How Many Days Until Mid-Autumn Festival?

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When is Mid-Autumn Festival?

Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Friday, September 25, 2026.

About Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest festival celebrated in China, Vietnam and across much of East and Southeast Asia. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, when the moon is full and, by tradition, at its brightest and roundest. On the Gregorian calendar that places the festival between early September and early October. The full moon is the heart of the festival, and the round shape of the moon stands for completeness and the gathering of the family. The festival is one of the most important of the year in the Chinese calendar, second only to the Spring Festival.

The best-known custom of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the eating and sharing of mooncakes, round pastries with a rich filling, given as gifts and shared among family and friends. Families gather in the evening to admire the full moon, and in many places people carry or display brightly coloured lanterns, which is especially popular with children. The festival is linked to the legend of Chang'e, the moon goddess. In Vietnam the festival, known as Tết Trung Thu, is closely associated with children, with lantern processions and lion dances. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a public holiday in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam and elsewhere in the region.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Mid-Autumn Festival?

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest festival celebrated in China, Vietnam and across East and Southeast Asia. It is held on the night of the full moon in the middle of autumn, when the moon is traditionally seen as at its brightest and most perfectly round. The round moon stands for completeness and family unity, and the festival is a time for families to gather. It is one of the most important festivals in the Chinese calendar, after only the Spring Festival, and it is known above all for mooncakes.

When is the Mid-Autumn Festival?

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, the night of a full moon. On the Gregorian calendar this places it between early September and early October, with the exact date changing each year. The timing is set by the moon, which is why the date moves. The festival is sometimes called the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival, names that both point to its central themes.

What are mooncakes?

Mooncakes are the food most closely associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. They are round, or sometimes square, pastries with a thick filling, traditionally lotus seed paste, sweet bean paste or a salted egg yolk that represents the moon. Mooncakes are rich and are usually cut into small wedges to be shared. They are widely given as gifts in the run-up to the festival, between family, friends and business contacts. Modern versions come in many flavours, including ice cream and chocolate.

Why is the moon important to the festival?

The Mid-Autumn Festival is built around the full moon. It is held on the night when the moon is traditionally regarded as at its brightest and most perfectly round, and that round shape is a symbol of wholeness and of the family reunited. Families gather outdoors in the evening to look at the moon together. The festival is also tied to the legend of Chang'e, a woman who, in the best-known version of the story, lives on the moon, and the celebration includes remembering that tale.

Is the Mid-Autumn Festival a public holiday?

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a public holiday in mainland China, where it brings a day off that is often joined to a longer break, and in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. It is also a public holiday in Vietnam, where it is known as Tết Trung Thu and is strongly associated with children. In countries with large Chinese or Vietnamese communities, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, it is widely celebrated but is not a national public holiday.