Welcome to the Lunar New Year 2026 celebrations! This year welcomes the Year of the Horse, a symbol of energy, strength, and forward momentum in Chinese culture. The Horse represents confidence, independence, and perseverance, making this a wonderful year to try new things, set fresh goals, and move ahead with optimism.
Families across our area will find plenty of ways to celebrate, with community events featuring cultural performances, kid friendly activities, crafts, and delicious food. Lunar New Year is a special time to gather together, honor traditions, and enjoy meaningful moments with loved ones while welcoming good fortune and happiness for the year ahead.
Be sure to check event websites before heading out, as dates and times can change, especially due to weather.
January 17 & 18, 2026
2026 Rancho Cucamonga Lunar Festival- RC Sports Center, Rancho Cucamonga (Free admission)
Celebrate the Year of the Horse at this vibrant Lunar New Year Celebration hosted by the City of Rancho Cucamonga in partnership with the California Culture Festival. Families can enjoy a festive weekend filled with live cultural performances, delicious food from local vendors, and artisan booths featuring unique handmade goods. This free community celebration is a wonderful way to experience Lunar New Year traditions through music, dance, food, and culture.
Asian American Expo - Pomona Fairplex
Get ready for the ultimate celebration of culture, community, and Lunar New Year magic! Since 1982, the Asian American Expo has been a beacon of unity, joy, and tradition, and in 2026, they're returning bigger and better than ever to honor the Year of the Horse.
Spanning over four decades of excellence, they’ve evolved into an unmissable extravaganza:
- 7 massive expositions filled with treasures and surprises,
- 1,300+ vendors showcasing the best in Asian goods, food, and culture,
- 8 thrilling stages featuring non-stop entertainment,
- And vibrant food streets that are a feast for the senses!
January 23 - February 27, 2026
Lunar New Year Festival at Disney California Adventure Park
Bring family and friends together during this multicultural celebration filled with auspicious wishes for health, luck, and prosperity to ring in the Year of the Horse!
January 31 - February 1, 2026
Monterey Park’s Lunar New Year Festival
(Free admission)
The City of Monterey Park, event producer World Journal and all our food vendors, entertainers and merchants invite you to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Horse in Monterey Park. Entertainment, food, family activities, and vendors. Free parking and shuttle bus service available.
January 31, 2026
Lunar New Year Celebration @ Plaza West Covina
(Free admission)
Join Plaza West Covina for their Lunar New Year Celebration, ringing in the Year of the Horse! The celebration begins at 1 PM on the lower level, near H&M. Enjoy face painting, lion dancing, and performances, and a martial arts demonstration!
February 7, 2026
Lunar New Year Celebration at Temple City Park
(Free admission)
Festivities take place at Temple City Park, located at 9701 Las Tunas Drive. Enjoy arts and crafts, food vendors, community booths, and traditional Chinese performances! The event is from 12:00pm - 4:00pm.
February 13 -15, 2026
UVSA Tet Festival Year of the Horse (Costa Mesa)
UVSA is thrilled to welcome back over 30,000 guests to celebrate the Year of the Horse. UVSA Tết Festival is proud to serve as a bridge that brings people closer through vibrant activities that highlight our Vietnamese heritage, such as: Vietnamese cultural village, live entertainment, the Miss Vietnam of Southern California pageant, festive games and rides, a variety of local food vendors, and a dazzling firecracker show celebrating the new year.
February 14, 2026
Downtown Pomona District - Lunar New Year Festivities
Get ready for the annual 'Lunar New Year Festival,' brought to you by the Downtown Pomona District. Celebrate on February 14th, 2026, as we ring in the Year of the Horse. Witness the traditional lion dance, enjoy a variety of live performances and traditional dances, and show off your skills in our karaoke and talent shows. The festival will also feature an authentic Poon Choi feast to honor our seniors, alongside delicious food and unique vendors and some of our regular Artwalk vendors. Celebrate culture and community in the heart of Downtown Pomona at this unforgettable event!
February 21, 2026
2026 San Bernardino Lunar Festival - San Bernardino (Free admission)
Get ready for the San Bernardino Lunar Festival as they celebrate the Year of the Horse in style! Join us on February 21 at Court Street Square for a full day of exciting music, cultural performances, delicious food, and art—all in one amazing event!
February 21 & 22, 2026
Lunar New Year Celebration at the Huntington Library
Celebrate the Lunar New Year and welcome the Year of the Horse at The Huntington. This family-friendly event features lion dancers, a mask-changing artist, martial arts demonstrations, contemporary dance, floral arts, music, and more.
February 21, 2026
126th Annual Golden Dragon Parade - Los Angeles
Each year, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles hosts the Annual Golden Dragon Parade. With over a hundred thousand spectators and thousands more viewing the telecast on main stream TV such as NBC4, ABC7, and many online broadcast channels, this colorful celebration along North Broadway in Chinatown has become the premiere cultural event in the Southern California Asian-American Community.
February 28, 2026
Alhambra Lunar New Year Festival
-
(Free admission)
The Alhambra Lunar New Year Festival is a yearly tradition that celebrates the diversity of the SGV region hosted in “the gateway to the San Gabriel Valley. The Alhambra LNY Festival is a celebration deeply rooted in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage and is accessible to everyone through an immersive all-day experience. Expect to be mesmerized by cultural performances, live art, cooking demonstrations, and many more. You can also shop handcrafted goods in Artist Alley and eat authentic cuisine to your heart’s content.
March 7, 2026
O.C. Lantern Festival
- Costa Mesa
(Free admission)
The Lantern Festival, which can be traced back 2,000 years, takes place 15 days after the Lunar New Year—on the first full moon night in the lunar calendar—and marks the return of spring, representing the reunion of family. The act of lighting and appreciating lanterns is a way for people to let go of the burdens of their old selves and express their best wishes for themselves and their families for the future.
March 21 & 22, 2026
San Gabriel Lunar New Year Festival (Free admission)
Amazing Lantern displays unveiled for the first time, Live Performances, Street Foods, Shopping, Much More!
