The Mid-Autumn Festival in Chicago for the year 2026 will be celebrated on September 15th. This traditional Chinese festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is typically observed on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which varies each year in the Gregorian calendar. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions, moon gazing, and the sharing of mooncakes, a special type of pastry.

The reason for the celebration's date being September 15th in 2026 is due to the specific alignment of the lunar calendar. The Mid-Autumn Festival is based on the lunar cycle, and the date changes each year as it follows the phases of the moon. The festival is associated with the full moon, which typically occurs around the same time each year, but the exact date shifts as the lunar calendar is about 13 days shorter than the solar year. This means that the festival falls on a different date each year in the Gregorian calendar.

According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month in 2026 corresponds to September 15th in the Gregorian calendar. This alignment is determined by astronomical calculations that take into account the moon's phases and the Earth's position in its orbit. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a significant cultural event for many Chinese communities around the world, including those in Chicago, where the festival is celebrated with parades, lantern displays, and traditional performances.

Data from the Chinese Lunar Calendar and astronomical observations confirm the date of the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2026. The Chinese Lunar Calendar, which is based on the cycles of the moon, is used to determine the dates of traditional festivals. Astronomical calculations, such as those provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), also support the date of the festival. These sources provide a reliable basis for determining the exact date of the Mid-Autumn Festival each year.