The Year of the Goat 2027 begins on Saturday 6 February 2027, the day of Lunar New Year. It is a Fire Goat year, and the Goat is also called the Sheep or the Ram depending on who you ask. The Year of the Fire Horse, 2026, runs until 5 February 2027. Use the finder below to see which animal you are, including the Lunar New Year cut-off that catches people born in January and early February.
Chinese zodiac finder
What’s your animal?
The Chinese year starts at Lunar New Year, not 1 January, so January and early February birthdays can belong to the year before. Enter your full birth date.
When does the Chinese year actually start?
The Chinese zodiac follows the lunar calendar, so the year changes at Lunar New Year and not on 1 January. Lunar New Year falls on the second new moon after the December solstice. For 2027 that new moon lands on 6 February in China, which is why the date is Saturday 6 February 2027. Our sky data checks it against the January and March new moons either side.
Here is how the cut-off plays out. Someone born on 15 January 2003 is a Horse, because the Goat year of 2003 only began on 1 February that year. Likewise, anyone born between 1 January and 5 February 2027 will belong to the Horse, not the Goat. A baby born on 6 February 2027 or later is a Fire Goat.
Many Aussies use their calendar-year animal without checking. If your birthday sits in January or early February, run it through the finder above before you buy the red envelopes.
What makes 2027 a Fire Goat year?
The zodiac runs on a 60-year cycle that pairs each of the 12 animals with one of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. 2027 pairs the Goat with Fire. In Chinese folklore, a Fire year is warm, social and a bit unpredictable, while the Goat brings gentleness, creativity and a love of home. Commentators tend to describe a Fire Goat year as one for friendship, art and generosity rather than rushing.
Treat all of that as tradition and fun, the same way you would read a star sign. Nobody can know what a year will bring, and no animal or element changes the odds of anything.
The 12 animals: numbers, colours and character
Here are the 12 animals with the numbers and colours that Chinese folklore links to each. Published lists differ a little from source to source, and you will see the number 4 on some of them even though it has an unlucky reputation (more on that below). Take the table as a bit of cultural colour, not a rulebook.
| Animal | Recent years | Traditional lucky numbers | Traditional lucky colours | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | 1996, 2008, 2020 | 2, 3 | Blue, gold, green | Quick-witted and resourceful |
| Ox | 1997, 2009, 2021 | 1, 4 | Blue, white, green | Steady, patient and dependable |
| Tiger | 1998, 2010, 2022 | 1, 3, 4 | Blue, grey, orange | Bold, competitive and restless |
| Rabbit | 1999, 2011, 2023 | 3, 4, 6 | Red, pink, purple | Gentle, tactful and a good host |
| Dragon | 2000, 2012, 2024 | 1, 6, 7 | Gold, silver, grey | Confident, energetic and proud |
| Snake | 2001, 2013, 2025 | 2, 8, 9 | Black, red, yellow | Thoughtful, private and sharp-eyed |
| Horse | 2002, 2014, 2026 | 2, 3, 7 | Yellow, green | Free-spirited, sociable and quick to move |
| Goat | 2003, 2015, 2027 | 3, 4, 9 | Brown, red, purple | Creative, kind and a little shy |
| Monkey | 2004, 2016, 2028 | 1, 7, 8 | White, blue, gold | Playful, curious and inventive |
| Rooster | 2005, 2017, 2029 | 5, 7, 8 | Gold, brown, yellow | Organised, honest and a bit of a performer |
| Dog | 2006, 2018, 2030 | 3, 4, 9 | Red, green, purple | Loyal, fair-minded and protective |
| Pig | 2007, 2019, 2031 | 2, 5, 8 | Yellow, grey, gold | Generous, easygoing and warm |
Remember that the Chinese year counts from Lunar New Year, so the first weeks of a calendar year can belong to the previous animal. The years in the table are the years each animal’s cycle begins, so check the exact date if your birthday falls in January or February.
