Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is the most important annual holiday in China, marking the start of the new lunar calendar. Factory shutdowns and supply chain slowdowns during this period have a major impact on global e-commerce.
As a result, Chinese New Year 2026 is one of the most critical periods for dropshippers and e-commerce businesses sourcing from China. Each year, many stores lose money or face chargebacks and ad account issues, not because the event is unpredictable, but because they fail to prepare in time.
In this complete guide, you’ll learn:
- The exact Chinese New Year 2026 dates that matter
- How Chinese New Year affects dropshipping delivery times, inventory, ads, and suppliers
- What to say to your suppliers (with clear questions you must ask)
- How to adjust product testing, ads, and budgets
- How to protect your PayPal, Stripe, and ad accounts
- A step-by-step action checklist before, during, and after Chinese New Year
When Is Chinese New Year 2026? (The Date Most People Get Wrong)
Chinese New Year 2026 officially falls on February 17, 2026.
However, for dropshipping and e-commerce businesses, this is NOT a one-day event.
Chinese New Year impacts your business from mid-January until early March.
If you only plan around February 17, you are already too late.
The Real Chinese New Year 2026 Timeline for Dropshippers
Here’s the timeline that actually matters for your store:
January 10–20, 2026: Slowdown Begins
- Factories start reducing production
- Workers leave early to travel home
- Supplier response times slow down
- Stock availability becomes unreliable
January 25 – February 16, 2026: Maximum Impact
- Many factories are completely closed
- Suppliers may respond slowly or not at all
- Shipping lines become overloaded
- Restocking can take weeks longer than normal
February 17, 2026: Chinese New Year Day
- Official holiday
- Almost all production and logistics stop
February 18 – March 5, 2026: Restart Phase
- Workers return gradually, not all at once
- Huge production and shipping backlogs
- Delays are still normal
March 5–15, 2026: Normalization
- Suppliers begin operating normally
- Delivery times stabilize
- Safe period to start scaling again
👉 Key takeaway:
Expect disruptions from mid-January until early March, not just on Chinese New Year itself.
Why Chinese New Year Is Dangerous for Dropshipping
Chinese New Year doesn’t just delay a few orders—it affects your entire business model.
1. Inventory Becomes Unpredictable
Products that are “in stock today” may be gone tomorrow. Restocking often takes weeks longer than normal.
2. Delivery Times Explode
Normal delivery times of 7–14 days can suddenly become 30–45 days, which leads to angry customers and refund requests.
3. Supplier Communication Breaks Down
Many suppliers:
- Reply slowly
- Give unclear answers
- Go completely silent for weeks
4. Returns & Chargebacks Increase
Long delivery times = unhappy customers = more:
- Refunds
- Chargebacks
- PayPal and Stripe disputes
5. Ad Accounts Are at Risk
High complaint rates can:
- Kill your Facebook Ads account
- Hurt Google Ads performance
- Lower trust scores on payment processors
This is not about panic—it’s about planning!
Inventory Strategy for Chinese New Year 2026 (Critical Dates)
If you are already selling products, you must act before January 20, 2026.
January 20, 2026 = Your Absolute Deadline
By this date, you must have clear answers from every supplier.
Exactly What to Ask Your Suppliers (Copy & Paste)
Contact every supplier you work with and ask these three questions:
1. “What is your last guaranteed shipping date before Chinese New Year?”
You need the absolute last day they can ship orders that will leave before closure.
2. “How much stock do you currently have available?”
Ask specifically:
- Which SKUs
- How many units
- Whether the stock covers sales until March
3. “When will you realistically be back in full operation?”
Do not accept “official opening dates.”
Ask when they can actually ship orders at normal speed again.
👉 If a supplier cannot answer these clearly, treat them as high risk.
What Products to Avoid and Prioritize During Chinese New Year
Avoid These Products
- Custom or personalized products
- Long manufacturing-time products
- New, untested suppliers
- Complex products with many variants
Every extra step in your supply chain increases risk during CNY.
Prioritize These Products
- Proven products with sales history
- Simple products without customization
- Stable year-round demand items
- Suppliers with EU or US warehouses
Rule of thumb:
Have 2–4 weeks of buffer stock, but don’t overbuy out of fear.
Product Testing During Chinese New Year (Jan 20 – March 1)
Yes, you can still test—but not everything.
Do NOT Test
- Custom products
- Long production-time products
- Untested suppliers
- High return-risk items
Relatively Safe to Test
- Products shipped from EU or USA
- Products already in stock
- Simple supply chains
- Low-complexity items
Important Mindset Shift
During Chinese New Year, you test marketing—not logistics.
