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, recognizing its cultural and historical importance.

© Gins Wang/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Feb 17, 2018Infant Sumatran orangutan, Indonesia
Feb 17, 2019Flock online for the Great Backyard Bird Count
Feb 17, 2020Happy Presidents Day
Feb 17, 2021The persistence of Perito Moreno
Feb 17, 2022Flamenco dancers
Feb 17, 2023Great Backyard Bird Count
Feb 17, 2024Black History Month
Feb 17, 2025Presidents Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov 15, 2024Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Nov 12, 2023Diwali
Sep 2, 2021A cliffside harbor in Sardinia
May 14, 2021A misty morning in Brazil
Aug 27, 2022Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, Washington
Sep 7, 2020Take a break! It s Labor Day!
Jul 29, 2023International Tiger Day
Feb 28, 2025Tibetan New Year
Jul 13, 2024International Rock Day
Mar 18, 2025Rock formations at Sedona, Arizona
Apr 12, 2018Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia
Jul 27, 2020A stunning sight in Mexico s wilderness
Jul 23, 2024Methoni Castle, Messenia, Greece
Feb 15, 2026World Whale Day
Jan 5, 2024International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, Harbin, China
Feb 14, 2019Cue up the tango music
Dec 19, 2025Bormio, Lombardy, Italy
Dec 10, 2025Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain
Jan 1, 2020Napping away New Year s Day
Mar 27, 2024World Theater Day
Jun 21, 2021The tallest animal in the world on the longest day of the year
Mar 3, 2024World Wildlife Day
May 3, 2020World Laughter Day—it s a hoot
Feb 28, 2023Atrani, Amalfi Coast, Italy
May 25, 2021An improbable tribute for Towel Day
May 25, 2019Traveling warblers
Jan 5, 2022National Bird Day
Jun 10, 2020The Millennium at 20
Feb 7, 2026Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia
Oct 11, 20181.1 billion opportunities for a better world