Chinese New Year 2028: The Year of the Earth Monkey Begins January 26

The Fire Goat year of 2027 is barely underway, yet many people are already looking further ahead. If you're planning a celebration, wondering what the next animal year means for you, or curious why everyone is talking about the Monkey, here's what to know about Chinese New Year 2028.

When Is Chinese New Year 2028?

Chinese New Year, called Chūnjié (春节), the Spring Festival, begins on Wednesday, January 26, 2028. It's the first day of the first month in the Chinese lunisolar calendar, which starts on the second new moon after the winter solstice. That's why the date changes every year, landing anywhere from late January to mid February.

The day before, Chúxī (除夕), New Year's Eve, is January 25, 2028. Celebrations traditionally run for 15 days and end with the Lantern Festival, Yuánxiāojié (元宵节), on the first full moon of the year.

Born in January or early February? The animal year changes at Lunar New Year, not on January 1. Someone born on January 20, 2028 belongs to the Goat year of 2027. Practitioners of Bāzì (八字), the Four Pillars birth chart, use Lìchūn (立春), the start of spring, as the boundary instead. In 2028 that's February 4.

A New Year That Begins on an Eclipse

Chinese New Year always begins on a new moon. In 2028, that new moon is also an annular solar eclipse, sometimes called a ring of fire eclipse. The new moon falls at 11:12 PM Beijing time on January 26, which is 10:12 AM Eastern the same morning. The ring is seen across parts of South America, then over southern Spain and Portugal, and a partial eclipse reaches eastern North America.

It's the second year in a row this happens. Chinese New Year 2027, on February 6, also lands on an annular eclipse. Our Chinese New Year 2027 guide covers that year. For what eclipses mean in Western astrology, see our guide to the spiritual meaning of a solar eclipse. The two systems are separate traditions, so we keep them side by side rather than blending them.

What Is the Year of the Earth Monkey?

The Chinese calendar counts years in a 60 year cycle that pairs the 10 Heavenly Stems with the 12 Earthly Branches, Tiāngān Dìzhī (天干地支). The zodiac animals, Shēngxiào (生肖), come from the branches, and each year's element comes from its stem. The 2028 year is wùshēn (戊申): the stem 戊 (wù) is Yang Earth, and the branch 申 (shēn) is the Monkey.

The Monkey, hóu (猴), is the ninth animal of the cycle. In Chinese tradition it's linked with wit, curiosity, quick thinking and a talent for finding a way around problems. Our full guide to the Year of the Monkey covers Monkey traits, the Monkey King of Journey to the West, and every Monkey birth year.

The element matters too. Earth, tǔ (土), is one of the five phases, Wǔxíng (五行). Yang Earth is often pictured as a mountain: solid, patient and dependable. In the generating cycle, Earth gives rise to Metal (土生金), and Metal is the Monkey's own fixed element. That's why many zodiac writers today describe the Earth Monkey as the steadiest of the five Monkeys. It's still clever and inventive, but more grounded, more careful and more willing to build something that lasts. Our guide to the Chinese zodiac elements explains the cycle.

The last Earth Monkey year began on January 30, 1968. People born in that year complete a full 60 year cycle in 2028, which Chinese tradition calls huājiǎ (花甲) and honors as a major milestone birthday.

What Kind of Year Is a Monkey Year?

Monkey years are traditionally described as lively, inventive and fast moving. New ideas spread quickly. People who adapt well and think creatively tend to do well. With Earth's influence, 2028 is often read as a year when clever ideas can be turned into something practical, if they're given patience and a plan.

For relationships, it's a good year for playfulness, honest conversation and finding someone who can keep up with your mind. For work, it rewards problem solvers, learners and people willing to try a new approach. These are themes to work with, not promises. Your own choices shape your year far more than any sign.

Your Own Animal Year: Běnmìngnián

If you were born in a Monkey year (1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 or 2016), 2028 is your běnmìngnián (本命年), the year your own animal returns. In tradition, people in their běnmìngnián are said to fàn tài suì (犯太岁), to be out of step with Tài Suì (太岁), the deity who presides over the year.

Many families mark this with simple customs: wearing a touch of red, the color of celebration and good fortune in the tradition, and paying respects to Tài Suì at a temple near the start of the year. Tradition treats it as a year for extra care, and many people meet it calmly by keeping these customs and staying steady. Many also use it to review their goals and take good care of their relationships.

