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As the Year of the Horse approaches, cities around the world are getting ready to welcome this new beginning with dazzling light displays, colourful cultural traditions, and a generous dose of festive cheer.
Whether you’re into lantern-lit nights, vibrant street parades, or simply a joyful excuse to shout kung hay fat choi with flair, these five destinations offer some of the most unforgettable Lunar New Year experiences in the world – each with its own unmistakable charm.
1. Beijing – A Lantern Wonderland of Epic Scale
Beijing turns the Lunar New Year into a glowing dreamscape with its 2026 Jingcai Spring Festival Lantern Carnival at Beijing World Park. Spread across seven themed zones, the event features 180 imaginative light installations and more than 100 iconic lantern displays, showcasing a vibrant spectacle that captivates visitors day and night.
Towering centrepieces like the 12‑metre “Blessings Shine Upon All Nations” lantern and the golden harvest‑themed “Bumper Harvest” set bring symbolism of unity, joy, and prosperity to life. Visitors can wander past the elegant “Jingcai Goddess,” snap pictures with whimsical unicorns and mechanical steeds, and dive into a packed lineup of sub‑events – from a firework‑lit hot pot festival to a bustling New Year goods fair.
By day, miniature world landmarks and interactive activities create a playful learning environment. By night, the park shifts into full immersion mode as intangible cultural heritage lanterns illuminate the landscape. It’s Beijing at its most magical – and a dazzling way to usher in the new year.
2. Hong Kong – Parades, Wishes, and a City in Full Bloom
Hong Kong celebrates Lunar New Year with a citywide burst of colour, tradition, and spectacle. The beloved Lunar New Year Fairs fill markets across the city – including Victoria Park and Fa Hui Park – where locals pick out symbolic blooms like peach blossoms and calamondin to invite prosperity into the year ahead.
The festivities peak with the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade, a vibrant procession of floats and performances lighting up Tsim Sha Tsui on the first evening of the holiday. Fireworks over Victoria Harbour follow on the second night, painting the skyline in brilliant bursts.
From the iconic Well‑wishing Festival in Lam Tsuen – where hopeful visitors toss their wishes into the famous trees – to temple visits, lion dances, and a lantern display celebrating Hong Kong’s cultural heritage, the city offers a rich tapestry of experiences. It’s a place where tradition and modern energy collide, offering a unique experience than no other place can replicate.
3. Singapore – River Hongbao’s Radiant 40th Anniversary
Singapore’s River Hongbao marks both the Year of the Horse and its own 40‑year milestone with a celebration that blends heritage, performance, and pure festive joy. Held at Gardens by the Bay, the event surrounds visitors with radiant lanterns – from majestic galloping horses to glowing archways and a shimmering God of Fortune.
Families can enjoy live stage shows, cultural showcases, and a bustling Food Street filled with comforting festive bites. Interactive exhibitions share stories of tradition, while rides and activities keep the atmosphere lively for all ages.
And when night falls, fireworks return in full grandeur, lighting up the sky in choreographed bursts that echo the energy and optimism of the season.
4. Taiwan – A Journey Into Myth and Light in Chiayi
The 2026 Taiwan Lantern Festival transforms Chiayi into a poetic landscape of light inspired by the Alishan forests and the cultural heartbeat of the Tsou people. The Aveoveoyʉ Indigenous Lantern Area, themed “Realm of the Gods,” invites visitors to step into a living myth.
Guided by light strips that mimic mountain trails, guests move through installations shaped by mountain silhouettes, fire pits, and spiritual symbols. The shifting glow recreates scenes from Tsou mythology – from the welcoming of the War God to the spirit of the Mayasvi festival – offering a rare, immersive dialogue between culture, land, and ancestral memory.
Rather than dazzling for spectacle alone, the festival uses light to breathe life into stories, echoing the rhythms of the forest and the pulse of ceremony. It’s an experience that feels both ancient and modern, inviting visitors to walk not just through a lantern display, but through a new cultural landscape.
5. San Francisco – A Month‑Long Celebration in the Heart of the City
San Francisco embraces Lunar New Year with a full month of festivities that reflect its deep cultural ties with China. The Flower Market Fair kicks things off on Grant Street, where shoppers gather fresh blooms, fruits, and festive treats to prepare for the season.
The San Francisco Symphony adds elegance to the celebrations with a Lunar New Year concert led by conductor Mei‑Ann Chen, featuring works by Asian composers and a gala banquet to follow. For those seeking movement, the long‑running Chinatown YMCA Run offers a rare chance to jog through the neighbourhood’s historic streets while supporting community programs.
The Miss Chinatown USA Pageant brings tradition and pageantry to Union Square, but the crown jewel remains the iconic Chinese New Year Parade – one of the largest illuminated parades in the U.S. With lion dancers, acrobats, marching bands, and a 268‑foot Golden Dragon, the spectacle winds through the city with energy that’s impossible to resist. Rain or shine, San Francisco celebrates with gusto.
A Global Celebration, A Shared Spirit
From Beijing’s glowing lantern worlds to Hong Kong’s harbour fireworks, Singapore’s radiant festivities, Taiwan’s myth‑lit forests, and San Francisco’s vibrant streets, Lunar New Year shines differently in every corner of the world – yet the spirit remains the same.
It’s a moment to gather, to hope, to celebrate, and to welcome the future with open arms. And if you whisper a cheeky kung hay fat choi along the way, well… it might bring you some luck!
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