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:

Feb. 8, 2025Medieval towers in Mestia, Upper Svaneti, Georgia
Chasing rainbows
Sep. 17, 2025A young bull moose, Denali National Park, Alaska, United States
The lonely castle
Jan. 23, 2025Sundance Film Festival
Feb. 25, 2024Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island
Mar. 16, 2025Happy Panda Day!
Aug. 11, 2024Wooden path to Kennedy Lake, Vancouver Island
King of the jungle? Nope
Is a hug really that magical?
Jun. 3, 2025World Bicycle Day
Nov. 3, 2025World Jellyfish Day
Jun. 14, 2024Peggys Point Lighthouse
God’s Own Country
A sky full of stars
What returned to this city 500 years ago?
Nov. 15, 2025Irohazaka Road in autumn, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan
Jan. 27, 2026Dalmatian pelicans, Lake Kerkini, Greece
Sep. 28, 2023World Maritime Day
Apr. 29, 2024Fujian Tulou, China
Sep. 25, 2025Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
Feb. 11, 2025Yungang Grottoes, Datong, China
Mar. 7, 2025Plum blossoms, China
Aug. 27, 2025World Lake Day
Jul. 11, 2024World Population Day
Jul. 21, 2025Coral Reef Awareness Week
Secluded sands in Mexico
Jan. 5, 2025Plum-headed parakeet
The sea pool of Penzance
International Archaeology Day