ShengxiaoChineseZodiacYears

Year chartReviewed October 24, 2026

Chinese Zodiac Years

Every animal year from 1900 to 2100, with its heavenly stem, element and the Chinese New Year date on which it begins.

1984 · Rat1990 · Horse1997 · Ox2000 · Dragon2012 · Dragon2026 · Horse2027 · Goat2028 · Monkey

年

Year · 年

The animal year is not the same as the Gregorian year. It begins at Chinese New Year, usually between January 21 and February 20. The table below maps every Gregorian year from 1900 to 2100 to the lunar year that begins in it, with the sexagenary name and element.

Quick answer: 2026 is the Year of the Horse (Bing Wu, yang fire), beginning February 17, 2026. 2027 is the Year of the Goat (Ding Wei, yin fire), beginning February 6, 2027. 2028 is the Year of the Monkey (Wu Shen, yang earth), beginning January 26, 2028.

Search the years chart

Type a year, an animal or an element to filter the table. The current year is highlighted. Each row links to the sign guide for that animal.

YearAnimalStem–branchElementPolarityYear begins
1900Rat庚子Metalyang1900-01-31
1901Ox辛丑Metalyin1901-02-19
1902Tiger壬寅Wateryang1902-02-08
1903Rabbit癸卯Wateryin1903-01-29
1904Dragon甲辰Woodyang1904-02-16
1905Snake乙巳Woodyin1905-02-04
1906Horse丙午Fireyang1906-01-25
1907Goat丁未Fireyin1907-02-13
1908Monkey戊申Earthyang1908-02-02
1909Rooster己酉Earthyin1909-01-22
1910Dog庚戌Metalyang1910-02-10
1911Pig辛亥Metalyin1911-01-30
1912Rat壬子Wateryang1912-02-18
1913Ox癸丑Wateryin1913-02-06
1914Tiger甲寅Woodyang1914-01-26
1915Rabbit乙卯Woodyin1915-02-14
1916Dragon丙辰Fireyang1916-02-03
1917Snake丁巳Fireyin1917-01-23
1918Horse戊午Earthyang1918-02-11
1919Goat己未Earthyin1919-02-01
1920Monkey庚申Metalyang1920-02-20
1921Rooster辛酉Metalyin1921-02-08
1922Dog壬戌Wateryang1922-01-28
1923Pig癸亥Wateryin1923-02-16
1924Rat甲子Woodyang1924-02-05
1925Ox乙丑Woodyin1925-01-24
1926Tiger丙寅Fireyang1926-02-13
1927Rabbit丁卯Fireyin1927-02-02
1928Dragon戊辰Earthyang1928-01-23
1929Snake己巳Earthyin1929-02-10
1930Horse庚午Metalyang1930-01-30
1931Goat辛未Metalyin1931-02-17
1932Monkey壬申Wateryang1932-02-06
1933Rooster癸酉Wateryin1933-01-26
1934Dog甲戌Woodyang1934-02-14
1935Pig乙亥Woodyin1935-02-04
1936Rat丙子Fireyang1936-01-24
1937Ox丁丑Fireyin1937-02-11
1938Tiger戊寅Earthyang1938-01-31
1939Rabbit己卯Earthyin1939-02-19
1940Dragon庚辰Metalyang1940-02-08
1941Snake辛巳Metalyin1941-01-27
1942Horse壬午Wateryang1942-02-15
