Vancouver is pulling out all the stops for the Year of the Fire Horse, an energetic zodiac that only appears once every 60 years. Here are the must-attend events to ring in the Lunar New Year:
The Lantern City (Feb 2–Mar 9)
Dark winter nights are made bright with The Lantern City in celebration of the Lunar New Year around Downtown Vancouver. Stunning lantern installations appear at five locations, including the Vancouver Art Gallery, Granville Island, Robson Square, Pendulum Gallery, and Bentall Centre, with the theme “Brave the Wind”.
LunarFest Vancouver (Feb 14–28)
LunarFest brings cultures and traditions together in a variety of events, including artist talks, film screenings, craft workshops, and an artists market—all free and family-friendly.
Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade (Feb 22)
The 52nd Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration is happening on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year Expect over 100,000 spectators, lion dances starting at 11 a.m., and a cultural fair from 2–4 p.m.
Food+Fortune by Dicky’s Dumps x Say Hey (Feb 22)
The pop-up runs throughout the heart of the festivities at Say Hey Cafe on East Pender. Fuel up on Lucky Dumplings, Crispy Chicken Leg with Ginger Scallion Oil, HK Street-Style Rice Rolls, and Hot & Sour Soup of Many Fortunes. Don’t miss the White Rabbit Coconut Buns and Brown Sugar Ginger Tea. Open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Taste of Chinatown! (Feb 6–22)
The festival includes a wide range of events to celebrate the Year of the Horse, from cocktail showdowns and calligraphy workshops to painting sessions and Fai Cheun traditions at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre.
Lunar New Year at the Met (Feb 3–Mar 2)
New to the Met for 2026, find luck with your imagination at the Lunar New Year with LEGO® Play Pop-up, plus immersive exhibitions and live calligraphy demonstrations at Metropolis at Metrotown.
Other happenings: Don’t miss the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden celebrations, full weekend programming at the Chinese Canadian Museum, Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and Silk Road Music concert at Gateway Theatre on Feb 28.