Chinese New Year 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, and depending on your zodiac sign, the colours you choose to wear are said to have an impact on how the year goes for you
This week marks the start of a new year in the Chinese calendar. The Lunar New Year, which began yesterday and will continue until March 3, is one of the most significant holidays in Chinese culture.
2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, symbolising intensity, confidence, action, and impulsivity. Depending on your zodiac sign, the colours you choose to wear are believed to influence how the year unfolds for you.
Fashion buyer Philippa Brooks from Chums has shared the luckiest colours to wear for Chinese New Year and their meanings – along with the best colours for your sign.
Red
Red is the quintessential colour for Chinese New Year, embodying good fortune, protection against negative energy, and joy. Historically, it was thought to fend off bad luck and evil spirits, reports the Express.
It’s bold, eye-catching, and frequently linked with passion and vitality, so wearing red – whether it’s an entire outfit or just an accessory – is considered the luckiest colour.
Luckiest sign: Horse
Gold and yellow
Gold signifies wealth, triumph, and prosperity, and is associated with royalty and authority. It’s often paired with red to represent fortune, and gold jewellery, accessories, and embroidery are popular for attracting luck.
Luckiest signs: Dragon (gold), Monkey (yellow)
Orange
Oranges are given as gifts during Chinese New Year celebrations. They’re regarded as symbols of prosperity and good fortune, as the Mandarin pronunciation resembles the word for ‘good luck’, while in Cantonese, it shares the same word as ‘gold’.
Luckiest sign: Tiger
Green
Chinese New Year marks the beginning of a fresh lunar cycle, and green is an ideal colour to signify fresh starts, development, and wellbeing. It’s associated with the natural world, tranquillity, and rejuvenation, making it an excellent choice for attracting fortune when setting goals for your professional and personal development.
Luckiest sign: Ox
Purple
Purple represents dignity, prosperity, and spiritual consciousness. It’s especially popular in southern China as a contemporary alternative to the fortune that red provides – it’s less conventional, but equally significant.
Luckiest signs: Snake, Monkey
Blue
Similar to purple, blue is less conventional than red or gold, though it remains popular. It signifies tranquillity, restoration, and vitality, suggesting optimism for the year to come.
Luckiest sign: Rat
Pink
Pink serves as an excellent choice for attracting luck if you’re looking to enhance relationships or invite romance in the new year, as it represents love and joy.
Luckiest sign: Rabbit
Best colours for your sign
- Fire signs (birth year ending in 6 or 7) – red, orange
- Earth signs (birth year ending in 8 or 9) – yellow, brown
- Metal signs (Birth year ending in 0 or 1) – gold, silver
- Water signs (birth year ending in 2 or 3) – blue
- Wood signs (birth year ending in 4 or 5) – green, blue