1943Goat癸未Wateryin1943-02-05
1944Monkey甲申Woodyang1944-01-25
1945Rooster乙酉Woodyin1945-02-13
1946Dog丙戌Fireyang1946-02-02
1947Pig丁亥Fireyin1947-01-22
1948Rat戊子Earthyang1948-02-10
1949Ox己丑Earthyin1949-01-29
1950Tiger庚寅Metalyang1950-02-17
1951Rabbit辛卯Metalyin1951-02-06
1952Dragon壬辰Wateryang1952-01-27
1953Snake癸巳Wateryin1953-02-14
1954Horse甲午Woodyang1954-02-03
1955Goat乙未Woodyin1955-01-24
1956Monkey丙申Fireyang1956-02-12
1957Rooster丁酉Fireyin1957-01-31
1958Dog戊戌Earthyang1958-02-18
1959Pig己亥Earthyin1959-02-08
1960Rat庚子Metalyang1960-01-28
1961Ox辛丑Metalyin1961-02-15
1962Tiger壬寅Wateryang1962-02-05
1963Rabbit癸卯Wateryin1963-01-25
1964Dragon甲辰Woodyang1964-02-13
1965Snake乙巳Woodyin1965-02-02
1966Horse丙午Fireyang1966-01-21
1967Goat丁未Fireyin1967-02-09
1968Monkey戊申Earthyang1968-01-30
1969Rooster己酉Earthyin1969-02-17
1970Dog庚戌Metalyang1970-02-06
1971Pig辛亥Metalyin1971-01-27
1972Rat壬子Wateryang1972-02-15
1973Ox癸丑Wateryin1973-02-03
1974Tiger甲寅Woodyang1974-01-23
1975Rabbit乙卯Woodyin1975-02-11
1976Dragon丙辰Fireyang1976-01-31
1977Snake丁巳Fireyin1977-02-18
1978Horse戊午Earthyang1978-02-07
1979Goat己未Earthyin1979-01-28
1980Monkey庚申Metalyang1980-02-16
1981Rooster辛酉Metalyin1981-02-05
1982Dog壬戌Wateryang1982-01-25
1983Pig癸亥Wateryin1983-02-13
1984Rat甲子Woodyang1984-02-02
1985Ox乙丑Woodyin1985-02-20
1986Tiger丙寅Fireyang1986-02-09
1987Rabbit丁卯Fireyin1987-01-29
1988Dragon戊辰Earthyang1988-02-17
1989Snake己巳Earthyin1989-02-06
1990Horse庚午Metalyang1990-01-27
1991Goat辛未Metalyin1991-02-15
1992Monkey壬申Wateryang1992-02-04
1993Rooster癸酉Wateryin1993-01-23
1994Dog甲戌Woodyang1994-02-10
1995Pig乙亥Woodyin1995-01-31
1996Rat丙子Fireyang1996-02-19
1997Ox丁丑Fireyin1997-02-07
1998Tiger戊寅Earthyang1998-01-28
1999Rabbit己卯Earthyin1999-02-16
2000Dragon庚辰Metalyang2000-02-05
2001Snake辛巳Metalyin2001-01-24
2002Horse壬午Wateryang2002-02-12
2003Goat癸未Wateryin2003-02-01
2004Monkey甲申Woodyang2004-01-22
2005Rooster乙酉Woodyin2005-02-09
2006Dog丙戌Fireyang2006-01-29
2007Pig丁亥Fireyin2007-02-18
2008Rat戊子Earthyang2008-02-07
2009Ox己丑Earthyin2009-01-26
2010Tiger庚寅Metalyang2010-02-14
2011Rabbit辛卯Metalyin2011-02-03
2012Dragon壬辰Wateryang2012-01-23
2013Snake癸巳Wateryin2013-02-10
2014Horse甲午Woodyang2014-01-31
2015Goat乙未Woodyin2015-02-19
2016Monkey丙申Fireyang2016-02-08
2017Rooster丁酉Fireyin2017-01-28
2018Dog戊戌Earthyang2018-02-16
2019Pig己亥Earthyin2019-02-05
2020Rat庚子Metalyang2020-01-25
2021Ox辛丑Metalyin2021-02-12
