Lunar New Year in Vancouver

The Lunar New Year is in January or February each year and it’s celebrated by a number of cultures including the Chinese. It’s also a big event in Vancouver.

In 2026, the Lunar New Year starts on Tuesday, February 17th. According to the Chinese Zodiac, it’s the Year of the Horse. 2025 was the year of the Snake.

This article contains information about the Lunar New Year in general as well as a list of things to do and see during the holiday season in the Lower Mainland.

Other articles that might be of interest include Lunarfest Vancouver, Chinese New Year in Vancouver and Vancouver’s Chinatown Spring Festival Parade.

Lunar New Year in Vancouver

Lunar New Year Celebrations in the Lower Mainland

A number of East Asian cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year, including the Chinese, Koreans, and Vietnamese. It’s the same in Singapore, Brunei, Taiwan, and Tibet, as well as in other places with large Chinese populations like Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. It is also a big occasion in Canada, especially in cities like Vancouver and Richmond.

Lunar New Year Events in the City of Vancouver

The following events celebrating the Lunar New Year took place in and around Vancouver in 2026:

Lunarfest Vancouver – A series of events and activities happens between February 14th and 28th in 2026. There are plenty of free activities throughout downtown, including outside the Vancouver Art Gallery and on Granville Island.
The Lantern City – Affiliated with Lunarfest Vancouver – is building lantern art installations throughout downtown Vancouver from February 14th to 28th, 2026. They usually have installations outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, at Granville Island, the Pendulum Gallery, the Bentall Centre, and at 800 Robson Plaza. Exact locations and dates for every 2026 installation are yet to be confirmed.
LNY Splash Films at VIFF – In 2025, a series of Asian films took place at the VIFF Centre in downtown Vancouver on February 8th and 9th. It’s likely to be similar in 2026.
Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade – This is one of the city’s largest and most impressive parades. In 2026 it takes place on Sunday, February 22nd.
Chinese New Year at International Village – The mall in Chinatown is full of interesting things to see and do around Lunar New Year (including on the day of the big parade). In 2026, the celebrations happen around the same time as the Lunar New Year and the Festival Parade.
Chinese Canadian Museum – The museum in Chinatown usually has special activities around the Lunar New Year. In 2025, these included crafts, games, stories, and other fun things. They were all included for free with general admission to the museum.

Vancouver Chinatown at New Year

Other Lunar New Year Events

Lunar New Year festivities also happen at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden in Vancouver’s Chinatown, as well as at the Museum of Surrey. There used to be public celebrations at the International Buddhist Temple and Thrangu Monastery in Richmond, although those haven’t happened for a few years.

In addition to the above, celebratory activities take place at several Lower Mainland shopping centres. Most notably, these include International Village in Vancouver’s Chinatown and both Aberdeen Mall and Lansdowne Centre in Richmond. There is usually lion dancing at other malls as well.

MUSEUM AND WALKING TOURS IN VANCOUVER’S CHINATOWN

An exceptional way to learn about the Lunar New Year and Chinese-Canadian history in Vancouver is to join a walking tour with Historical Chinatown Tours. Join one if you can. They are very interesting, informative, and fun.

Another top place to learn about Chinese Canadians and their history in this country is the Chinese Canadian Museum at 51 East Pender Street in the heart of Chinatown. It’s a terrific museum.

About Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year is a national holiday in China, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. It’s not a national holiday in countries like the Philippines, Japan, or Canada, but it’s still a time of festivities for many people. As much as 25% of the planet’s population celebrates the Lunar New Year in some way.

Lunar New Year in China and Elsewhere

In 2026, starting on February 17th, it’s the Year of the Horse for the Vietnamese as well. Some years, the Vietnamese zodiac differs slightly from the Chinese zodiac.

For South Koreans, the holiday is called Seollal, and it takes place on the same date as in China. In Tibet, however, the Lunar New Year sometimes takes place on the same date as elsewhere, but not always. That’s in part due to time differences.

According to Chinese tradition, the lunar calendar has 12 years, each represented by a different animal. They are the rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, pig, rat, ox and tiger. People born in different years are believed to share similar personality traits. The Horse is known for being energetic, independent, sociable, and adventurous, with a strong desire for freedom and forward momentum.

Although it falls in the winter for most parts of China (except the tropical south coast), the Lunar New Year is celebrated as the “Spring Festival” in China. This is why the parade in Vancouver is the Chinatown Spring Festival Parade.

The lunar calendar revolves around the moon’s phases, which is why the date changes from year to year. There are about 354 days in the lunar year, which is the length of time it takes for the moon to travel around the Earth 12 full times.