2026 Year of the Fire Horse

The Year of the Bing Wu/Fire Horse, (also known as the Crimson Horse) will occur from 17 February 2026 (via the Lunar Calendar) and from 3/4 February 2026, (via the Solar HSIA Calendar) depending on where you live.  In Brisbane Australia, the Bing Wu solar year begins from 06:02 on 4 February, however in London UK it begins from 20:02 on 3 February 2025.  The Lunar Calendar is used for traditional Chinese New Year celebrations and the Solar Calendar is used when calculating the annual Feng Shui energy flow of the year and 4 Pillars/BaZi Astrology outlook for individuals.

The Horse year begins with significant planetary action including Saturn shifting into Aries mid-February, and a New Moon eclipse in Aquarius occurring on the Lunar New Year.  This indicates the beginning of massive systemic change and the dissolution of outdated structures while making way for new innovation, rebellion against autocratic leadership and the potential to build bridges via increased ‘people power’.  

Wu (Horse) is Yang Fire with the hidden elements of Yin Fire and Yin Earth, while the Bing Heavenly Stem is Yang Fire.   Fire element will be strong this year and indicates a higher probability of increased heat and fire-related incidents (eg bush fires, explosions, solar storms etc) as well as health issues connected with the heart, eyes, inflammation and blood pressure. 

Fire element is an ascending, upward rising Qi that also supports increased volatility in the stock market, enhanced creativity, authoritative and/or self-confident leadership as well as rebellion against restrictions. 

When the annual Wu (Horse) energy meets individuals or months/days/hours with Yin (Tiger) and Xu (Dog) energy, the element of Fire is very strong indeed, which can be draining for many, however it can also open doors to opportunity if you are able to harness and productively use Fire element according to your personal 4 Pillars Astrology. 

The Melodic Element for the year is Celestial River: Sky Water of the Milky Way and this indicates support for flexible thinkers and those who are adaptable and emotionally sensitive while avoiding impulsive/reactionary words or actions.

Individuals born on the day or year of Xin (Yin Metal) have access to Nobleman energy during the Wu (Horse year), making this a favourable time to connect with a mentor and like-minded individuals who support and motive you, gain expert training and/or advice and generally receive assistance in life when needed, if you are open to accepting a helping hand from others.

The Wei (Goat) energy combines favourably with the annual Wu (Horse) year Qi and indicates opportunity for joint ventures, teamwork and partnerships.   

Those born with Yin (Tiger) or Xu (Dog) in their day or year Pillar of birth will also experience opportunity connected with networking and teamwork during the Wu (Horse) year.

If you have Wu (Horse) present in your 4 Pillars Birth chart, the energy of Self Penalty comes into play this year and you should be careful to avoid self-sabotaging via negative self-talk, impulsive decisions/reactions and over-indulgence and remember – actions have consequences.  You should focus on the quality of choices that you make throughout the year and consciously choose that which supports your personal health and wellbeing, while avoiding emotionally driven reactionary words and actions.

Those born on the day of Yi (Yin Wood), receive academic/increased intelligence support during the Wu (Horse) year. 

Those born on the day or year of You (Rooster), Chou (Ox) or Si (Snake) are more likely to experience increased social interaction, networking luck and romantic encounters.

Chou (Ox) individuals need to be wary of feeling left out or taken for granted this year and the Mao (Rabbit) individual needs to avoid getting caught up in gossip/office politics this year or they may end up feeling compelled to seek an alternative workplace.

If you have Zi (Rat) in your 4 Pillars Birth Chart, the energy of change will be strong for you this year, (with emphasis on the emotions/relationships).  How the change energy affects you personally depends on where Zi (Rat) is located in your 4 Pillars Birth chart.  If you have Zi (Rat) in your year or month of birth pillar, then the change energy is external and will connect with your professional persona, workplace, social circle, industry and/or target market.  If you have Zi (Rat) in your day or hour of birth pillar, then the energy of change will be felt internally and is more likely to affect personal relationships, your home environment, mental health and/or relationship with children, assets and/or investments.

Calculate your personal 4 Pillars Birth Chart via the link in this Article

We are now on the fast track towards 5 key tipping points leading us towards massive world change: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Real Time Communications, Clean/Sustainable Energy and Bioengineering.  As machines get faster, smarter and more capable, our real advantage isn’t trying to out-compute them — it’s doubling down on what makes us human (eg the ability to read a room, hold nuance, sit with uncertainty, build trust, make values-based decisions and imagine entirely new possibilities). 

Empathy, complex negotiation, creative problem solving, ethical judgment and critical strategic thinking are areas where humans are more likely to excel.  Unique hand-crafted talents will also become more valuable and highly sought after.

The pragmatic optimist in me imagines the future not as humans versus AI but as humans having the potential to harness AI to advance health and wellbeing as well as gaining the tools and insight towards building more sustainable agriculture, clean sources of power and a better standard of living across the world, without relying so heavily on earth’s limited natural resources. 

From a general political perspective, what the world needs now are leaders who can help us navigate away from autocratic, extremist points of view towards a more humane state of collective respect, tolerance, compassion and community.  When looking towards the future we can learn from the past, and in the case of 4 Pillars Astrology, the previous Bing Wu/Fire Horse year occurred in 1966.  If you do a simple google search on significant and inspiring leaders and world events that occurred that year, you will gain some insight as to general themes that are more likely to occur this year.

From a Feng Shui perspective, generally speaking, the North and South sectors of your home, business and property are where you will need to be most careful to avoid triggering negative energy via construction or excavation during the Bing Wu (Fire Horse) solar year.

If you tend to spend a lot of time in the South sector, it will be helpful to remove any dominant colour from the red spectrum and add more metal element (via white, gold, silver, golden yellow, brass, bronze, pewter colour, metallic ornaments that are round or curved in shape and the regular sound of relaxing piano music playing on a low volume).

There are ways to help reduce negative energy once disturbed, via activation of the annual Tai Yang qi, the strategic use of Sun Ceremony timing connected to the specific building and its compass orientation as well as via your personal 4 Pillars Astrology and personalised Date Selection, and an accredited Xuan Kong Fei Xing Feng Shui Consultant can help you with this.

When sitting at a desk to work, study, attend important meetings, design or create, you should avoid confronting the annual Tai Sui energy that resides in the centre of South during the Fire Horse year.  This means avoiding facing directly towards 172.5-187.5 degrees South, irrespective of whether or not it is normally deemed a productive direction according to your personal 8 Mansions Feng Shui.

In the image at the top of this article, the blue shaded areas indicate the locations in and around your home where you should avoid construction and/or excavation during the Fire Horse year in order to reduce the potential for negative energy to emerge and impact the occupants of the space. 

Australian Feng Shui Master Consultant, Derelle Ball can help you enhance the health, wealth and nurturing Feng Shui potential of your home with a detailed user-friendly Feng Shui Report.  For further information please visit: Personalised Classical Feng Shui Report for your Home