Why the Year of the Horse 2026 could bring chaos but also great progress

With 12 animals and 5 elements, the Year of the Fire Horse comes around every 60 years and tends to bring both good fortune and bad

Reading Time:3 minutes

The Year of the Fire Horse begins on February 17, 2026. Being a “double fire” year, it could mean drastic change ahead. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 5:17pm, 8 Dec 2025Updated: 3:39pm, 9 Dec 2025

From auspicious horse-themed phrases and couplets to whether your luck is in, stay tuned for our Year of the Horse 2026 series to discover all you need to know about the coming Lunar New Year.

In 2026, Lunar New Year’s Day will fall on February 17, marking the end of the Year of the Wood Snake and the beginning of the Year of the Fire Horse.

To get an idea of how “fiery” this year could be, consider the following Chinese astrological calculations and feng shui readings.

In Chinese astrology, each year is associated with one of the 12 zodiac animals paired with one of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire or earth. These elements complement and clash with one another, and it is this interplay that is believed to promote harmony, balance and order in the natural world.

2026 will mark the first Year of the Fire Horse since 1966. Photo: Shutterstock

The fact that there are five elements and 12 zodiac signs dictates that any given combination occurs every 60 years. The last Year of the Fire Horse, for example, was 1966. The last Year of the Horse, in 2014, was the Year of the Wood Horse; 2002 was the Year of the Water Horse; 1990 was the Year of the Metal Horse, and 1978 was the Year of the Earth Horse.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x