Chinese Zodiac 2026 Monthly Predictions for the Fire Horse Year
Chinese zodiac 2026 monthly predictions start from one fact: Chinese astrology reads the year in twelve solar months, each with its own animal and element. Here are the Year of the Horse 2026 months, how each month relates to the Horse year, and where to find the detail for the months still ahead.
How Chinese months work (and why forecasts disagree)
There are two kinds of "Chinese month":
- Solar months (节月) begin at a solar term, such as Li Chun or Cold Dew, and fall on nearly the same Gregorian dates every year. BaZi and most annual forecasts use these.
- Lunar months begin at a new moon and drift by up to a month against our calendar. Festivals use these.
When one forecast says "the ninth month" and another says "October", they may be describing different periods. On this site, monthly forecasts always use solar months, with the Gregorian dates written out.
The twelve solar months of the Fire Horse year
| Month | Dates | Relationship to the Horse year | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 庚寅 Metal Tiger | Feb 4 – Mar 4, 2026 ≈ February 2026 | Three harmony (trine) (三合) | Past | |
| 辛卯 Metal Rabbit | Mar 5 – Apr 4, 2026 ≈ March 2026 | Break (破) | Past | |
| 壬辰 Water Dragon | Apr 5 – May 4, 2026 ≈ April 2026 | No classical link | Past | |
| 癸巳 Water Snake | May 5 – Jun 4, 2026 ≈ May 2026 | Seasonal group (三会) | Past | |
| 甲午 Wood Horse | Jun 5 – Jul 6, 2026 ≈ June 2026 | Same sign (同) + Self-penalty (自刑) | Past | |
| 乙未 Wood Goat | Jul 7 – Aug 6, 2026 ≈ July 2026 | Six harmony (六合) + Seasonal group (三会) | Past | |
| 丙申 Fire Monkey | Aug 7 – Sep 6, 2026 ≈ August 2026 | No classical link | Past | |
| 丁酉 Fire Rooster | Sep 7 – Oct 7, 2026 ≈ September 2026 | No classical link | Current | |
| 戊戌 Earth Dog | Oct 8 – Nov 6, 2026 ≈ October 2026 | Three harmony (trine) (三合) | Upcoming | October forecast |
| 己亥 Earth Pig | Nov 7 – Dec 6, 2026 ≈ November 2026 | No classical link | Upcoming | November forecast |
| 庚子 Metal Rat | Dec 7 – Jan 4, 2027 ≈ December 2026 | Clash (冲) | Upcoming | December forecast |
| 辛丑 Metal Ox | Jan 5 – Feb 3, 2027 ≈ January 2027 | Harm (害) | Upcoming |
The months so far
- Metal Tiger (Feb 4): The Tiger month joins the year's fire trine. Practitioners read the opening of the year as energetic.
- Metal Rabbit (Mar 5): The Rabbit month 'breaks' the Horse (卯午破). It was traditionally read as a month of disrupted plans.
- Water Dragon (Apr 5): The Dragon month has no classical link to the Horse. Practitioners usually describe it as steadier.
- Water Snake (May 5): The Snake month begins summer's fire season (巳午未), turning up the heat.
- Wood Horse (Jun 5): The Horse month in the Horse year, a double 午. The year's fire is traditionally at its peak here.
- Wood Goat (Jul 7): The Goat month completes the Horse's six harmony (午未合). It was traditionally read as cooperative.
- Fire Monkey (Aug 7): The Monkey month turns to metal and autumn. Its classical relationship to the Horse is neutral.
The months ahead
October: Earth Dog (戊戌)
Oct 8 – Nov 6. The Dog completes the fire trine with the Horse year. Read the October 2026 horoscope.
November: Earth Pig (己亥)
Nov 7 – Dec 6. The first water month of winter. Its classical relationship to the Horse is neutral. Read the November 2026 horoscope.
December: Metal Rat (庚子)
Dec 7 – Jan 4. The Rat clashes the Horse (子午冲), so it is traditionally the year's most turbulent month. Read the December 2026 horoscope.
January: Metal Ox (辛丑)
Jan 5 – Feb 3, 2027. The Ox "harms" the Horse (丑午害) as the year winds down toward Li Chun.
For how each month affects your sign, every sign page has its own month-by-month table. Start with the 12-sign overview.
Sources
- sxtwl (寿星天文历) astronomical calendar library: all lunar and solar-term dates on this site are computed with it — solar-term times are Beijing time (UTC+8)
- Wikipedia: Solar term