Chinese New Year Greetings 2026: Year of the Horse Wishes in English

With the arrival of the Bingwu Year of the Horse in 2026, Hong Kong is buzzing with energy. As we prepare to reunite with family, exchange Lai See (red packets), or jet off for a Lunar New Year holiday, finding the right words is essential. A gracious, heartfelt message is the key to unlocking good luck for the year ahead.

Trip.com has curated the ultimate guide to Chinese New Year greetings, pairing traditional blessings with modern wishes and travel tips. Whether you are staying in the city or travelling abroad, get ready to set yourself up for instant success in the Year of the Horse.

Best Chinese New Year Greetings in English 2026

As we step into the Year of the Horse, traditional four-character idioms remain the most elegant way to convey respect to elders, clients, and family. Here are the essential Chinese New Year greetings in English 2026 to help you sound polished and culturally astute.

Traditional Chinese New Year Greetings Quotes

For the Year of the Horse, these idioms capture the spirit of speed, strength, and success.

• Dragon-Horse Spirit (Lóng Mǎ Jīng Shén): The quintessential blessing for 2026. It wishes the recipient vitality, endless energy, and the robust health of a dragon and horse.
• Instant Success (Mǎ Dào Chéng Gōng): A wish for immediate victory. May you succeed the moment you arrive—perfect for those starting new ventures.
• Ten Thousand Horses Galloping (Wàn Mǎ Bèn Téng): A vivid image of awe-inspiring momentum. Wish someone a career that surges ahead swiftly and powerfully.
• Leading the Pack (Yī Mǎ Dāng Xiān): Praise for someone who is a pioneer in their field.
• A Thousand-Mile Horse (Qiān Lǐ Mǎ): May your unique talents be recognized by a mentor who truly appreciates your potential.

Timeless Classics for Any Occasion

• Safe and sound, year after year (Suì Suì Píng Ān): A heartfelt wish for safety, suitable for all ages.
• May all your wishes come true (Xīn Xiǎng Shì Chéng): A universal blessing that hopes reality aligns with the recipient's dreams.
• Great Fortune and Prosperity (Dà Jí Dà Lì): Symbolizes good luck and smooth sailing in all endeavours.

Chinese New Year Wishes in English for Business

In Hong Kong’s fast-paced corporate world, sending the right Chinese New Year greetings is vital for maintaining client relationships and enhancing your professional image.

For Business Partners

• "As we celebrate the Year of the Horse, thank you for your unwavering support. May your company charge ahead at full gallop in 2026, with business booming and swift success!"
• "Wishing you a prosperous Year of the Horse. May your career advance rapidly, and may you reach new peaks of success."

For Managers and Leaders

• "Thank you for your guidance over the past year. Wishing you Chinese New Year greetings filled with vibrant energy and good health as you lead our team to greater achievements."
• "Wishing our leader great fortune in the Year of the Horse—may you lead the charge and achieve instant success in all your projects."

Chinese New Year Greetings for Friends & Social Media

If you are chatting on WhatsApp, catching up with besties, or posting on Instagram, traditional idioms can feel too formal. Here are some Chinese New Year greetings for friends that are creative, fun, and perfect for the modern Hong Konger.

Creative and Pun-Based Messages

• "Money Arrives on Horseback" (Mǎ Shàng Yǒu Qián): A clever play on words implying that wealth is arriving immediately.
• "Gallop into Romance": The perfect wish for your single friends looking for love this year.
• "Giddy-up to a Getaway": For the office workers craving a holiday—Trip.com is ready when you are!
• "Happy 'New Ma' Year!": A playful pun using "Ma" (Horse) in place of "Year," perfect for close colleagues and friends.

Artsy & Hipster Chinese New Year Greetings Quotes

• "In 2026, may you ride at full gallop toward your own sea of stars."
• "As the Year of the Horse begins, may every effort echo with success, and may your dreams cross the finish line first."

Essential Chinese New Year Phrases Cantonese

For readers living in Hong Kong or visiting for the holidays, knowing a few phrases in the local tongue is a must. Here are the top Chinese New Year phrases Cantonese speakers use.

