Two New Year Tarot Spreads To Unlock Your Year
Learn how to do a New Year tarot spread for 2026 with these beginner-friendly layouts.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links from Amazon and other sites that we collect a share of sales from. You may learn more here.
The start of a new year is a natural checkpoint and a great time to do a tarot reading. You want insight into what’s coming and what to stop carrying forward. But many traditional tarot spreads feel overly complex or aren’t specifically tied to the new year, so they’ll likely lack the nuance you’re looking for.
That said, you can absolutely use something like the Celtic Cross spread or design your own reading around core life areas like career, relationships, spirituality, health, and family. But if you’re newer to tarot (or just want something simple and straightforward) that kind of can feel overwhelming to interpret.
The two spreads below are designed to be usable by anyone, including those who just beginning to read tarot. Each position has a clear job, and while you will likely see themes emerge, the spreads don’t require you to layer multiple meanings and find connections between the cards to get a basic understand of your reading. If you are looking for a quick guide to all the tarot meanings, you can find them here.
I would, however, encourage you to take a photo of your reading or write down the cards in your tarot journal so you can return to it throughout the year. As you do, you’ll start to notice themes and things you might not have before.
How to Do the New Year’s Tarot Spread
Like with any tarot spread, I recommend setting the space. Do the four-fold breath or your preferred grounding technique so you can drop into your energy. Some people like to light incense or a candle when they read tarot. If that feels good to you, go for it. This is your reading, so follow what helps you align with your energy and connect with the cards.
Then, shuffle the cards. I like to take a few deep breaths as I shuffle and focus on the main question or reading as a whole as I do. Then, I put down one card at a time, face-down. If you don’t want to read reversals, say or think this as you shuffle. I sometimes say to the cards something simple like, “All cards will be read upright.”
If you don’t have a tarot deck, you can pick up the classic Rider-Waite-Smith deck or use our free one-card tarot pull.
The New Years Tarot Spread Positions: The Four Seasons
This spread can be laid out in two lines with the four seasons on one and the overarching card above. Or, in a circle with the year card in the center. I recommend moving between solstices and equinoxes to count the seasons. For instance, Winter would go from the beginning of the year to the Spring Equinox.
- The Year: this is the overall theme, focus, or lesson that runs through the entire year.
- Winter (January – March)
- Spring (March – June)
- Summer (June – September)
- Fall (September – December)
The New Years Tarot Spread Positions: The 12 Months
This spread should be laid out in a clockwise circle, beginning at where 1 would be. Place the overarching year card in the center and the key card below 6. I think of these as months, but if you prefer to work with the zodiacal signs you can do that too. The first would be Capricorn.
Considering that the Wheel of Fortune is the tarot card for 2026, I love this one for the year.
Cards 1-12: The Months of the Year
One card for each month, starting with January at clock position 1 and moving clockwise. These might predict events for each month but they also highlight your priorities or challenges.
13. The Year as a Whole: Your main thru-line for the year. This card anchors the entire reading.
14. The Key: What you must face, address, or work through in order to unlock your best possible year. This might point to a habit, limiting belief, pattern, or responsibility that can’t be avoided if you want meaningful progress.
