As a foreign teacher planning to work or already working in China, understanding local festivals is not only a way to immerse yourself in Chinese culture but also helps you better arrange your work and life. This 2026 China Festival Calendar compiles major public holidays, traditional festivals and important observances, along with essential cultural customs and vacation arrangements. Let’s explore the colorful festival culture of China together!

2026 Major Chinese Festivals Calendar

Festival Name	2026 Gregorian Date	Festival Type	Brief Introduction & Vacation Info
New Year's Day	January 1 - January 3	Public Holiday	A national public holiday. Vacation lasts 3 days, with January 4 (Sunday) working as a make-up day.
Spring Festival (Chinese Lunar New Year)	February 17 (Lunar New Year's Day)	Traditional Festival & Public Holiday	The most important traditional festival in China. 2026 is the Year of the Horse. Vacation: February 15 - February 23 (9 days total), with February 14 (Saturday) and February 28 (Saturday) as make-up workdays.
Lantern Festival	March 3 (Lunar January 15)	Traditional Festival	Marks the end of Spring Festival celebrations. No public holiday, but schools may organize cultural activities.
Women's Day	March 8	Observance	Female employees usually get half a day off in most institutions and companies.
Qingming Festival	April 4 - April 6	Traditional Festival & Public Holiday	A festival for ancestor worship and spring outings. Vacation lasts 3 days with no make-up workdays.
Labor Day	May 1 - May 5	Public Holiday	National holiday celebrating workers. Vacation lasts 5 days, with May 9 (Saturday) as a make-up workday.
Dragon Boat Festival	June 19 - June 21	Traditional Festival & Public Holiday	Commemorates the patriotic poet Qu Yuan. Vacation lasts 3 days with no make-up workdays. Key customs include eating zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings) and dragon boat races.
Chinese Valentine's Day (Qixi Festival)	August 19 (Lunar July 7)	Traditional Festival	Based on the legend of Cowherd and Weaver Girl. A romantic festival for couples, no public holiday.
Teachers' Day	September 10	Observance	A special day to honor teachers. Many schools hold celebration activities, and students may give small gifts to teachers.
Mid-Autumn Festival	September 25 - September 27	Traditional Festival & Public Holiday	A festival of family reunion. Vacation lasts 3 days with no make-up workdays. Customary to appreciate the full moon and eat mooncakes.
National Day	October 1 - October 7	Public Holiday	Celebrates the founding of the People's Republic of China. Vacation lasts 7 days, with September 20 (Sunday) and October 10 (Saturday) as make-up workdays.
Double Ninth Festival (Chongyang Festival)	October 18 (Lunar September 9)	Traditional Festival	A festival to respect the elderly. Customs include climbing mountains and appreciating chrysanthemums, no public holiday.
Winter Solstice	December 22	Traditional Festival	An important solar term. Northern China eats dumplings, while southern China eats glutinous rice balls (tangyuan) on this day.

Key Festival Cultural Insights for Foreign Teachers

1. Spring Festival (Year of the Horse, February 17, 2026)

2026 is the Year of the Horse (Bingwu Year) in the Chinese zodiac, which symbolizes vitality, progress and success . As the most grand traditional festival in China, Spring Festival celebrations start from Lunar New Year's Eve (February 16, 2026) and last until Lantern Festival . The core custom is family reunion: families gather for a grand New Year's Eve dinner, paste Spring Festival couplets (poetic verses on red paper) and the character "Fu" (meaning good fortune) on doors, and set off firecrackers to drive away evil spirits . Elders also give red envelopes (hongbao) containing money to children and unmarried young people to wish them good luck in the new year .

During the Spring Festival holiday, most schools and institutions are closed. It's a great time for you to experience local customs, such as watching dragon and lion dances, or traveling to experience different regional celebrations (e.g., horse lantern dances in Fujian and Jiangxi provinces) .

2. Mid-Autumn Festival (September 25, 2026)

Known as the "Chinese Thanksgiving," Mid-Autumn Festival emphasizes family reunion. The full moon on this day symbolizes completeness and unity . Mooncakes, the iconic food of the festival, are round pastries with fillings like lotus seed paste, red bean paste, or salted egg yolks . Many schools will hold moon-gazing parties or mooncake-making activities for teachers and students. It's a wonderful opportunity to interact with your colleagues and students and experience Chinese family culture.

3. Teachers' Day (September 10)

Teachers' Day is a special occasion in China to show respect for educators. On this day, schools often organize commendation ceremonies, and students may present handwritten cards or small gifts (such as flowers or homemade crafts) to teachers. As a foreign teacher, you will also be warmly celebrated, which is a great way to feel the respect for teachers in Chinese culture.

Tips for Foreign Teachers

• Public holiday arrangements may affect your work schedule. It is recommended to confirm the specific vacation plan with your school in advance.
• Participating in school-organized festival activities is an excellent way to integrate into the campus and local community.
• For traditional festivals like Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, it is polite to greet colleagues with festival wishes (e.g., "Happy Year of the Horse!" for Spring Festival).

Understanding Chinese festivals will help you better adapt to life and work in China. If you want to know more about job opportunities in Chinese universities and the cultural life of foreign teachers, stay tuned to our platform. Wish you a pleasant experience in China in 2026!