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Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year in Metro Vancouver

January 31, 2024

A major event in Canada and around the world is Lunar New Year. Given Vancouver’s significant Chinese population, Chinese New Year is a major event in the city.

Lunar New Year isn’t just a Chinese celebration, however. Other countries and cultures celebrate it too. Traditionally Lunar New Year is celebrated for a full week in China. In some other countries that use the lunar calendar, like Korea, the celebrations last for three or so days. Other Asian countries celebrate Lunar New Year including the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

In 2026 Lunar New Year is on February 17th which marks the start of the Year of the Horse.

Information in this article includes the following topics:

Chinese New Year Crowds in Chinatown — Chinatown after the Chinese New Year Parade

How to Celebrate the Lunar New Year in Vancouver

Below is a list of events that take place around the Lower Mainland to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year in Vancouver

Below are events that normally happen in the City of Vancouver in the core of downtown and elsewhere within the city. Most are taking place again in 2026.

Lunar New Year Events in Downtown Vancouver

Chinese New Year events in downtown Vancouver usually include Lunarfest, Asian-themed films at Flyover Canada, the Parade in Chinatown, Lunar New Year activities at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, festivities at Chinatown Plaza and celebrations at the International Village Mall. There are also special activities at the Chinese Canadian Museum.

Chinese Canadian Museum Activities

The Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver’s Chinatown is the first of its kind in Canada. It’s an exceptional place to learn about the interesting history of Chinese Canadians. There are three different floors with display rooms and exhibitions to check out.

During last year’s Lunar New Year, the museum had special events on January 25th as well as on February 1st and 2nd to celebrate the occasion. On Saturday, January 25th, there were Lucky Red Decorations Crafts. On the Saturday and Sunday of February 1st and 2nd there were various special, family-friendly activities. Click Year of the Snake at the Museum (2025 Lunar New Year) for details about them. Admission to all of these activities is free with general admission.

See our article about the Chinese Canadian Museum or visit the chinesecanadianmuseum.ca for more information about this attraction.

LunarFest Vancouver

Vancouver LunarFest hosts Lunar New Year activities suitable for young children and their families in the plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery. Lunar New Year celebrations also take place at other locations around Vancouver.

In 2026 LunarFest runs from February 14th to 28th. There are events and activities outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, on Granville Island, and at the Pendulum Gallery and Bentall Centre downtown.

Part of LunarFest is The Lantern City, which features lantern-themed art installations around the city. The installations are usually set up at the same locations at the main LunarFest events.

Visit the LunarFest Vancouver and The Lantern City websites to learn more about these events.

Historical Chinatown Tours

An exceptional way to explore Vancouver’s Chinatown and learn about its history is through a guided walk with Historical Chinatown Tours. The tours are hosted by Chinatown expert Judy Lam Maxwell. You can take a tour with her most days of the year. Her tours are especially popular, however, during the Lunar New Year season.

Celebrations at International Village Mall

International Village is the mall in Vancouver’s Chinatown at 88 West Pender Street. It gets lively on the weekend of Chinese New Year with thousands of people wandering around, shopping, and checking out all the exhibits and vendor stalls.

Chinese New Year celebrations at the mall usually feature craft vendors, demonstrations, workshops, games and more to enjoy. Admission is free.

When the festivities take place, expect the mall to be especially busy during the weekend of the Chinese New Year Parade.

See our article about International Village Mall to learn more about what happens at Lunar New Year at this shopping centre.

Chinese New Year Parade

The Chinese New Year Parade takes place most years in Vancouver’s Chinatown on the Sunday after New Year’s Day from 11:00 am until around 1:30 pm.

The parade goes up Pender Street, turns at Gore Street and then returns along Keefer. If the weather is good the parade can attract tens of thousands of people. This event is highly recommended – you’ll feel like you’re in Asia and it’s far cheaper than a flight to Beijing!

In 2026 the parade takes place on Sunday, February 22nd.

The following video shows a short scene from Vancouver’s Chinese New Year Parade from a past year to give you an idea of what to expect. The video shows a Lion Dance group at the corner of Keefer Street and Columbia (not far from the Chinese Cultural Centre).