2022Tiger壬寅Wateryang2022-02-01
2023Rabbit癸卯Wateryin2023-01-22
2024Dragon甲辰Woodyang2024-02-10
2025Snake乙巳Woodyin2025-01-29
2026Horse丙午Fireyang2026-02-17
2027Goat丁未Fireyin2027-02-06
2028Monkey戊申Earthyang2028-01-26
2029Rooster己酉Earthyin2029-02-13
2030Dog庚戌Metalyang2030-02-03
2031Pig辛亥Metalyin2031-01-23
2032Rat壬子Wateryang2032-02-11
2033Ox癸丑Wateryin2033-01-31
2034Tiger甲寅Woodyang2034-02-19
2035Rabbit乙卯Woodyin2035-02-08
2036Dragon丙辰Fireyang2036-01-28
2037Snake丁巳Fireyin2037-02-15
2038Horse戊午Earthyang2038-02-04
2039Goat己未Earthyin2039-01-24
2040Monkey庚申Metalyang2040-02-12
2041Rooster辛酉Metalyin2041-02-01
2042Dog壬戌Wateryang2042-01-22
2043Pig癸亥Wateryin2043-02-10
2044Rat甲子Woodyang2044-01-30
2045Ox乙丑Woodyin2045-02-17
2046Tiger丙寅Fireyang2046-02-06
2047Rabbit丁卯Fireyin2047-01-26
2048Dragon戊辰Earthyang2048-02-14
2049Snake己巳Earthyin2049-02-02
2050Horse庚午Metalyang2050-01-23
2051Goat辛未Metalyin2051-02-11
2052Monkey壬申Wateryang2052-02-01
2053Rooster癸酉Wateryin2053-02-19
2054Dog甲戌Woodyang2054-02-08
2055Pig乙亥Woodyin2055-01-28
2056Rat丙子Fireyang2056-02-15
2057Ox丁丑Fireyin2057-02-04
2058Tiger戊寅Earthyang2058-01-24
2059Rabbit己卯Earthyin2059-02-12
2060Dragon庚辰Metalyang2060-02-02
2061Snake辛巳Metalyin2061-01-21
2062Horse壬午Wateryang2062-02-09
2063Goat癸未Wateryin2063-01-29
2064Monkey甲申Woodyang2064-02-17
2065Rooster乙酉Woodyin2065-02-05
2066Dog丙戌Fireyang2066-01-26
2067Pig丁亥Fireyin2067-02-14
2068Rat戊子Earthyang2068-02-03
2069Ox己丑Earthyin2069-01-23
2070Tiger庚寅Metalyang2070-02-11
2071Rabbit辛卯Metalyin2071-01-31
2072Dragon壬辰Wateryang2072-02-19
2073Snake癸巳Wateryin2073-02-07
2074Horse甲午Woodyang2074-01-27
2075Goat乙未Woodyin2075-02-15
2076Monkey丙申Fireyang2076-02-05
2077Rooster丁酉Fireyin2077-01-24
2078Dog戊戌Earthyang2078-02-12
2079Pig己亥Earthyin2079-02-02
2080Rat庚子Metalyang2080-01-22
2081Ox辛丑Metalyin2081-02-09
2082Tiger壬寅Wateryang2082-01-29
2083Rabbit癸卯Wateryin2083-02-17
2084Dragon甲辰Woodyang2084-02-06
2085Snake乙巳Woodyin2085-01-26
2086Horse丙午Fireyang2086-02-14
2087Goat丁未Fireyin2087-02-03
2088Monkey戊申Earthyang2088-01-24
2089Rooster己酉Earthyin2089-02-10
2090Dog庚戌Metalyang2090-01-30
2091Pig辛亥Metalyin2091-02-18
2092Rat壬子Wateryang2092-02-07
2093Ox癸丑Wateryin2093-01-27
2094Tiger甲寅Woodyang2094-02-15
2095Rabbit乙卯Woodyin2095-02-05
2096Dragon丙辰Fireyang2096-01-25
2097Snake丁巳Fireyin2097-02-12
2098Horse戊午Earthyang2098-02-01
2099Goat己未Earthyin2099-01-21
2100Monkey庚申Metalyang2100-02-09

