2026 24 Solar Terms Dates and Calendar

The 2026 24 solar terms dates show when each Chinese solar term falls in the Gregorian calendar. This 24 solar terms 2026 calendar lists the English name, Chinese name, pinyin, season, short meaning, and a detail-page link for every term.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer

The 2026 calendar lists the 24 solar terms in seasonal order; exact transition times depend on astronomical calculation and the time zone used by the calendar.

Basic Facts

System	Twenty-Four Solar Terms
Year	2026
Reading rule	Check the stated time zone before using an exact time
Common mistake	Assuming the civil date is identical in every location

Evidence Note

The solar terms are a traditional lunisolar-calendar knowledge system tied to the Sun’s apparent annual motion; published times can cross a civil-date boundary by time zone. Source: UNESCO Twenty-Four Solar Terms listing.

Related reading: Summer Solstice · Winter Solstice

Data anchor: direct answer + four checked facts + evidence note + related reading + stated limitation.

Dates can shift by one day depending on time zone and astronomical calculation method. This guide uses the site’s existing international date convention for overseas readers. For the complete site index, see the 24 Solar Terms guide and the Chinese solar terms overview.

2026 24 Solar Terms Dates Table

Solar term	Chinese name	Pinyin	2026 date	Season	Short meaning	Detail page
Minor Cold	小寒	Xiaohan	January 5, 2026	Winter	A period of deepening winter cold before the final solar term of the old seasonal cycle.	Read guide
Major Cold	大寒	Dahan	January 20, 2026	Winter	The coldest part of the year in the traditional solar-term rhythm.	Read guide
Start of Spring	立春	Lichun	February 3, 2026	Spring	The traditional beginning of spring and the first term in the classic solar-term sequence.	Read guide
Rain Water	雨水	Yushui	February 18, 2026	Spring	A marker for warmer air, softer rain, and the early return of moisture.	Read guide
Awakening of Insects	惊蛰	Jingzhe	March 5, 2026	Spring	The time when thunder, warmth, and insects signal active spring growth.	Read guide
Spring Equinox	春分	Chunfen	March 20, 2026	Spring	Day and night are nearly balanced as spring reaches its middle point.	Read guide
Qingming	清明	Qingming	April 4, 2026	Spring	A clear, bright spring term connected with remembrance, outings, and fresh seasonal growth.	Read guide
Grain Rain	谷雨	Guyu	April 19, 2026	Spring	Late spring rain supports grain growth, tea culture, and farming preparation.	Read guide
Start of Summer	立夏	Lixia	May 5, 2026	Summer	The traditional beginning of summer, with warmer days and stronger growth.	Read guide
Grain Buds	小满	Xiaoman	May 21, 2026	Summer	Grains begin to fill, but the harvest is not yet complete.	Read guide
Grain in Ear	芒种	Mangzhong	June 5, 2026	Summer	A busy farming marker for crops with awns and early summer field work.	Read guide
Summer Solstice	夏至	Xiazhi	June 21, 2026	Summer	The longest daylight period of the year in the solar-term system.	Read guide
Minor Heat	小暑	Xiaoshu	July 6, 2026	Summer	Hot weather begins to build before the peak heat of midsummer.	Read guide
Major Heat	大暑	Dashu	July 22, 2026	Summer	The hottest solar term, linked with heat, humidity, and summer food customs.	Read guide
Start of Autumn	立秋	Liqiu	August 7, 2026	Autumn	The traditional start of autumn, even while hot weather may continue.	Read guide
End of Heat	处暑	Chushu	August 23, 2026	Autumn	Summer heat begins to fade and seasonal routines shift toward autumn.	Read guide
White Dew	白露	Bailu	September 7, 2026	Autumn	Cooler mornings and dew show the arrival of deeper autumn conditions.	Read guide
Autumn Equinox	秋分	Qiufen	September 22, 2026	Autumn	Day and night are nearly equal as autumn reaches its midpoint.	Read guide
Cold Dew	寒露	Hanlu	October 8, 2026	Autumn	Dew becomes colder, pointing toward late-autumn chill and harvest completion.	Read guide
Frost Descent	霜降	Shuangjiang	October 23, 2026	Autumn	The approach of frost marks a clear transition toward winter.	Read guide
Start of Winter	立冬	Lidong	November 7, 2026	Winter	The traditional beginning of winter and a shift toward storage and rest.	Read guide
Minor Snow	小雪	Xiaoxue	November 22, 2026	Winter	Early winter cold may bring light snow or snow-like signs in northern regions.	Read guide
Major Snow	大雪	Daxue	December 7, 2026	Winter	Colder weather and heavier snow signs become more likely in the seasonal calendar.	Read guide
Winter Solstice	冬至	Dongzhi	December 21, 2026	Winter	The shortest daylight period, connected with family foods and the return of longer days.	Read guide

How to Read the 24 Solar Terms Calendar

The 24 solar terms divide the year by the sun’s movement, not by lunar months. Each term is about 15 degrees apart along the sun’s apparent path, so the system is especially useful for understanding seasons, weather signs, farming rhythm, food customs, and traditional festivals.

In traditional order, the sequence begins with Start of Spring. In a Gregorian-year date table, however, January terms such as Minor Cold and Major Cold appear first because they occur at the beginning of 2026.

Why the 2026 Calendar Matters

People search for a 24 solar terms calendar because they want exact dates, not only cultural background. A complete 2026 date table helps readers check when Qingming, Grain Rain, Summer Solstice, White Dew, Winter Solstice, and other terms happen during the year.

The calendar also connects practical topics across this site: solar terms food customs, farming traditions, weather and nature signs, and seasonal wellness.

2026 Solar Terms by Season

Spring terms in 2026 run from Start of Spring through Grain Rain. They are useful for reading renewal, rain, planting, Qingming customs, and spring foods.

Summer terms run from Start of Summer through Major Heat. They explain heat, humidity, longer daylight, field work, and summer food customs.

Autumn terms run from Start of Autumn through Frost Descent. They connect harvest, dew, moon culture, cooling air, and preparation for winter.

Winter terms run from Start of Winter through Major Cold. They focus on cold weather, snow signs, storage, rest, family foods, and the Winter Solstice.

Calendar Basics: Lunar, Solar, or Lunisolar?

If you want to understand why the 24 solar terms use solar timing while many festivals use lunar dates, read Is the Chinese Calendar Lunar or Solar?. It explains how lunar months and solar terms work together in the traditional Chinese calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 2026 24 solar terms dates?

The table above lists all 24 solar terms for 2026, from Minor Cold on January 5 to Winter Solstice on December 21, with links to individual term guides.

Are the 24 solar terms lunar or solar?

The 24 solar terms are solar markers. They are based on the sun’s position, while many traditional Chinese festivals use lunar-month timing.

Why do some solar term dates differ by one day?

Solar terms are astronomical moments, so the displayed date can differ by time zone. A term that falls late at night in one region may appear on the next calendar day in another region.

Where can I learn the meaning of each solar term?

Use the links in the table to open each term guide, or start from the complete 24 Solar Terms guide.

How is this different from the Chinese lunar calendar?

The lunar calendar tracks months by moon phases. The 24 solar terms track seasonal change by the sun, which is why they are useful for dates, farming, weather, and seasonal customs.