1. Kung Hei Fat Choy (Gong Xi Fa Cai): Wishing you prosperity and wealth. The gold standard of greetings.
2. Sun Tai Gin Hong (Shen Ti Jian Kang): Wishing you good health.
3. Lung Ma Jing Sun (Long Ma Jing Shen): Wishing you the spirit/energy of the dragon and horse. (Use this for 2026!)
4. Ma Dao Sing Gung (Ma Dao Cheng Gong): Wishing you instant success.
5. Bo Bo Go Sing (Bu Bu Gao Sheng): May you rise higher with every step (great for career promotions).

Chinese New Year Greeting Card Message Guide

Crafting a physical card or a thoughtful e-card requires a personal touch. Here is how to structure a Chinese New Year greeting card message for different people in your life.

• For Seniors: "Dear Grandma and Grandpa, wishing you the boundless energy of the Horse in 2026. May the new year bring you smiles every day and blessings as vast as the ocean."
• For Your Partner: "With you, the Year of the Horse is the best adventure yet. In 2026, let’s saddle up and roam the world together. May our love gallop to success."
• For Kids: "Wishing you a bright and quick-witted Year of the Horse! May you gallop ahead in your studies and grow up healthy and strong."

Etiquette: Lai See and Visiting Dos and Don’ts

Beyond Chinese New Year greetings, understanding local etiquette is crucial. In Hong Kong, the tradition of giving Lai See (red envelopes) has specific rules.

• The Amount: Avoid odd numbers. Stick to crisp banknotes in even amounts (HK$20, $50, $100, or $500).
• The Design: Since it is 2026, choose envelopes featuring golden steeds or "Dragon-Horse Spirit" calligraphy.
• The Hierarchy: Elders give to juniors; married couples give to singles; managers give to staff.
• The Taboos: Avoid negative words like "lose," "poor," or "sick." If a dish breaks, immediately say Suì Suì Píng Ān (Peace year after year) to turn the accident into a blessing.

Where to celebrate: 2026 Top Picks for the Year of the Horse

Now that you have mastered your Chinese New Year greetings, put them to use at these auspicious destinations recommended by Trip.com.

Hong Kong Jockey Club: Lunar New Year Race Day

• Location: Sha Tin Racecourse
• Highlights: This is the most authentic and representative event of the Year of the Horse. On the third day of the Lunar New Year, head to the racetrack to catch the action—an auspicious way to “lead the pack” in the year ahead. Beyond the thrilling races, you’ll also see traditional lion dance performances and appearances by popular celebrities, making it the perfect place to soak up that “success at full gallop” vibe.
• Common well-wishes: Strike it rich at the racetrack, hit the jackpot with a single bet, and achieve instant success.

Photo credit: Hong Kong Tourism Board official website

Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade (Float Parade)

• Location: Main streets of Tsim Sha Tsui
• Highlights: After a long hiatus, the iconic float parade returns in 2026—bigger than ever. Dazzling floats infused with Year of the Horse elements and performance troupes from around the world will turn Tsim Sha Tsui into a giant carnival. We recommend booking a hotel in the Tsim Sha Tsui area through Trip.com in advance so you can experience this visual feast up close.
• Keywords: Festive vibes, prosperity all around.

Image source: Official website of the Hong Kong Tourism Board

Lunar New Year Fireworks Display

• Location: Victoria Harbour
• Highlights: The Lunar New Year fireworks over Victoria Harbour on the second day of the holiday are an icon of Hong Kong’s celebrations. Watching the dazzling bursts light up the night sky symbolizes fortunes in the Year of the Horse blazing bright. We recommend taking in the show from the Star Ferry, or booking a harbor-view restaurant on either side of Victoria Harbour to savor the moment—and make your New Year wishes—over great food and gorgeous views.
• Common well-wishes: May good fortune be with you, and may your future be bright and full of promise.

Image credit: Hong Kong Tourism Board official website

Lam Tsuen Wishing Festival

• Location: Lam Tsuen, Tai Po
• Highlights: This is one of Hong Kong’s most authentic local experiences. You can write your wishes on a wish card, tie it to a tangerine, and toss it onto the Wishing Tree. In the Year of the Horse, many locals especially pray for the “dragon-horse spirit” and for family harmony.
• Trip.com tip: During Chinese New Year, travel to and from Lam Tsuen (Tai Po) gets busier than usual. We recommend setting out early or taking public transportation and making transfers as needed.