How the Goat year sits with each animal
Traditionally, the animals that pair most easily with the Goat are the Horse, Rabbit and Pig. The Horse is its partner in the “six harmonies”, and the Rabbit and Pig make up its friendly triangle of three. The Ox is the animal folklore sets against the Goat, so Ox people are the ones you will hear told to be careful or to wear something red in 2027.
People born in a Goat year (1991, 2003, 2015) are in what the tradition calls their birth year, and by custom they wear or carry red for luck. The Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Monkey, Rooster and Dog have no special pairing with the Goat, so the year is read as neutral for them. All of it is folklore, and a fun reason to buy a mate a red pair of socks.
How Aussies celebrate Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year is one of the biggest celebrations on the Australian calendar for people of Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and other Asian backgrounds, and plenty of other Aussies join in. The Sydney Lunar Festival runs over several weeks with lantern displays, markets and a dragon boat race. Melbourne celebrates in Chinatown and out at Box Hill, while Brisbane and Adelaide hold their own street events and food nights.
We have not listed 2027 event dates because organisers publish them closer to the time. Check your local council or festival site in January. Expect lion dances, firecracker shows, plenty of dumplings and a very busy yum cha on the day.
Red envelopes, number 8 and the number 4
Red envelopes (hongbao or lai see) are given to children and unmarried relatives for luck and goodwill. Red stands for good fortune, and traditionally the amount inside is an even figure that avoids a 4. Some families also hand them to staff and neighbours over the first days of the new year.
The number 8 is the star of the show. In Cantonese and Mandarin it sounds like the word for prosperity, which is why 8s turn up on phone numbers, house numbers and shop signs. The number 4 sounds like the word for death, so many buildings skip it and many people avoid it. These are word-sound associations, a charming bit of language, and they carry no power over anything else. See our lucky numbers page for how numbers feature in other traditions.
Asian-themed pokies to try in free demo mode
Plenty of pokies lean on Lunar New Year imagery: dragons, lanterns, gold coins and red and gold reels. If you fancy a themed session, try Dragon Dance in free demo mode, where no money is involved at all. We also have an info page on Lightning Link, a popular Asian-flavoured series. There is no official free demo of Lightning Link, so that page is information only. You can browse more themes on our free pokies page.
Pokies run on a random number generator (RNG), so every spin is an independent result that no date, sign or number can influence. Lunar New Year, your animal and your lucky number make no difference to the result. Set a time limit, treat the session as entertainment, and finish when you are done.
If gambling isn’t fun any more, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. You can read more on our responsible gambling page.
Questions people ask
When is Lunar New Year 2027?
Lunar New Year 2027 falls on Saturday 6 February 2027, the date of the new moon in China. It is the first day of the Year of the Fire Goat. The Year of the Fire Horse, 2026, ends on 5 February 2027.
What animal is 2027 in the Chinese zodiac?
2027 is the Year of the Goat, specifically the Fire Goat. The Goat is also called the Sheep or Ram, because the Chinese character can be read either way. The year starts at Lunar New Year, 6 February 2027.
Which Chinese zodiac animal am I if I was born in January?
Because the Chinese year starts at Lunar New Year, people born in January or early February usually belong to the previous year’s animal. A baby born on 15 January 2003 is a Horse, not a Goat. Use the animal finder on this page to check your date.
What are the lucky numbers and colours for the Goat?
In Chinese folklore, the Goat is linked to the numbers 3, 4 and 9 and the colours brown, red and purple. Lists vary between sources, so treat them as tradition. They have no effect on pokie results or anything else.
Why is 8 lucky and 4 unlucky in Chinese culture?
The word for 8 sounds like the word for prosperity in Chinese, so 8 is considered fortunate. The word for 4 sounds like the word for death, so many people avoid it. It is a language association, not a rule about luck.
Can Lunar New Year or my zodiac animal change my chances on the pokies?
No. Pokies use a random number generator, and every spin is independent of the date, your animal or your lucky number. Play for entertainment, set a budget, and call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 if it isn’t fun any more.
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