“Year begins” is the first day of the Chinese lunar year in China Standard Time. The table and calculator cover 1900–2100; dates outside that range are not provided.

2026, 2027 and 2028 at a glance

2026

Horse · 丙午

Yang fire. February 17, 2026 – February 5, 2027.

2027

Goat · 丁未

Yin fire. February 6, 2027 – January 25, 2028.

2028

Monkey · 戊申

Yang earth. Begins January 26, 2028.

Born in January or February?

This is a common source of wrong zodiac answers. If you were born before Chinese New Year, your lunar year is the previous one. For example, Chinese New Year 1997 fell on February 7. A birthday on February 3, 1997 belongs to the 1996 Rat year, not the 1997 Ox year.

The table gives the boundary date. The date-based calculator applies it automatically and explains which year it used. If you are comparing sources, check whether they use Chinese New Year or the solar term Li Chun; the two can disagree by a few days around early February.

How to read the columns

  • Year is the Gregorian year in which the Chinese New Year falls. The animal year runs from that date into the following Gregorian year.
  • Stem–branch is the sexagenary name, a pair from the ten heavenly stems and twelve earthly branches. 2026 is 丙午: 丙 (bǐng, yang fire) and 午 (wǔ, horse).
  • Element is the element of the year stem, not the animal's fixed element. A Horse born in 2026 has a fire year element; the Horse's fixed element is also fire. A Horse born in 2014 had a wood year element.
  • Polarity alternates yang and yin across the ten stems, beginning with yang 甲 (jiǎ).

Source note

Dates are based on the Hong Kong Observatory's Gregorian–Lunar Calendar Conversion Table (1901–2100), with 1900 supplied from the same calendar sequence. The 2026 and 2027 dates are checked directly against HKO tables; the full sequence is cross-checked against an independent astronomical dataset.

The stem, branch and animal names follow the standard sexagenary sequence. The Hong Kong Observatory notes that a new moon very close to midnight can move a future date by one day; the table should be treated as the standard civil conversion, not an astronomical prediction.

Common questions

What is the Chinese zodiac for 1997?

1997 was the Year of the Ox, Ding Chou (丁丑), a yin fire year. Chinese New Year fell on February 7, 1997, so a person born in January or on February 1–6, 1997 belonged to the previous year, the Rat.

What animal is 2000 in the Chinese zodiac?

2000 was the Year of the Dragon, Geng Chen (庚辰), a yang metal year. It began on February 5, 2000. Anyone born before that date was still in the 1999 Rabbit year.

What is the Chinese zodiac for 2026?

2026 is the Year of the Horse, Bing Wu (丙午), a yang fire year. It began on February 17, 2026 and ends on February 5, 2027.

Why do some years have the same animal but a different element?

The animal cycle repeats every 12 years, but the element and yin/yang stem repeat every 10 years. The two cycles line up every 60 years, so each animal appears in five different element versions across a full sexagenary cycle.

Does the listed year match someone born in January?

Not always. The table gives the lunar year that begins at Chinese New Year. If a birthday falls before that date, the person belongs to the previous year's animal. Use the date-based calculator to be sure.

Where do the Chinese New Year dates come from?

The dates follow the Gregorian–Lunar conversion tables published by the Hong Kong Observatory, with 2026–2027 checked directly against its tables and the full 1900–2100 sequence cross-checked against an independent astronomical dataset. Future dates can shift by a day if a new moon falls very close to midnight.

Read next

Tool

Find my sign

Use a full birth date and get the exact cutoff.

Elements

Five elements

What the element column means and how the 60-year cycle works.

Calendar

Chinese New Year

Dates, customs and the 15-day festival.

Reviewed October 24, 2026. Editorial method and sources. This page is a cultural guide, not a prediction or professional advice.