Photo credit: Hong Kong Tourism Board official website

Ngong Ping 360: Grand Parade of Good Fortune for the Year of the Horse

• Our Destination: Ngong Ping 360
• Highlights: Ride the Ngong Ping Cable Car up to Ngong Ping Village to experience limited-time Year of the Horse festivities. You’ll often find traditional handicraft stalls and good-luck decorations, and at this higher elevation you can breathe in the fresh mountain air—a symbolic nod to “rising higher with every step.”
• Common well-wishes: May you keep rising, step by step, and stay safe and sound.

Image source: the Hong Kong Economic Times official website

2026 Year of the Horse Good-Luck Travel Spots in Mainland China

In 2026—the Year of the Fire Horse—cities across China are unveiling standout Lunar New Year celebrations. Trip.com has handpicked a few popular, good-luck–themed destinations so you can feel the exhilarating “ten-thousand-horses-galloping” festive spirit firsthand on your journey.

Tibet - Mount Kailash: The Grand Year of the Horse Circumambulation

• Auspicious significance: According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Year of the Horse is the zodiac year of Shakyamuni Buddha and is also regarded as the sacred mountain Mount Kailash’s own year. In 2026, which is the once-every-12-years Great Horse Year, circumambulating the mountain (kora) is believed to accumulate unsurpassed merit.
• Must-visit attractions: Mount Kailash and Jokhang Temple.
• Common well-wishes: May your merits be complete, Tashi Delek, and may your blessings and wisdom grow.

Xi’an – Grand Tang Dynasty Everbright City: Experience the Horse Boulevard of the Tang Dynasty’s Golden Age

• Auspicious significance: Xi’an (historically known as Chang’an) had a profound connection with horses during the Tang Dynasty. Watching the magnificent lantern displays and performances at the Grand Tang Dynasty Everbright City feels like stepping back into a golden age when envoys from many lands came to pay tribute and a bold, take-the-lead spirit reigned.
• Must-see attractions: Xi'an City Wall and the Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Warriors).
• Common well-wishes: May your grand plans unfold; wishing you peace and good health in prosperous times.

Beijing – The Palace Museum: Exploring Imperial Equestrian Culture

• Good-luck symbolism: As China’s historic capital, Beijing’s Forbidden City holds a trove of horse-themed relics and artworks. Celebrate Lunar New Year in Beijing and savor the traditional holiday spirit in the shadow of the imperial city—an experience that symbolizes strong roots and a steady foundation.
• Must-see sights: the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven.
• Common well-wishes: May everything go your way; Auspicious fortune rises from the East.

Inner Mongolia – Hulunbuir: Experience the exhilaration of galloping across the grasslands

• Auspicious meaning: In the Year of the Horse, there’s nothing more fitting than heading to the vast grasslands. On winter’s snowy plains, watch herds of horses thunder past—experience the true rush of a thousand galloping steeds—and infuse the new year with powerful momentum.
• Must-visit spots: the Hulunbuir Grassland and Matryoshka Square in Manzhouli.
• Common well-wishes: Aim high and go the distance; roam the world far and wide.

Chengdu - Wuhou Shrine: Seeking the Wisdom Behind Swift Success

• Good-luck significance: Wuhou Shrine isn’t just a sacred site for Three Kingdoms culture—it also symbolizes the wisdom of strategy and success. Chengdu’s laid-back Lunar New Year vibe, paired with traditional temple fairs, makes it a top pick for a family getaway.
• Must-visit attractions: Chengdu’s Wuhou Shrine and the Wide and Narrow Alleys.
• Common well-wishes: May you have both wisdom and courage, and may success come swiftly.

2026 Year of the Horse Overseas Wish-Making Travel Guide

In 2026—the spirited “Fire Horse” year—crossing borders to soak up festive vibes abroad is many travelers’ go-to way to spark good fortune. Trip.com has handpicked a lineup of international destinations with special Year of the Horse significance, so you can gather plenty of New Year blessings on the road and kick off a bold, brilliant year ahead.

Japan: Soak in Arima Onsen and Seek Blessings at Senso-ji Temple

• Lucky Significance: Arima Onsen, whose name contains the character for "horse," is an especially auspicious destination to visit during the Year of the Horse, symbolizing "washing away the mundane and achieving immediate success." Afterwards, you can head to Tokyo's Senso-ji Temple to draw a New Year's fortune slip, praying for peace and safety throughout the year.
• Common well-wishes: May you be brimming with vitality, enjoy good health, and have a home filled with abundance and prosperity.
• Booking tip: Japan’s hotels fill up fast around Chinese New Year 2026—secure your stay on Trip.com 3 months in advance.

