Preliminary –
Quick links to the 12 Chinese zodiac signs forecast for 2026
https://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2026/default.htm
To check or doublecheck your Chinese sign keep reading.
General predictions:
The world waits with trepidation for the Year of the Fire Horse to begin 4 Feb 2026. Horses are considered the most unruly and least family oriented of the Oriental signs and even today some women who find themselves carrying a fetus that will be born in a Horse Year abort.
Chinese years are on a 12 year cycle so previous Horse Years are 2014, 2002.... as noted below in the Horse column with Fire Horse years highlighted in red. Associated with every Chinese year is an element; Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth. Horse combines with Fire every 60 years; 2026, 1966, 1906, 1846, 1786, 1726, 1656...
with 1966 being the start of the Vietnamese War; 1906 the San Francisco earthquake and it's aftermath, anti-Japanese riots; 1846 the Mexican-American War.
For myself Horse Years have always been majorly impactful.
2014 - I bought 2 new cars one of which I slept in for a week on the streets of LA, bought 3 different houses, crossed 4 major US rivers driving, and moved and drove from California to Florida.
Those signs facing difficulties in Horse Year are Rat, Ox, and Monkey. These are the signs least compatible with Horse looking at the compatibility matrix below. The United States (1776) is a Fire Monkey.
The new moon in February 2026 and Chinese New Year will be on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 7:01 AM EST.
Mauni Amavasya, the Hindu new year and new moon in January 2026 will be on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 2:52 PM EST.
FOR OUR PURPOSES CONSIDER THE YEAR OF THE HORSE TO BEGIN 4 FEBRUARY 2026.
The 12 Oriental
signs, as commonly displayed on paper place mats in Chinese restaurants;
The Chinese animal year begins each Western year about 4 February - it does not begin at the Chinese New Year. So, if you were born before 4 February in any year your Chinese animal year is the sign before. Those born 4 or 5 February should consult the link https://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/YourSign.htm
The first day of the animal year is different from the
Chinese New Year Day. The animal year starts on the first day of the Tiger
month. Tiger month begins from the day when Sun enters ecliptic 315-degree position,
which is around February 4 Gregorian
calendar. That means the animal month is solar month, not lunar month. This is
why many people who are born in January or February are confused about their
animal sign of birth year.
Chinese Horoscope Compatibility
|
Rat |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ox |
1 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tiger |
4 |
6 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rabbit |
5 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dragon |
1 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Snake |
3 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Horse |
6 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goat |
5 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
Monkey |
1 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Rooster |
4 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
|
|
|
Dog |
3 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
|
|
Pig |
2 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
Rat
|
Ox |
Tiger |
Rabbit |
Dragon |
Snake |
Horse |
Goat |
Monkey |
Rooster |
Dog |
Pig |
Compatibility legend
1 - excellent 2 - successful 3 – good 4 – fair 5 – awkward 6 – clash
A few words on compatibility with a special note on Tigers! We can construct a rough ‘affability quotient’ for the signs by summing the compatibilities of each of the 12 signs with each of the other. The higher the number, the harder that sign is to get along with. Thus,
Rat – 36
Ox – 39
Tiger – 45
Rabbit – 37
Dragon – 37
Snake – 38
Horse – 40
Goat – 40
Monkey – 35
Rooster – 43
Dog – 38
Pig - 31
Tigers are, by quite a bit, the most fractious—unruly and independent—followed by Roosters. Pigs are by far the most affable. Using the compatibility table, it is possible to make rough estimates on how your year will go. When it is your year it is invariably transforming and expansive - sometimes too much so. When it is the opposite of your year, that is, 6 years away, it can be restrictive and inharmonious.
How Oriental Astrology works: Oriental astrology is essentially “good luck” astrology in that it tracks the planet Jupiter, considered to be one’s Greater Fortune. Jupiter takes 12 years to transit the zodiac of 12 signs. Therefore, in whatever year you were born, every 12 years when your Oriental zodiac animal year returns, the planet Jupiter will be in the same sign it was when you were born. Jupiter is called Guru in Hindu astrology and is considered your spiritual teacher.
Thus, roughly speaking, ALL Rabbits [Cat] have Jupiter in Aries; Dragons, Jupiter in Taurus; Snakes, Jupiter in Gemini; Horse, Jupiter in Cancer; Sheep [Goat], Jupiter in Leo; Monkey, Jupiter in Virgo; Rooster, Jupiter in Libra; Dog, Jupiter in Scorpio; Pig, Jupiter in Sagittarius; Rat, Jupiter in Capricorn; Cow [Ox], Jupiter in Aquarius; Tiger, Jupiter in Pisces.
AND because when Jupiter returns to the place it was when you were born that causes an expansion of the “good luck” in your horoscope. Some signs have more innate “good luck” than others, so the Oriental animal year is more important to some signs than others. Because Jupiter is exalted in Cancer, Horses probably experience more increased good luck during Horse year than other signs do in theirs. And I note in passing that from wealth studies of university contributions it has been determined that the wealthiest cohort in America has been the class of 1964, those born in the Horse Year 1942.
Incidentally, I have never seen this derivation of Oriental astrology anywhere – I arrived at it myself.
