Mid-Autumn Festival 2027
The fullest moon of the year, and a box of mooncakes to share it with.
Countdown to Mid-Autumn 2027
Dates
When is Mid-Autumn Festival?
Mid-Autumn Festival 2027 falls on Wednesday, 15 September 2027.
By the Chinese lunisolar calendar the festival falls on 15 September 2027.
Date checked against publicholidays.sg
| Year | Dates | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 25 September 2026Fri | 1 day | Past |
| 2027 | 15 September 2027Wed | 1 day | Confirmed |
See every festival by date in the 2026 festival calendar and 2027 festival calendar.
The story
What it is, and why it matters
- Type
- Nature & Season
- Tradition
- Folk & Dynastic
- Where
- Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island
- Crowd
- Celebrated widely across East and Southeast Asia
- UNESCO
- Not inscribed
The Mid-Autumn Festival is kept across China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia and Chinese communities everywhere. Hong Kong is our host, for its lantern displays and the fire dragon that winds through the streets of Tai Hang.
The festival falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is thought to be at its brightest. It began as a harvest observance and a time to give thanks to the moon, and over the centuries became a celebration of family reunion — people travel home to eat together and look at the same moon.
Its best-known story is of Chang'e, who drank an elixir of immortality and floated up to live on the moon. In Hong Kong, families take lanterns to parks and the waterfront, and large lantern displays are set up in public spaces. In Tai Hang, residents carry a long dragon studded with burning incense sticks through the neighbourhood for three nights.
Culture
Traditions, food and music of Mid-Autumn
Traditions
What actually happens
- Moon-gazing — families gather outdoors in the evening to admire the full moon.
- Lanterns — carried by children and hung in parks, from paper rabbits to modern LED designs.
- Tai Hang Fire Dragon — a dragon of rope and straw covered in lit incense, carried through the streets.
- Reunion dinner — a family meal before going out to see the moon.
Food
The table, widened
- Mooncakes, filled with lotus-seed paste and salted egg yolk, or with newer flavours like custard.
- Seasonal fruit such as pomelo and persimmon, with tea.
Music
Sound of the crowd
Drums and gongs drive the fire dragon's procession, and many families recite or sing classical moon poems. Su Shi's eleventh-century verses about the moon and absent loved ones are still widely quoted at this time of year.
Religion
Why this date
The festival grew from folk practice and moon worship rather than a single religion. Offerings to the moon and to ancestors are still made in some homes and temples, alongside a largely cultural celebration.
History
How it survived
Moon festivals are recorded in China from at least the Tang dynasty, and by the Song dynasty the date had become a major holiday. The Tai Hang fire dragon is said to date from the late nineteenth century, when villagers held it to drive away a plague.
History
How it got here
Moon festivals are recorded in China from at least the Tang dynasty, and by the Song dynasty the date had become a major holiday. The Tai Hang fire dragon is said to date from the late nineteenth century, when villagers held it to drive away a plague.
Tang dynasty
Moon-viewing
Poets and courts celebrate the autumn moon.
Song dynasty
Major festival
The fifteenth day of the eighth month becomes a widely kept holiday.
1880s
Fire dragon
Tai Hang villagers begin their fire-dragon dance, according to local tradition.
Today
Public holiday
The festival is a holiday in mainland China, Taiwan and, on the following day, Hong Kong.
Travel & practical
Visiting Hong Kong for Mid-Autumn
Getting there
Hong Kong International Airport links to the city by the Airport Express in about 25 minutes.
Where to go
Victoria Park and other major parks for lantern displays; Tai Hang for the fire dragon; the harbourfront for moon views.
Practical notes
Parks are very crowded after dark. The fire-dragon streets are narrow, so follow marshals' directions.
Plan the trip with free AltFTool tools
FAQ
Mid-Autumn Festival: common questions
Straight answers to what people ask most about Mid-Autumn Festival.
When is the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2026 and 2027?
It falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month: Friday 25 September 2026 and Wednesday 15 September 2027.
Why mooncakes?
Their round shape echoes the full moon and the idea of a family made whole again.
Is it a public holiday in Hong Kong?
Yes — Hong Kong's holiday is on the day after the festival.
What is the story of Chang'e?
A legend of a woman who drank an elixir of immortality and rose to live on the moon, where she is remembered at this festival.
Also in September 2027
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