As you’ll see , the parade attracts large crowds. It’s loud, colourful and entertaining.

See our article about the Chinese New Year Parade to see a longer video showing more scenes of the event.

New Year’s at Vancouver’s Chinese Garden

There are often special activities at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden on Lunar New Year or the Lunar New Year weekend. Last year they take place on Sunday, February 2nd. The 2026 date is to be confirmed.

The event typically features arts and crafts, tea ceremonies, various demonstrations, guzheng performances and more. Admission is discounted for the day. Tickets range from around $8 to $10 per person.

Temple Fair at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden — Chinese New Year at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden

Festivities at Chinatown Plaza

Chinatown Plaza is a small shopping mall tucked away at 106 Keefer Street in Chinatown. On the afternoon of the parade the mall usually hosts live entertainment and lion dancing. Hopefully this is the case again in 2026.

The following short video shows a scene from the festivities at Chinatown Plaza. As you’ll see a good number of people visit the mall to enjoy the lion dancing and live entertainment. All the stores inside are also Asian-themed.

Chinese Restaurants in Vancouver

Vancouver has some great Chinese Restaurants, including the following which are some of the best:

Bao Bei – at 163 Keefer in Chinatown is one of the better yet very affordable Chinese restaurants in the area and serves excellent food.
Dynasty Seafood – an upscale award-winning Chinese restaurant famous for its dim sum located at 777 West Broadway. Open for lunch and dinner every day, except for statutory holidays. The place offers free parking – just let the restaurant’s staff know your stall number.
Kirin – an award-winning upscale Chinese restaurant located at 102-1172 Alberni Street in downtown Vancouver.

Chinese New Year Events in Richmond

With over 40% of its population being ethnic Chinese, Richmond is an obvious place to celebrate Lunar New Year. Below are some of the best places to do that most years.

Events at Shopping Malls

Lunar New Year at Lansdowne Centre – Chinese New Year celebrations take place at the Lansdowne shopping mall on the weekend of Chinese New Year. There are usually special activities on a Saturday during the Lunar New Year. The 2026 date is to be confirmed. Guests can enjoy lion dances, a ring toss activity, giant snakes and ladders games and more.
Lunar New Year Celebrations at Aberdeen Mall – this shopping centre offers a number of special events over the course of a week and two weekends most years. Last year there was the Lunar New Year Flower & Gift Fair from January 23rd to 29th. There was also a countdown event on January 28th, live entertainment on January 29th, and even more performances on February 1st and 2nd. 2026 event details and dates are to be confirmed.

Leaving Richmond's Temple — International Buddhist Temple on New Year’s Eve

Events at Religious Venues (in past years)

Dharma Drum Center New Year’s Celebrations – crafts and games for children as well as tea and meditation for adults at 8240 No. 5 Road. It was a small and fairly simple event on the weekend of Chinese New Year’s Day, but free. (Hasn’t happened for a few years, at least not as a large event.)
International Buddhist Temple – the largest Buddhist temple in North America used to invite the public to a day of celebrations on New Year’s Eve. It was amazing and free although donations were greatly appreciated. (Also hasn’t happened as a big event for a number of years.)

Best Chinese Restaurants in Richmond

What better way to celebrate the Chinese New Year than with dinner at one of the Lower Mainland’s top Chinese Restaurants. A couple of the best in Richmond include the following:

Dinesty Chinese – a great casual restaurant famous for its dumplings, with locations at 1168-3779 Sexsmith Road and 160-8111 Ackroyd Road.
Kirin – a great upscale Chinese restaurant at 200 Three West Centre, 7900 Westminster Highway (at No. 3 Road).

Chinese New Year Events in Surrey

The Museum of Surrey hosts various special events throughout the year. That includes its Lunar New Year event for which 2026 details are to be confirmed.

The free event typically runs from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the museum located at 17710 56A Avenue. At the event visitors can learn a lot about the celebrations in not just China but in Korea and Vietnam as well.

There’s poetry, storytelling, dancing, tai chi and plenty more. Visitors can also learn the basics of dragon dancing.