2026 is a Yang Fire Horse year. Heads up -  that’s double fire folks! 🔥🔥This will be a fast paced year - expect speed, intensity and volatility. Doors will open faster than before and will shut just as quickly without warning. Change comes suddenly and can be unforgiving. But for those who prepare, this can be your year of breakthroughs, success and significant momentum. 

Be ready to be adaptable, decisive and take action to make the most of opportunities with this wildfire of a year ahead! 

Traditions & Culture 

Lunar New Year is celebrated by over 2 billion people in China, Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore and diaspora across the globe. It’s also known as Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, although Lunar New Year is more broad and inclusive of all countries that celebrate it. 

Each country has their own name & traditions - for example in Vietnam it's called Tết and in Korea it's Seollal. Its astrological context also draws interest from folks beyond those cultures, who are curious to work with the esoteric energies of the year. 

Lunar New Year is based on a lunisolar system that combines both lunar and solar cycles, attuned to the astronomical movements of the earth in space. It begins on the second new moon after the Winter Solstice - typically falling between January 21 and February 20. This year the Lunar New Year is on February 17th.

There are many rituals associated with this 15 day celebration - including spring cleaning (preparation), extended and abundant family dinners, exchange of red envelopes with money inside, honouring ancestors, firecrackers, dragon dances and culminating with a lantern festival. 

With the Gregorian calendar, which was enforced by a pope in 1582, many people find that the 1st of January feels premature, as the body and psyche still feel in hibernation. So the Lunar New Year can feel like a more appropriate time to embrace the freshness of a new year, as spring emerges and you have more energy. 

Lunar New Year is the gateway to a new astrological cycle, with a fresh wave of energies - a chance to get clear on your direction and purpose for the year ahead. 

Horse Year - What to Expect?

There’s a lot to be learned from the astrological significance of each year - which presents us with a new set of influences, energy and magic to work with! 

Joey Yap, famous Ba Zi / Chinese astrology consultant & author says that “astrology doesn’t happen to us, it happens for us”. 

So it’s less about predictions, and more about what we do with it. It helps us learn how to ride the waves and harness the energies. Ba Zi Astrology is intel for those who are wise enough to be open to it and act on it. 

2026 is a Horse  year, which comes along once every 12 years - there are 12 zodiac animals, and they rotate in a sequential order. 

The horse represents dynamic action, speed, freedom and breakthrough. It brings with it rapid change, personal growth and new frontiers. 

Taoist astrology reflects Horse people/Horse years as having the characteristics of: 

• Energetic 
• Adventurous
• Free spirited 
• Independent
• Passionate
• Enthusiastic
• Stubborn
• Impatient/Restless 

Those born in 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 were born in a Horse Year. 

However, you can lean into all things horsey 🐎 this year, regardless of what animal sign you are. 

Here’s some famous people who were born in the year of the Horse, confirming that Horses are indeed champions:  Nelson Mandela, Greta Thunberg, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jackie Chan.  

Influence of the Fire Element

In Ba Zi or Chinese Astrology, each year has both an animal and an element. 

2026 is a combination of Fire & Horse Year, which happens only once every 60 years and is a rare combination! 

Fire is one of 5 elements and it adds a dominant influence of the year. Fire does not nurture quietly - it activates, accelerates and exposes. When paired with the Horse, it amplifies momentum, visibility and the urge to move decisively.

Fire element offers you: 

• Successful blossoming
• Maximum potential
• Radiant visibility 
• Social connections & collaborations

This is a Yang Fire Horse year, meaning the energy is outward, expressive and fast-moving. It favours bold action over deliberation and rewards those who are prepared to step forward when opportunities arise. While breakthroughs can happen quickly, Fire also demands discernment - without direction, its intensity can lead to burnout or impulsive choices.

Looking Back: What Happened 60 Years Ago (1966 - The Last Fire Horse Year)

The previous Fire Horse year was 1966, and history reflects the same energetic signature:

• The Cultural Revolution began in China
  A dramatic, chaotic dismantling of old systems, hierarchies, and traditions - driven by ideology, youth movements and mass mobilisation
• Escalation of the Vietnam War
  Conflict intensified rapidly, drawing global attention and protest.
• Global civil rights and social movements
  Across the world, voices demanding change grew louder, faster and more confrontational
• Acceleration of the space race and technological ambition
  Fire Horse favours bold frontiers and risk-taking

The theme was clear: Old structures could not hold and pressure forced action & reform. Fire Horse years are known for amplifying momentum & intense change. 

Key Tips for a Smooth 2026 

1. Be ready to act - if you over prepare, you’ll miss opportunities 
2. Be clear in your direction - clarity is what you need for a successful year and there will no doubt be many opportunities 
3. Don’t over-do it - the risk of burnout is real! Avoid over-scheduling. Be careful not to get caught in the wildfire and have plenty of chill time!
4. Be courageous - this year is about bold moves & decisiveness. It’s not the year for playing it small! 
5. Do practices for regulating your nervous system - Qigong, meditation - now is the time for application!  

Practical Guidance for Each Zodiac Sign

So let’s have a look at what opportunities are available for the different zodiac signs in 2026. It’s your actions & your mindset in combination with these energies that helps you get the most from the astrological cues. 

🐀 Rat

This is a year of ups and downs. Stay steady, be careful in your decision making and stay on budget with your finances. Meditate to avoid emotional tension in relationships.

🐂 Ox

Stay grounded, build your foundation and weather the storms. Focus on getting a good life-work balance. Take regular exercise!

🐅 Tiger

Expect a lot of movement & opportunities - be patient and focused. Stay disciplined to avoid burnout, and make sure to rest!   

🐇 Rabbit

A year of growth lies ahead, through resilience and challenge. Build trust in your relationships. To avoid depletion from stress, develop healthy self care routines.

🐉 Dragon

Ambition and big opportunities are on the horizon. Meditate to avoid relationship conflict. Look after your digestive health and how to manage your energy.

🐍 Snake

Another year of change and rebirth! Use challenges as a way to reshape your path. Regular exercise and relaxation practices will support your vitality.

🐎 Horse

Momentum is high, passion is near and opportunities are abundant, but be careful of burnout. Manage your money with care. And focus on regulating your nervous system daily.

🐐 Goat

Mixed blessings this year - make sure to turn challenges into growth. Nurture honest communication & intimacy in relationships. Protect your immunity.

🐒 Monkey

Make strategic moves & avoid impulsiveness when opportunities present. Build trust and understanding with romantic partners. Prioritise sleep in a year of excitement & pressure.

🐓 Rooster

This year is a training period for bigger success ahead. Live within your means. Practice kind communication in relationships. And focus on regular exercise and life-work balance.

🐕 Dog

Both responsibility and progress are ahead. Seek support in work projects and avoid taking on too much. Find consistent ways to manage your stress!

🐖 Pig

Be mindful of distractions and over-indulgence, which may pull you away from your growth. Pay attention to your digestive system & establish healthy routines.

🫶🏼 I wish you the very best for the coming Fire Horse Year - to sum it up, this holds the potential of tremendous growth as well as turbulence. So be ready to move fast, think smart and take courageous action! 

I highly recommend developing a regular practice of Qigong and meditation  to navigate these intense times ahead. I’d love to welcome you to join my Elixir membership (click here) and be surrounded by a supportive, health focused community of inspiring women.