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Nov. 1, 2025Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
Oct. 28, 2023Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Magnified moss
Feb. 19, 2026Dragons Eye, Uttakleiv Beach, Norway
Where the humpback whale sings
Aug. 17, 2024International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend
Jun. 22, 2024World Rainforest Day
Dec. 12, 2025Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Vancouver, British Columbia
Celebrating Canada and Englands common bond
Jun. 26, 2024Banggai cardinalfish with sea anemone
Feb. 17, 2026Chinese New Year
Mar. 26, 2024Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam
Sep. 21, 2023International Day of Peace
Nature’s own canvas
Sep. 24, 2023World Rivers Day
Best views tower
Dec. 20, 2024Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Aug. 25, 2025Colony of northern gannets in Quebec
Aug. 17, 2025International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend
Jun. 3, 2024World Bicycle Day
Nov. 16, 2023VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver
Aug. 30, 2025International Whale Shark Day
Whats so funny?
Why are blackbirds tied to winter?