Focus on:
- New creatives
Test new images and videos - New ad angles
Test new angles and messages - New audiences
Test new target audiences
Gather data on what resonates with your audience. When the supply chain normalizes in March, you will already have proven creatives and audiences ready to scale.
Ads & Budget Strategy During Chinese New Year 2026
Period: January 20 – March 1
This is defensive mode, not growth mode.
Best Practices
- ❌ No aggressive scaling
- ✅ Reduce daily budgets by 30–50%
- ✅ Kill losing ads faster than usual
Why This Matters
- CPMs fluctuate heavily
- Delays distort performance data
- You can’t tell if issues are from ads or logistics
Goal: Protect capital while collecting data
Customer Communication (Non-Negotiable)
Transparent communication prevents:
- Chargebacks
- PayPal issues
- Bad reviews
On Your Store (Before Jan 20)
- Add a delivery delay banner
- Update delivery times (+2–3 weeks)
- Be honest and simple
Example store message:
“We’re currently experiencing high demand, which may result in slightly longer delivery times.”
“Due to high demand, some orders may experience minor delays.”
“Due to a high volume of orders, deliveries may take a little longer than usual. Thank you for your patience.”
Email Flows You Must Update
Order Confirmation Email
“Please note that delivery times may be longer during January–March due to high demand.”
Shipping Email
“Due to high order volume, delivery may take 3–5 weeks. Thank you for your patience.”
This alone can reduce support tickets, disputes, and refunds dramatically.
What Smart Dropshippers Do During Chinese New Year (CNY)
The best dropshippers don’t see Chinese New Year as a threat — they see it as an opportunity.
They use this period strategically to prepare for strong growth in March and April.
🧘♂️ Don’t Panic
Smart store owners understand that Chinese New Year is a predictable annual event.
They’ve been through it before, know what to expect, and stay calm instead of reacting emotionally.
📦 Secure Inventory Early
They communicate with suppliers as early as December–January to secure enough stock.
This prevents last-minute surprises, stockouts, and unnecessary stress.
🛠️ Build for the Future
Instead of chasing short-term wins, they invest time in improving their store and preparing for scaling after CNY.
After Chinese New Year: How to Scale Safely (March 1–15)
Do not scale aggressively on day one.
Best Scaling Approach
- Expect continued delays initially
- Increase budgets by 20–30% at a time
- Monitor metrics daily
Key Metrics to Watch
- Return rate below 5%
- Delivery time back to 7–14 days
- Less than 10 support inquiries per 100 orders
- Supplier responses within 24 hours
When all indicators are green—it’s time to scale.
Biggest Mistakes Dropshippers Make During CNY
- Ignoring the problem: Many dropshippers continue as usual, hoping for the best. The result: chaos, returns, and destroyed ad accounts.
- Scaling aggressively in February: Significantly increasing the budget in the middle of CNY when the supply chain is at its most unstable. This wastes money and creates problems.
- Testing complex products: Launching custom products or new suppliers during CNY. You don’t know if the problem is the product or thelogistics.
- Poor customer communication: Not updating delivery times or informing customers about delays. This leads to chargebacks and bad reviews.
- Scaling too fast in March: Believing everything is normal on day 1 after CNY and increasing the budget by 500%. Backlogs and delays continue for several weeks.
Every one of these mistakes is 100% avoidable.
Advanced Strategies for Experienced Dropshippers
- Geographically diversify suppliers: Build relationships with suppliers in Vietnam, Thailand, or Turkey who are not affected by CNY. This gives you continuity.
- Invest in 3PL solutions: Use third-party logistics in Europe or the USA for your best products. Higher cost but total control.
- Pre-order campaigns: Sell products as “pre-order” with longer delivery times but a 15-20% discount. Customers who accept long delivery times.
- Data from previous years: Analyze which products continued to sell well during CNY 2026. These are safe bets for 2027.
Long-Term Strategy: Become Independent of Chinese New Year
- Year 1: Survive
Follow basic strategies and minimize damage. Gather experience and document what works. - Year 2: Optimize
Use insights from Year 1 to plan better. Start building relationships with alternative suppliers. - Year 3: Diversify
Have at least 30% of production outside China. Use the CNY period to test new products from other countries. - Year 4+: CNY becomes a non-event
Your business is minimally affected. You have built a resilient supply chain that can handle all situations.
That’s how real brands are built.
Final Thoughts
Chinese New Year doesn’t kill businesses.
Lack of planning does.
If you prepare:
- You lose less money
- You gather better data
- You scale faster when others struggle
Start now.
Contact suppliers.
Secure inventory.
Update communication.