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:

Her legend and mystery endure
A curious little otter pup
Check out these ‘sea cows’
Jul. 2, 2025Spine-cheeked anemonefish
The ancient home of the Minoans
Sep. 1, 2025Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
Zebras enjoying their day
May 8, 2024Marseille welcomes to Olympic torch
Where did you drop the fish, son?
Stars in daylight
May 19, 2024Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
Where fire and water meet
Regal Radiance
The only island in Lake Tahoe
Dec. 3, 2023Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
Gateway to Latin America
Apr. 22, 2025Earth Day
Aug. 26, 2024Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Central Pacific Ocean
A light in the coastal darkness
Feb. 7, 2025Blue hour in Trondheim, Norway
Nature’s blue wonder
May 1, 2024Lei Day
So fresh, so clean
Sep. 8, 2023International Literacy Day
Kings of the north
Jan. 25, 2024Snowy owl
Pride and Joy
Jan. 16, 2025Pinnacles National Park, California, United States
Oct. 3, 2025Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Feb. 17, 2025Coll dAres, Catalan Pyrenees