Chinese New Year Traditions

Every family celebrates a little differently, and customs vary by region. Some of the most widely kept traditions include:

• Cleaning before the New Year. Homes are swept and tidied in the days before, to make room for the year ahead. Many families avoid sweeping on New Year's Day itself.
• The reunion dinner. On New Year's Eve, families gather for a big meal, often the most important dinner of the year.
• Red envelopes. Hóngbāo (红包), red envelopes with money inside, are given to children and to unmarried younger relatives as a wish for a good year.
• Spring couplets. Chūnlián (春联), pairs of poetic lines on red paper, are hung around doorways.
• Lanterns and tangyuan. At the Lantern Festival on February 9, 2028, families light lanterns and share tāngyuán (汤圆), sweet rice balls whose round shape stands for togetherness.

Lunar New Year is also celebrated in Vietnam, Korea and by many communities around the world, each with its own traditions and calendar. This page follows the Chinese tradition.

What 2028 May Bring Each Chinese Zodiac Animal

Here are the traditional themes for each animal in an Earth Monkey year. They describe tendencies, never verdicts. Not sure of your animal? Find it on our Chinese zodiac signs chart.

Rat (鼠): The Rat, Monkey and Dragon form a traditional trine, sānhé (三合). A warm, cooperative year for plans and partnerships.

Ox (牛): Steady Earth suits the Ox. Patience pays off, and a slow build can pick up speed.

Tiger (虎): The Tiger sits opposite the Monkey, a liùchōng (六冲) pair, so tradition calls for flexibility. Choose cooperation over contests and the year softens.

Rabbit (兔): A good year to keep things simple and trust your quiet judgment in a busy, fast moving climate.

Dragon (龙): A trine partner of the Monkey. Big ideas find helpers, so share the stage.

Snake (蛇): The Snake and Monkey form a liùhé (六合) harmony, a traditional pair of close allies. Partnerships and quiet support stand out.

Horse (马): Energy runs high. Focus it on one or two goals rather than chasing every opening.

Goat (羊): After your own animal year in 2027, 2028 is a time to settle in and enjoy what you started.

Monkey (猴): Your běnmìngnián. A year to stay grounded, think before you leap, and lean on people you trust.

Rooster (鸡): Practical skills shine. A good year to polish your work and plan your own year, which begins February 13, 2029.

Dog (狗): Loyal effort is noticed. Keep your standards and let others come to you.

Pig (猪): Generosity and good company carry you. Say yes to learning something new.

For men who like the logic of it: The Earth Monkey rewards clever thinking with a plan behind it. Treat 2028 as a year to test new ideas in small, low risk ways, keep what works, and build on it steadily.

Curious how the Chinese and Western systems compare? Our guide to Chinese and Western astrology sets them side by side, and our overview of Chinese astrology explains the whole system.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Chinese New Year 2028?

Chinese New Year 2028 is on Wednesday, January 26, 2028. New Year's Eve is January 25, and the 15 days of celebration end with the Lantern Festival on February 9, 2028. The date follows the Chinese lunisolar calendar, so it changes every year, falling between late January and mid February.

What is the Chinese zodiac animal for 2028?

The animal for 2028 is the Monkey, and the element is Earth, so 2028 is the Year of the Earth Monkey, wùshēn (戊申). It's a yang year. The Monkey year runs from January 26, 2028 to February 12, 2029. The next year, the Earth Rooster, begins on February 13, 2029.

What does the Year of the Earth Monkey mean?

In Chinese tradition the Monkey stands for wit, curiosity and creative problem solving. Yang Earth adds patience and stability. Together, the Earth Monkey is often seen as the most grounded of the five Monkeys, a year to turn bright ideas into practical plans. These are traditional themes, not predictions.

Is 2028 a good year for people born in the Year of the Monkey?

2028 is the Monkey's běnmìngnián, the year your own animal returns. Tradition treats it as a year for extra care. Many people wear a touch of red and pay respects to Tài Suì, the guardian of the year. It's a good year to review goals and lean on people you trust.

Why is Chinese New Year 2028 on the same day as an eclipse?

Chinese New Year always starts on a new moon. In 2028, the new moon on January 26 also happens to be an annular solar eclipse. The same thing happens in 2027, when the February 6 new year lands on an annular eclipse. It's a calendar coincidence that makes both years easy to remember.

What was the last Earth Monkey year?

The last Earth Monkey year began on January 30, 1968 and ended on February 16, 1969. People born in that year complete a full 60 year cycle in 2028. Chinese tradition calls this huājiǎ (花甲) and celebrates it as an important milestone birthday.