When is Chinese New Year?
In 2026, Chinese New Year falls on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. It is classified here as a Indonesian public holiday.
History of Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year, known in Indonesia as Tahun Baru Imlek, is a national public holiday that acknowledges the longstanding place of Chinese Indonesian communities in the country’s social and cultural life. The date follows the Chinese lunisolar calendar and marks a season of renewal, reunion, gratitude and hope for prosperity.
Families may share reunion meals, visit relatives and attend klenteng or temple services, while public spaces in areas with strong Chinese Indonesian heritage can feature red lanterns, barongsai lion dances and festive markets. Practices vary between Confucian, Buddhist, Taoist and other families as well as regions. The holiday's national recognition followed earlier periods when public Chinese cultural expression was restricted, making contemporary celebration part of a broader history of citizenship and cultural visibility.
Tahun Baru Imlek 2577 Kongzili falls on Tuesday, February 17 in the 2026 SKB. Monday, February 16 is separately designated cuti bersama and canonicalised to this guide; it is not a second national holiday. Civil servants follow the presidential collective-leave framework, while private-company implementation is decided by management and normally involves annual leave. Banks, shopping centres and transport operators may adopt different schedules during the two-day sequence.
How Chinese New Year is observed
A nationwide national public holiday on February 17 in 2026, preceded by separately regulated collective leave on February 16.
Traditions of Chinese New Year
Reunion meals
Chinese Indonesian families gather for a shared meal, visit elders and exchange greetings expressing health, harmony and prosperity for the year.
Klenteng and temple visits
Participating families visit klenteng or temples for prayer, incense and offerings according to their own religious and family tradition.
Red decorations and barongsai
Lanterns, red-and-gold decorations, barongsai lion dances and festive foods enliven neighbourhoods, malls and public cultural programmes in many cities.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Indonesian official and legal guidance. Lunar dates and annual joint-ministerial, government or employer schedules should be confirmed against official notices.
History sources: Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture: 2026 national holidays and collective leave, Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform: Joint Ministerial Decree No. 5 of 2025, State Secretariat: 2026 Joint Ministerial Decree, Ministry of Manpower legal database: Ministerial Decision No. 2 of 2025.
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