Lunar New Year 2026 in Vancouver: Complete Guide to the Year of the Horse 🐎🏮

Lunar New Year 2026 brings the vibrant celebration of the Year of the Horse to Metro Vancouver, filling the region with lantern displays, lion dances, cultural festivals, parades, concerts, and family-friendly events. From historic Chinatown celebrations to glowing lantern festivals in Richmond and large-scale cultural programs across Granville Island and Metrotown, Vancouver offers one of the most diverse Lunar New Year experiences in Canada.

Whether you are a local resident, visitor, or cultural explorer, this guide highlights the top Lunar New Year 2026 events in Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, and Surrey, helping you plan meaningful outings throughout February and early March.

🧧 Most Popular Lunar New Year 2026 Events in Vancouver (Year of the Horse)

🥁 Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration & Parade 2026

One of the largest and longest-running Lunar New Year celebrations in Canada, the Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration & Parade is the highlight of the season. Over 100,000 spectators gather in historic Chinatown to watch traditional lion and dragon dances, marching bands, martial arts demonstrations, and cultural performance groups celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse.

Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Millennium Gate → Pender Street → Keefer Street, Vancouver
Admission: Free

🔗 Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade

🏮 LunarFest Vancouver 2026 — Arts, Culture & Community Festival

LunarFest Vancouver transforms public spaces and cultural venues into a celebration of arts, storytelling, and community inspired by the Year of the Horse theme “Brave the Wind.” Visitors can enjoy workshops, performances, concerts, film screenings, and interactive art experiences across Granville Island and downtown venues.

Dates: February 14–28, 2026
Locations: Granville Island, Orpheum Theatre, Performance Works & downtown venues
Admission: Mostly free (select ticketed shows)

🔗 LunarFest Vancouver 2026

🏮 The Lantern City 2026 — Illuminated Public Art Across Vancouver

The Lantern City 2026 turns Vancouver into a glowing open-air gallery with large-scale lantern installations celebrating renewal, diversity, and cultural storytelling. Spread across multiple walkable locations, this free experience is perfect for evening strolls, winter photography, and festive exploration.

Dates: February 2 – March 9, 2026 (varies by location)
Locations: Granville Island, 800 Robson Plaza, Bentall Centre, Pendulum Gallery, šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square
Admission: Free

🔗 https://vancouver.page/event/the-lantern-city-vancouver/

🌸 Lunar New Year 2026: Spirit of the Fire Horse at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

Celebrate Lunar New Year in a serene Ming Dynasty–style Chinese garden featuring tea ceremonies, lantern viewing, traditional crafts, live demonstrations, cultural performances, and a special lion dance finale. This event offers one of the most authentic and immersive cultural celebrations in Vancouver.

Dates: February 21–22, 2026
Location: 578 Carrall Street, Vancouver
Admission: From $10 (plus tax)

🔗 Spirit of the Fire Horse at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

🏮 Lunar New Year 2026 at Metropolis at Metrotown (Burnaby)

Metropolis at Metrotown hosts a month-long Lunar New Year celebration filled with lantern displays, cultural exhibitions, lion and dragon dances, Shaolin Kung Fu demonstrations, dumpling contests, arts and crafts, and interactive family programming.

Dates: February 2 – March 3, 2026
Location: Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby
Admission: Free (select activities may vary)

🔗 Lunar New Year 2026 at Metropolis at Metrotown

🏮 Bodhi Meditation Lunar New Year Lantern Festival 2026 (Richmond)

Step into a magical lantern wonderland featuring glowing installations, blessing experiences, oracle drawing, and peaceful cultural activities. This Richmond festival is ideal for families, photographers, and anyone seeking a meaningful and visually stunning Lunar New Year outing.

[caption id="attachment_14548" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Dates: February 20–22, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Location: Bodhi Meditation Center, 7740 Alderbridge Way, Richmond
Admission: Free[/caption]

🔗 Bodhi Meditation Lunar New Year Lantern Festival 2026

🎎 Year of the Horse at the Museum — Chinese Canadian Museum

Located in the heart of Chinatown, this cultural program blends traditional treats, crafts, audio storytelling, curator tours, and cooking workshops focused on Lunar New Year symbolism, food traditions, and family togetherness.

Dates: February 21–22, 2026
Location: 51 E Pender Street, Vancouver
Admission: Free with museum admission (workshops require registration)

🔗 Year of the Horse at the Museum — Chinese Canadian Museum

🎶 Silk Road Music: Lunar New Year Celebration 2026 (Richmond)

This intercultural concert at Gateway Theatre features traditional Asian instruments blended with contemporary world music, offering a rich and artistic way to celebrate the Year of the Horse through global sounds and storytelling.

Date: February 28, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM
Venue: Gateway Theatre, Richmond
Tickets: $25 (Waitlist available)

🔗 Silk Road Music: Lunar New Year Celebration 2026 (Richmond)

🎰 Celebrate Lunar New Year 2026 at Parq Casino Vancouver

Ring in the Year of the Horse with festive lion dances, red envelope giveaways, fortune cookies, and themed promotions in a lively downtown atmosphere near BC Place and Rogers Arena.

Date: February 17, 2026
Location: Parq Casino, Downtown Vancouver
Admission: Free

🔗 Lunar New Year 2026 at Parq Casino Vancouver

🦁 Lunar New Year Lion Dance at Elements Casino Surrey 2026

Welcome the Lunar New Year with a vibrant lion dance performance featuring rhythmic drumming, colourful costumes, and traditional symbolism believed to attract prosperity, luck, and positive energy for the year ahead.

Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Elements Casino Surrey
Admission: Free

🔗 Lunar New Year Lion Dance at Elements Casino Surrey 2026

🐎 How to Celebrate Lunar New Year 2026 in Vancouver

Plan your Lunar New Year itinerary by combining multiple events across the same weekend. Start with the Chinatown Parade, explore cultural programs at the Chinese Canadian Museum and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, and end your evening with lantern installations or LunarFest activities. Families can enjoy workshops and mall celebrations at Metrotown, while art lovers and photographers will appreciate The Lantern City and lantern festivals across Richmond and downtown Vancouver.

From traditional lion dances and cultural fairs to contemporary art exhibitions and musical performances, Lunar New Year 2026 in Vancouver offers a rich and inclusive celebration of heritage, community, and renewal across the entire Metro Vancouver region.

🔗 Discover all upcoming events in Vancouver