Time to gallop into the Year of the Horse! Read on to learn more about this seventh sign of the Chinese zodiac, legendary horses in Chinese culture, and famous people who were born in a horse year.

When is the Year of the Horse?

The Year of the Horse starts Feb. 17, 2026 and lasts until Feb. 5, 2027. Since the Lunar New Year follows the, you guessed it, lunar calendar, the dates according to the solar or Gregorian calendar (the one most commonly used) shift every year. And because the Chinese zodiac runs on a 12-year cycle, your animal comes up every dozen years.

Not sure if you’re the Year of the Horse? Check out our handy zodiac chart.

It's a Fire Horse year

In addition to animals, the Chinese zodiac has a different element for each year. This year is the Fire Horse. The other elements are water, wood, earth, and gold or metal.

How does the horse fit with the rest of the zodiac?

Legend says the Jade Emperor called a race to determine the order of the animals of the Chinese zodiac. The rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, and dragon came in first through fifth place. The horse was a close sixth, but little did it know the snake had wrapped itself around its leg. Right before the finish line, it slithered out, startling the horse, and dashed ahead to snag that sixth position. That left the horse one step behind in seventh.

The horse's personality

People born in a horse year are friendly with warm and open natures. They're risk takers who love trying new things. 

They're straightforward but sometimes to a fault. Some may even call them blunt. While hard workers, they tend not to listen to others' advice, aren't great with money, and hate admitting to mistakes. They can also be short-tempered. 

However, above all else they value honesty and loyalty. Sincere and trustworthy, they make steadfast friends.

The horse in Chinese culture

Chinese culture has plenty of mythical horses. There's Longma, literally "horse dragon." There's the white horse that supposedly carried ancient Buddhist scriptures into China from India, thus bringing Buddhism to China. There's also Horse-Face, a kind of gatekeeper to Diyu, or the Underworld. Along with his partner, Ox-Head, they usher in the dead and bring them before the judges.

What's up for 2026?

When your animal year comes up in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, that’s called ben ming nian. During that time, it’s believed you’re more vulnerable to adversity.

But things are looking pretty good in 2026 for those born in a horse year. They might see career growth and financial stability. However, they could face conflicts in their relationships and health challenges such as accidents. Another reason to be extra cautious in 2026.

Lucky numbers for the horse include 2, 3, 7, and numbers containing them while unlucky digits are 1, 5, and 6. Lucky colors include yellow and green while unlucky hues are blue and white.

Famous horses

If you were born in a horse year, you join a prestigious herd. Famous horses include Oscar-winning director Ang Lee; Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro; Shanghai Tang founder David Tang; longtime New York Times literary critic Michiko Kakutani; violinist Vanessa-Mae; actors Tamlyn Tomita, Jason Scott Lee, and Tia Carrere; action star and film legend Jackie Chan; and CBS news anchor (and Pearl River Mart friend) Cindy Hsu.

Learn more about the animals of the Chinese zodiac.