Thailand: Bangkok’s Chinatown and the Erawan Shrine

• Good-luck meaning: Bangkok’s Chinatown comes alive during Lunar New Year with grand dragon and lion dances and Year of the Horse–themed lantern displays. Pay a visit to the Erawan Shrine (the Four-Faced Buddha) to make a wish—symbolizing a new year in which your career, finances, relationships, and health all gallop ahead.
• Popular well-wishes: Great luck and prosperity; may wealth and treasures come your way; and may everything go as you wish.

Malaysia: A Prosperity Toss (Yee Sang) Feast in Kuala Lumpur

• Auspicious meaning: In Singapore and Malaysia, the Lo Hei (Yusheng) prosperity toss is a tradition rich with ceremony. In Kuala Lumpur’s hotels and restaurants, everyone lifts their chopsticks and shouts New Year blessings as they toss the colorful ingredients high—signifying hopes that fortunes soar and success flourishes in the year ahead.
• Common blessings: May you ride a wave of success, find gold wherever you go, and enjoy abundance year after year.

How to Properly Toss Yusheng | Lianhe Zaobao

South Korea: Hanbok Cultural Experience at Gyeongbokgung Palace

• Auspicious meaning: Korea also celebrates Lunar New Year. Slip into an elegant hanbok and step into Gyeongbokgung Palace to experience the local tradition of sebae (New Year’s bows), symbolizing that in the year ahead, courtesies will be graciously reciprocated and your network will expand with unstoppable momentum—like a thundering herd of galloping horses.
• Common well-wishes: Peace and safety year after year, may all your wishes come true, and may good fortune shine upon you.

Singapore: Lunar New Year Floral Display at Gardens by the Bay

• Lucky symbolism: Every year, Gardens by the Bay hosts a large-scale dahlia bloom exhibition. Paired with Year of the Horse-themed art installations, it bursts with life and energy—symbolizing your career galloping ahead in the Year of the Horse.
• Common well-wishes: Prosperity in full bloom, and a future as bright and splendid as brocade.

Image source: Lianhe Zaobao

New Year Greetings | How Regional Traditions Differ in 2026

Even though everyone may be speaking Cantonese or Chinese, different regions celebrate the Year of the Horse in their own ways—and the emphasis of their New Year greetings varies slightly.

Hong Kong and Macau

• A key highlight? It's all about embracing 'good omens' and auspiciousness! Beyond heartfelt verbal blessings, you'll discover homes adorned with elegant narcissus flowers and vibrant kumquat plants, symbolizing prosperity. And keep an eye out for the 'fai chun' – those festive red banners often inscribed with powerful wishes like 'May success come swiftly!'
• Must-say phrases: Wishing you prosperity, and red envelopes, please.

Malaysia and Singapore

• Highlight: The must-do tradition is “lo hei”—tossing yusheng (raw fish salad).
• Blessings: During the yusheng toss, say a New Year blessing with every ingredient you add—such as “great luck and prosperity” or “may riches abound.”

New Year Greetings | 2026 Year of the Horse FAQs

What is the Chinese zodiac sign for 2026?

2026 is the Bingwu year in the Chinese lunar calendar—the Year of the Horse.

What’s the luckiest color for the Year of the Horse?

According to traditional folklore, the Year of the Horse corresponds to the fire element (Bing Fire). Red, orange, and purple are typically considered lucky colors—perfect to use when choosing New Year greeting cards or wrapping gifts.

When’s the best time to send New Year wishes?

The late-night hours of Lunar New Year’s Eve (the 30th day of the lunar year) through the morning of the first day are the golden window. Business partners recommend sending on the last working day before the Lunar New Year break, or when businesses reopen on the fourth or fifth day of the new year.

If it’s your zodiac year and you’re a Horse, is there anything in particular to watch out for?

If it’s your zodiac year—often called “Fan Tai Sui”—tradition suggests wearing a red string or visiting a temple (like Wong Tai Sin Temple) to pray for blessings and safety. As for auspicious well-wishes, hearing the phrase “Longma Jingshen” is believed to give your luck a lift.