Mid-Autumn Festival2026 · Date · History · Messages
The General Office of China’s State Council sets the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival public-holiday period at 25–27 September.
About Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival is observed on the fifteenth day of the eighth month in the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar; the corresponding Gregorian date changes from year to year.
In 2026, the festival falls on September 25 in mainland China, and the mainland's official public-holiday period runs September 25–27. This three-day schedule must not be generalized to every Chinese-speaking community or future year.
Why Mid-Autumn Festival matters
Communities mark Mid-Autumn with family gatherings, moon appreciation, lanterns and festival foods, but practices differ by region and family.
The festival has a long cultural history; later government public-holiday arrangements are not proof of an original single founder or first edition.
History of Mid-Autumn Festival
The traditional Mid-Autumn date is linked to a lunar-month festival calendar; exact historic beginnings are complex and should not be assigned to one modern organizer.
For 2026, a Shanghai municipal government publication dates the festival itself to September 25.
The General Office of China's State Council scheduled the mainland public-holiday break for September 25 through September 27, 2026. Other jurisdictions, such as Macao, may observe the day after the festival under different rules.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
7 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe Mid-Autumn Festival
Check the target year's festival date and your local official holiday schedule before arranging time off.
Share seasonal foods while checking ingredient, nut, sugar and allergy needs.
Enjoy lantern and moon-viewing activities safely and respect fire and public-space restrictions.
Learn the stories and customs of the specific region or family rather than presenting one practice as universal.
Mid-Autumn Festival Facts
The festival follows the fifteenth day of the eighth traditional lunar month.
In mainland China, the 2026 festival date is September 25.
The 2026 mainland public holiday lasts September 25–27.
The festival date and the official days off must be verified anew each year and for each jurisdiction.
Mid-Autumn Festival Messages
Wishing everyone celebrating Mid-Autumn a peaceful evening beneath the moon.
May the Mid-Autumn season bring warmth to the people and places you cherish.
May this year's festival invite good food, shared stories and a quiet moment outdoors.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Confirm the date again before carrying it into a new year.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Beijing Government reproduction of State Council 2026 Public Holidays (opens in a new tab)
National Government Calendar
Shanghai municipal government — September 25 festival date in 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Wave 370 Primary Evidence
State Council General Office — 2026 holiday arrangement (opens in a new tab)
Wave 370 Primary Evidence
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Mid-Autumn Festival?
25–27 September 2026 public-holiday period The documented recurrence rule is: Refresh the authoritative target-year edition/schedule; current stored evidence: 25–27 September 2026 public-holiday period.
Does Mid-Autumn Festival fall on the same date every year?
Not automatically. This date is specific to a particular edition and should be confirmed for another year.
Is Mid-Autumn Festival an official public holiday?
Within the reviewed scope, it is identified as 15th of eighth Chinese lunar month; mainland China 2026 festival Sept 25 and statutory break Sept 25–27; other regions differ. That status is not automatically extended to other countries or jurisdictions.
Who established or recognizes Mid-Autumn Festival?
The documented basis is: The General Office of China’s State Council sets the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival public-holiday period at 25–27 September.. Supporting evidence includes Beijing Government reproduction of State Council 2026 Public Holidays. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is Mid-Autumn Festival international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: 15th of eighth Chinese lunar month; mainland China 2026 festival Sept 25 and statutory break Sept 25–27; other regions differ. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-08.
When is Mid-Autumn Festival in 2026?
September 25, 2026 in mainland China.
What days are off in mainland China?
The government calendar lists September 25–27, 2026 as the public-holiday period.
Does it always fall in September?
No. The Gregorian date changes because the festival follows a lunisolar calendar.
Does every region observe the same public holiday?
No. Cultural celebrations and legal holiday dates vary by jurisdiction.