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Chinese zodiac: the 12 animals and their years

Emily HartBy Emily Hart, professional astrologer · updated September 8, 2026
The twelve Chinese zodiac animals in a circle around a glowing moon — the Eastern calendar wheel

The Chinese zodiac works differently from the Western one: your sign comes from your YEAR of birth, not your month, and the twelve signs are animals — Rat through Pig — cycling every twelve years. One important catch: the Chinese year starts at the Chinese New Year (late January – mid-February), so if you were born in January or early February, your animal may belong to the previous year.

2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse: it began on February 17, 2026 and runs until February 5, 2027.

🐐 Year of the Goat 2027: predictions for every sign →🐎 Year of the Fire Horse 2026 — what it brings your sign →

Find your sign: years chart

YearAnimalElement
2018🐕 DogEarth
2019🐖 PigEarth
2020🐀 RatMetal
2021🐂 OxMetal
2022🐅 TigerWater
2023🐇 RabbitWater
2024🐉 DragonWood
2025🐍 SnakeWood
2026🐎 HorseFire
2027🐐 GoatFire
2028🐒 MonkeyEarth
2029🐓 RoosterEarth
2030🐕 DogMetal
2031🐖 PigMetal

The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac

🐀 RatYears: 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 the Rat is quick-witted, resourceful and charming in a low-key way.🐂 OxYears: 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 patient, methodical, immovable once committed.🐅 TigerYears: 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 brave, dramatic, allergic to small lives.🐇 RabbitYears: 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 gentle, tasteful, quietly perceptive.🐉 DragonYears: 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024The only mythical creature in the cycle — and it behaves accordingly.🐍 SnakeYears: 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 elegant, observant, comfortable with silence.🐎 HorseYears: 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 energetic, sociable, happiest mid-motion.🐐 GoatYears: 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 gentle, imaginative, sensitive to beauty and to people.🐒 MonkeyYears: 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028The Monkey is the clever one — and knows it.🐓 RoosterYears: 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 precise, hardworking, impeccably presented.🐕 DogYears: 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 loyal, fair, allergic to injustice.🐖 PigYears: 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 generous, sincere, built for pleasure and peace.

Frequently asked questions

What is my Chinese zodiac sign?

Find your birth year in the chart above — that row's animal is your sign. One exception: if you were born in January or the first half of February, check the Chinese New Year date of your year; before it, you belong to the previous animal.

How is the Chinese zodiac different from the Western one?

The Western zodiac assigns signs by the Sun's position in your birth MONTH; the Chinese one assigns animals by birth YEAR in a 12-year cycle, plus one of five elements in a 60-year cycle. They answer different questions and coexist happily — you have both a star sign and an animal.

What year is 2026 in the Chinese zodiac?

2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse — from February 17, 2026 to February 5, 2027. Before February 17, it's still the Year of the Wood Snake.

What are the five elements?

Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water — each year carries one, in a rotating pair (two Wood years, two Fire years, and so on). The element shades the animal: a Fire Horse is bolder and hotter-tempered than a Water Horse. Your full combination repeats only every 60 years.

See also: Year of the Goat 2027: predictions for every sign · Year of the Fire Horse 2026 · Chinese zodiac compatibility · Chinese New Year 2027 · Western zodiac signs