Chinese New Year Feb. 17, 2026

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:

Apr. 17, 2025Andean cocks-of-the-rock, Ecuador
What the heck is a distaff?
Dec. 28, 2024Green sea turtle
Sep. 14, 2024Rapa Nui National Park, Easter Island, Chile
Oct. 1, 2024Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Apr. 27, 2025Coastal redwoods in Redwood National and State Parks, California, United States
Masterpiece of acoustic science
Wait, mountain—you shall bear my castle!
Nov. 6, 2025Celebrating Yi Peng
Feb. 14, 2024Valentines Day
Jan. 14, 2026Take the Stairs Day
Mar. 10, 2024Daylight Savings
Oct. 30, 2025Pushkar Camel Fair
Mar. 1, 2024Wheaton River, Yukon
Who uses this grassy bridge?
Mar. 3, 2025World Wildlife Day
Colours of spring
May 11, 2025Happy Mothers Day!
Poetry in suspense
May 10, 2025Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Farewell, Ma’am
Nov. 8, 2024Glacial rivers, Iceland
Blue as far as the eye can see
Celebrating the Scottish bard
Sep. 21, 2023International Day of Peace
Aug. 10, 2024Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA
Blue hues and ceramic scenes of Porto
May 9, 2025Canadian Tulip Festival
Beautiful from all angles
Giddy family fun