New Year Lion at the Chinese Canadian Museum

Chinese Canadian Museum Lunar New Year events feature crafts, performances, treats and workshops celebrating the Year of the Horse in 2026.

This year Lunar New Year takes place on Tuesday, February 17th. Most Lunar New Year celebrations take place in Vancouver’s Chinatown, however, on the weekend of February 21st and 22nd.

The Chinese Canadian Museum celebrates Lunar New Year with a festive weekend of cultural programming designed for visitors of all ages. Activities highlight traditions connected to the Year of the Horse and offer opportunities to explore food, art, storytelling and community customs through interactive experiences.

For full details about the museum and its events, visit chinesecanadianmuseum.ca.

Lunar New Year Activities at the Chinese Canadian Museum in Chinatown

The Chinese Canadian Museum is a very interesting museum on Pender Street in Vancouver’s Chinatown. The museum is open from Wednesdays to Sundays as well as on most statutory holidays, including ones on Mondays. Various events take place at the museum from time to time, including at Lunar New Year which happens in either January or February each year.

In 2026 the Year of the Horse begins on Tuesday, February 17th. On the weekend right after that, visitors can enjoy performances, crafts, workshops and guided tours that showcase Lunar New Year traditions while learning about Chinese Canadian heritage in a museum setting.

Lunar New Year at Chinese Canadian Museum — Outside the Museum at Lunar New Year

When and Where

Chinatown is an especially fun and interesting place to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Vancouver. The Chinatown Spring Festival Parade takes place in Chinatown on the weekend after Lunar New Year. That same weekend a number of events happen in the area too, including at the Chinese Canadian Museum on both the Saturday and Sunday.

In 2026 the Lunar New Year celebrations take place on the weekend of February 21st and 22nd. The Chinese Canadian Museum hosts activities on both days between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. The museum’s address is 51 East Pender Street, not far from downtown Vancouver. Programming runs throughout both days, allowing visitors to drop in to enjoy activities, performances and workshops at different times.

Most of the activities are included with regular museum admission. The cooking workshops, however, cost $5.

For full details about the attraction and its programs and events, visit the Chinese Canadian Museum‘s website.

Chinese Canadian Museum

What to Expect

Visitors to the Chinese Canadian Museum during the event can sample Lunar New Year treats as part of the Tray of Togetherness tasting experience where guests learn about the symbolism behind traditional candies and snacks.

Live performances at the event include the family-friendly audio play Bun Fun New Year presented in both English and Cantonese. The story follows playful characters preparing for Lunar New Year celebrations while discovering the meaning behind holiday traditions.

Also at the event, hands-on creative activities are available throughout the weekend including Pencil Ponies where children craft pony-themed pencil toppers inspired by the zodiac animal of the year. Visitors can also join a drop-in workshop to print traditional Lunar New Year couplets guided by artists from the Bagua Artist Association. Guests can then take home their own festive Year of the Horse artwork.

Food lovers can participate in a special Prosperity Salad cooking workshop led by Chef Christopher Leow. Participants help prepare the symbolic dish, learn its cultural meaning, and take part in the tossing ritual that represents wishes for prosperity in the year ahead. This workshop requires separate registration and costs $5 (plus GST) per participant while other activities are included with general admission to the museum.

Guided curator tours of museum exhibitions are also offered in multiple languages throughout the weekend, giving visitors an opportunity to explore the museum while celebrating Lunar New Year traditions.

With performances, crafts, food experiences and cultural activities, the Chinese Canadian Museum’s Lunar New Year celebration offers a lively and welcoming way for families and visitors to celebrate the festive season together.

Chinese Museum Fashion Display

MUSEUM EXHIBITS

In addition to enjoying the various special Lunar New Year activities, be sure to explore the museum thoroughly and enjoy all its exhibits. They have some very interesting things to see, especially if you like fashion. Dream Factory: Cantopop Mandopop 1980s-2000 showcase celebrity fashion styles and it runs until July 19th in 2026.

Live Entertainment Schedule

Chinese Canadian Museum Lunar New Year events feature an afternoon of live performances and workshops. Below is the 2026 schedule of activities.

Saturday, February 21st, 2026

10:00 am – Treat Tasting: Tray of Togetherness and Drop-in Crafts
11:30 am – Audio Play Performance: Bun Fun New Year (in English)
1:00 pm – Dream Factory Curator’s Tour (in English)
1:30 pm – Audio Play Performance: Bun Fun New Year (in Cantonese)
3:00 pm – Dream Factory Curator’s Tour (in English)

Sunday, February 22nd, 2026

10:00 am – Treat Tasting: Tray of Togetherness
12:00 pm – Cooking Workshop: Lunar New Year Prosperity Salad
1:00 pm – Dream Factory Curator’s Tour in English and Drop-in Workshop: Lunar New Year Couplets
3:00 pm – Dream Factory Curator’s Tour in Mandarin and Cooking Workshop: Lunar New Year Prosperity Salad

For full details about the museum and its events, visit chinesecanadianmuseum.ca.

Museum at Lunar New Year Video

The following video shows a scene at the museum after the Chinatown Spring Festival Parade finished on the Sunday after the Lunar New Year a few years ago. A lion dance team visited the place on the day.