Lunar New Year is a traditional celebration found worldwide and is honored here in Los Angeles by locals and Angelenos of East Asian descent across the city. 2026 marks the Year of the Horse, which symbolizes energy, freedom, and confidence. With that significance in mind, you can expect incredible festivities, delicious food, and cultural appreciation in honor of Lunar New Year in Los Angeles. Read on for some inspiration to make the most of the holiday.
1. 127th annual Chinese New Year festival in Chinatown
One of L.A.’s oldest traditions, Chinatown’s annual Chinese New Year Festival returns and will be honoring the year of the snake with an incredible Golden Dragon Parade on Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 1 to 4 p.m. Get the full info here!
🐉 When: Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 1 to 4 p.m.
📍 Location: Chinatown, Starting at Broadway and ending at Hill St
2. Lunar New Year Festival at Monterey Park
On Tue, Feb 17, 2026, Monterey Park is putting together an incredible Lunar New Year festival featuring local vendors offering unique gifts and specialty items, food booths with various types of delectable items, amusement rides, and lots of live cultural entertainment. Get the full info here.
🐉 When: Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026
📍 Location: Garvey Avenue on Monterey Park
3. Lunar New Year Celebration at South Coast Botanic Garden
The South Coast Botanic Garden is bringing back its Lunar New Year Celebration all through February. You can expect a weekend full of incredible demonstrations and storytelling. Their event will include Chinese zodiac scroll making, paper lantern decorating, Chinese paper cutting, Chinese game booths, and Chinese calligraphy. All activities are included in a general admission pass, more info here!
🐉 When: February 7-8, 14-15 and 21-22
📍 Location: 26300 Crenshaw Blvd., Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90274
4. Alhambra Lunar New Year Festival & Farmers Market
On February 28, 2026, the City of Alhambra is hosting their annual Lunar New Year Festival with the Alhambra Farmers Market featuring food, live performances, family-friendly activities, and more. More info here!
🐉 When: February 28, 2026
📍Location: The festival will take place along Alhambra’s Main Street. Get the map here.
5. Lunar New Year at USC’s Pacific Asia Museum
USC’s annual Lunar New Year festival is back, and they’re welcoming Angelenos on campus to celebrate with a day full of performances and activities. Expect a traditional lion dance, cultural storytelling, calligraphy, and crafts. Feast on items from food trucks and enjoy free admission to the museum. More info here!
🐉 When: Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, from 11 am to 5 pm
📍Location: USC Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N Los Robles Ave, Pasadena, California 9110
6. Enjoy a flavorful dim sum spread from one of these Chinese restaurants
Los Angeles is home to some seriously delicious Dim Sum — and what better way to celebrate Lunar New Year and Chinese culture than with food? 🥟 Check out some of our favorites below!
- Ocean Island Restaurant
- ixlb DimSum Eats
- Din Tai Fung
- See a full list of our favorite Chinese restaurants here.
7. Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington
The Huntington hosts their beloved Lunar New Year Festival in the Chinese Garden and other spaces. This is a popular family-friendly event featuring a mask-changing artist, martial arts performances, lion dancers, arts and craft demos, and more.
🐉 When: Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21 and 22, 2026 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (All visitors must have reservations, including those who plan to redeem guest passes)
📍Location: 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108
8. LA Zoo and Lunar New Year
The Los Angeles Zoo often highlights Lunar New Year through live performances. This year’s event will include Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese dance performances by Asian Arts Talents, a “Zoo-diac tour” where you can see all the animals of the Chinese zodiac, education stations, and the chance to add your hopes for the New Year to the Wall of Well Wishes. Learn more here!
🐉 When: February 21 & 22 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
📍Location: 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
9. Mayumi Market
Mayumi Market comes back to celebrate the Lunar New Year on Feb 15 2026 with 50+ AAPI makers, artists, and DJs to celebrate Lunar New Year! Enjoy a daytime celebration and support local vendors and creators while enjoying food, drinks and music.
🐉 When: Feb 15 2026
📍Location: Common Space Brewery (3411 W El Segundo Blvd, Hawthorne, CA 90250)
10. Lunar New Year at the Arboretum
Head to Arboretum’s 3rd Annual Lunar New Year celebration in honor of the Year of the Horse! Enjoy a festive day filled with fun for all ages, including a Red Envelope Seed Giveaway (while supplies last), hands-on cabbage planting, and Year of the Horse family crafts. Capture the moment at our complimentary themed photo booth, then refuel at a variety of food trucks and browse unique vendor stalls, with the full food truck lineup coming soon. Don’t miss the energetic Lion Dance and Kung Fu demonstration by Fong’s Kung Fu, bringing the celebration to life with rhythm and tradition.
🐉 When: Saturday, February 28; 9:00AM – 2:00PM
📍Location: 301 North Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
11. Shanghai Nights: A Lunar New Year Celebration
Multilingual chanteuse and accordionist Jessica Fichot returns to Benny Boy Brewing for a Lunar New Year concert celebrating the swing-era sounds of Shanghai. Expect classic jazz tunes in Mandarin, multilingual favorites, Mandopop, and festive Chinese New Year songs, plus a special drum and lion dance finale by the San Gabriel Valley Chinese Cultural Association to bring luck and prosperity for the year ahead. Food pop-ups include Yakitori Cartel, Zef BBQ, and The Dumpling Dream. There’s free entry, but it’s 21+ only. And don’t stress about driving because valet parking available onsite.
🐉 When: Saturday, February 28, 2026 from 7-10 p.m.
📍Location: Benny Boy Brewing, 1821 Daly St., Los Angeles, CA 90031
12. Cerritos Towne Center Hosts Year of the Horse Lunar New Year Event
Cerritos Towne Center invites the community to celebrate the Year of the Horse at its annual Lunar New Year Celebration. Family-friendly and free to attend, the lively celebration will have incredible Lion Dance performances and talented stilt walkers. There will be festive photo opportunities throughout the center, kids crafts and a Lucky Red Envelope Giveaway for children, while supplies last.
🐉 When: Saturday, February 21 from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
📍Location: The Edwards Stadium Courtyard at Cerritos Towne Center 12731 Towne Center Dr, Cerritos, CA 90703
13. Asia Garden Mall
The largest Vietnamese-American mall in the U.S. is celebrating Lunar New Year right now! You can find gorgeous traditional flowers, specialty lanterns, lucky red envelopes, and delicious food from now until February 15th.
🐉 When: Now until Feb. 15th
📍Location: Asian Garden Mall (9200 Bolsa Ave, Westminster, CA 92683)
14. The Americana at Brand
The Americana at Brand celebrates Lunar New Year with a parade of lion and dragon dances along with other festive performances. Guests are also welcome to ring in the Year of the Dragon through their dazzling décor and exclusive store promotions. Stay tuned as we await details for 2026.
🐉 When: TBA
📍 Location: 889 Americana Way, Glendale, CA 91210
Edited by Jamie Ferrell