When Is Ghost Festival? Dates for 2026–2036
The Ghost Festival falls on day 15 of the 7th lunar month. Taoists call it Zhongyuan, Buddhists the Ullambana festival. In Taiwan the whole 7th month is known as Ghost Month, and communities hold offerings (pudu) for wandering spirits around the 15th.
Ghost Festival dates, 2026–2036
| Lunar year | Ghost Festival (Gregorian) |
|---|---|
| 2026 (Horse) | Thu, Aug 27, 2026 |
| 2027 (Goat) | Mon, Aug 16, 2027 |
| 2028 (Monkey) | Sun, Sep 3, 2028 |
| 2029 (Rooster) | Fri, Aug 24, 2029 |
| 2030 (Dog) | Tue, Aug 13, 2030 |
| 2031 (Pig) | Mon, Sep 1, 2031 |
| 2032 (Rat) | Fri, Aug 20, 2032 |
| 2033 (Ox) | Tue, Aug 9, 2033 |
| 2034 (Tiger) | Mon, Aug 28, 2034 |
| 2035 (Rabbit) | Sat, Aug 18, 2035 |
| 2036 (Dragon) | Fri, Sep 5, 2036 |
Converted by our calendar engine (UTC+8). Taiwan public holiday status: not a public holiday. Actual days off follow the announcement of the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration.
Common Ghost Festival customs in Taiwan
- Pudu offerings: food and gifts are set out for the "good brothers", spirits with no one to care for them.
- Companies and neighborhoods often choose a day in the 7th month for their own offering.
- The Keelung Ghost Festival is one of the largest in Taiwan.
When the gates of the underworld open and close
Taiwanese custom says the gates of the underworld open on the 1st day of the 7th lunar month and close on its last day: the 30th in a long month, the 29th in a short one. The whole month is known as Ghost Month, and most Pudu offerings fall within it.
| Lunar year | Gates open (7th month, day 1) | Gates close (last day of the 7th month) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Horse) | Thu, Aug 13, 2026 | Thu, Sep 10, 2026 (day 29) |
| 2027 (Goat) | Mon, Aug 2, 2027 | Tue, Aug 31, 2027 (day 30) |
| 2028 (Monkey) | Sun, Aug 20, 2028 | Mon, Sep 18, 2028 (day 30) |
| 2029 (Rooster) | Fri, Aug 10, 2029 | Fri, Sep 7, 2029 (day 29) |
| 2030 (Dog) | Tue, Jul 30, 2030 | Wed, Aug 28, 2030 (day 30) |
| 2031 (Pig) | Mon, Aug 18, 2031 | Tue, Sep 16, 2031 (day 30) |
| 2032 (Rat) | Fri, Aug 6, 2032 | Sat, Sep 4, 2032 (day 30) |
| 2033 (Ox) | Tue, Jul 26, 2033 | Wed, Aug 24, 2033 (day 30) |
| 2034 (Tiger) | Mon, Aug 14, 2034 | Tue, Sep 12, 2034 (day 30) |
| 2035 (Rabbit) | Sat, Aug 4, 2035 | Sat, Sep 1, 2035 (day 29) |
| 2036 (Dragon) | Fri, Aug 22, 2036 | Fri, Sep 19, 2036 (day 29) |
Calculated by our calendar engine (UTC+8). Local Pudu and gate-closing rites follow each temple's notice.
Lunar ⇄ Gregorian converter
Pick a direction and enter a date. For lunar to Gregorian, tick "leap month" if the date is in a leap month; a lunar birthday also shows its Gregorian date for the next 10 years. Everything is calculated in your browser.
For lunar dates, month 1 is the first month and month 12 the last (the "La" month). Covers the years 1901 to 2099.
A common misconception
You must not move house, marry or buy property in Ghost Month.
This is a folk taboo, not a law or a scientific rule. Whether to avoid it is up to you and your family; for how date selection views it, see date selection.
Other festivals and conversions
A straight word: BaZi follows the solar terms, not lunar dates
The Chinese calendar is lunisolar: months follow the moon, and festivals and lunar birthdays are counted by it. BaZi does not use lunar months, though. Its year changes at the Start of Spring and its months at the solar terms, and a chart is cast from the Gregorian birth date and time. Our conversions use China Standard Time (UTC+8), the same time zone as the lunar calendar published by Taiwan's Central Weather Administration. Everything on this site is for reference and entertainment.
Beyond the festivals, read your own chart
BaZi sets its years and months by the solar terms and is cast from your Gregorian birth time. Enter your birthday to get your four pillars for free.
Ghost Festival: common questions
When is Ghost Festival in 2026?
Thu, Aug 27, 2026. In 2027 it falls on Mon, Aug 16, 2027.
What lunar date is Ghost Festival?
Day 15 of the 7th lunar month.
Is Ghost Festival a day off?
In Taiwan it is not a public holiday. Actual days off follow the official government announcement.