Hungry Ghost Festival 2027: Monday, August 16, 2027
Last checked · calculated, then checked against the Hong Kong Observatory tables
2027
Mon, Aug 16, 2027
2028
Sun, Sep 3, 2028
Lunar date
15th day of the 7th lunar month
Also called
Zhongyuan, Yulan (Ullambana)
The Hungry Ghost Festival falls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, in the middle of what Chinese folk tradition calls Ghost Month. Families make offerings to their ancestors and to wandering spirits, and burn joss paper. Zhongyuan is the Taoist name; the Buddhist observance on the same day is Yulan (Ullambana). Some Cantonese and Hakka communities hold it on the 14th.
In Singapore and Malaysia the month is known for getai, live stage shows put on for the occasion.
中元节 Zhongyuan Jie
Public holidays
- Not a public holiday in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore or Malaysia.
Hungry Ghost Festival dates, 2015 to 2040
| Year | Date | Day | Zodiac year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Aug 28, 2015 | Friday | Wood Goat |
| 2016 | Aug 17, 2016 | Wednesday | Fire Monkey |
| 2017 | Sep 5, 2017 | Tuesday | Fire Rooster |
| 2018 | Aug 25, 2018 | Saturday | Earth Dog |
| 2019 | Aug 15, 2019 | Thursday | Earth Pig |
| 2020 | Sep 2, 2020 | Wednesday | Metal Rat |
| 2021 | Aug 22, 2021 | Sunday | Metal Ox |
| 2022 | Aug 12, 2022 | Friday | Water Tiger |
| 2023 | Aug 30, 2023 | Wednesday | Water Rabbit |
| 2024 | Aug 18, 2024 | Sunday | Wood Dragon |
| 2025 | Sep 6, 2025 | Saturday | Wood Snake |
| 2026 | Aug 27, 2026 | Thursday | Fire Horse |
| 2027 | Aug 16, 2027 | Monday | Fire Goat |
| 2028 | Sep 3, 2028 | Sunday | Earth Monkey |
| 2029 | Aug 24, 2029 | Friday | Earth Rooster |
| 2030 | Aug 13, 2030 | Tuesday | Metal Dog |
| 2031 | Sep 1, 2031 | Monday | Metal Pig |
| 2032 | Aug 20, 2032 | Friday | Water Rat |
| 2033 | Aug 9, 2033 | Tuesday | Water Ox |
| 2034 | Aug 28, 2034 | Monday | Wood Tiger |
| 2035 | Aug 18, 2035 | Saturday | Wood Rabbit |
| 2036 | Sep 5, 2036 | Friday | Fire Dragon |
| 2037 | Aug 25, 2037 | Tuesday | Fire Snake |
| 2038 | Aug 15, 2038 | Sunday | Earth Horse |
| 2039 | Sep 3, 2039 | Saturday | Earth Goat |
| 2040 | Aug 22, 2040 | Wednesday | Metal Monkey |
FAQ
When is the Hungry Ghost Festival in 2027?
Monday, August 16, 2027: 15th day of the 7th lunar month.
When is the Hungry Ghost Festival in 2028?
Sunday, September 3, 2028.
Why does the date of the Hungry Ghost Festival change every year?
It follows the Chinese lunar calendar (15th day of the 7th lunar month), which runs about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year and adds a leap month every two or three years. From 2015 to 2040 it falls between Aug 9 and Sep 6.
When is Ghost Month in 2027?
The 7th lunar month of 2027 runs from August 2, 2027 to August 31, 2027 (30 days); the festival is its 15th day.
Other festivals
Dates are China Standard Time (UTC+8), calculated and checked against the Hong Kong Observatory, Gregorian-Lunar Calendar Conversion Table. Holiday notes describe usual practice; governments set the actual days.