Lunar New Year in Vancouver is marked by a mix of long standing traditions and newer, city wide celebrations. From Chinatown streets and neighbourhood restaurants to cultural events and seasonal menus, the holiday shows up in many forms across the city. Whether you are looking for a family outing, a festive meal, or a quiet way to acknowledge the new year, Vancouver offers plenty of ways to take part. Here are some thoughtful ideas for celebrating Lunar New Year 2026 around the city.
Lunar New Year 2026 is Tuesday, February 17, and this year is the Year of the Horse.
This list is updated as information becomes available. If you have an event/business that wants to be added, please contact me at [email protected] or DM me @foodgressing on social media.
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Lunar New Year Vancouver Restaurant & Hotel Features
Here are some Lunar New Year features to explore at local restaurants and hotels in Vancouver.
Glowbal Restaurant is offering a Lunar New Year Dinner for Two from February 16 through March 3. The three-course sharing menu opens with Scallop & Sable Terrine with seafood consommé and crab salad, followed by Honey Glazed Duck Breast with croquettes, pine mushroom mandu, and five spice jus, and finishes with Mandarin & Mango Cake with gold crème anglaise. The $188 menu is designed for tables celebrating prosperity and togetherness.
The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts is hosting a Lucky Dumpling Workshop on February 14. The hands-on class focuses on traditional dumpling techniques tied to Lunar New Year symbolism, with participants learning to prepare Golden Pork & Garlic Chive Dumplings, Lucky Vegetable Dumplings, and Chili Wontons under the guidance of a professional chef instructor. The workshop blends culinary skill-building with cultural context in an intimate classroom setting.
Penfolds Winery is hosting a Lunar New Year dinner at Black and Blue in Vancouver that pairs a multi-course menu with a selection of their wines, including the Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz Lunar New Year Limited Edition. The event takes place on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm at Black+Blue Steakhouse. Tickets are priced at $225++.
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is offering a limited time Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea to mark the Year of the Horse, running Thursday to Sunday from January 9 to February 22, 2026. The menu blends classic afternoon tea with Lunar New Year inspired flavours, including Jasmine Earl Grey scones, Szechuan glazed prawn toast, char siu style salmon mi cuit with yuzu, and desserts such as sesame miso biscuit and mandarin sago pudding finished with gold accents. The experience includes a collaboration with the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, featuring an exclusive tea blend created with TEALEAVES, and a custom Year of the Horse illustration by Vancouver artist Justine Crawford. On Lunar New Year, February 17, guests can also catch a Lion Dance performance by Hon Hsing Athletic Club in the hotel lobby and Notch8.
DD Mau Chinatown will mark Tết with the return of their Bánh Chưng Making Workshop on February 8, 2026. The three-hour, hands-on experience introduces guests to the history and cultural significance of Vietnamese Lunar New Year, with guided instruction on wrapping the traditional square rice cake filled with sticky rice, mung bean, and pork, or a plant-based option. Participants will taste both steamed and pan-fried versions, enjoy one complimentary beverage, and take home their own handcrafted Bánh Chưng with condiments and cooking instructions. Tickets are $108 per guest.
Neverland Tea Salon is marking the Year of the Horse with a themed high tea running from January 6 to February 13. The experience features a curated selection of savoury bites, pastries, and teas inspired by renewal and good fortune, served across multiple daily seatings. Price is $60 per adult
CoCo Bubble Tea YVR will be celebrating the Year of the Horse with limited edition red packet giveaways until February 22, offering customers a red packet with surprise coupons when purchasing two large drinks. The brand is also introducing a new Crème Brûlée Macchiato topping available as an add-on to any drink, alongside a 15 percent discount on Taro Milk Tea and Honeydew Smoothies through February 28. In addition, selected locations will be launching Happy Tuesday specials, featuring buy one, get one 50 percent off large drinks from a rotating menu of popular favourites.
Things to Do in Metro Vancouver for Lunar New Year Vancouver
Here’s are some local Metro Vancouver events celebrating the Lunar New Year.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Celebrate Lunar New Year weekend with two days of family-friendly programming featuring cultural performances, workshops, food vendors, and interactive activities at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.
The Opening Celebration on February 21 runs from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM and includes arts and crafts, lantern viewing, tea ceremonies, calligraphy, and nian gao demonstrations with tastings. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for children aged 5 to 12, and $30 for families of four.
The Garden Derby Celebration on February 22 takes place from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM with crafts, fortune telling, food vendors, and live programming including dumpling and nian gao demonstrations, guzheng and dance performances, sugar candy art, caricatures, roving performances, and a lion dance finale.
Lansdowne Centre Lunar New Year Celebration
Lansdowne Centre hosts their official Lunar New Year celebration on February 21, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, featuring a festive afternoon of performances and family activities.
Programming includes an opening ceremony with dragon and lion dances, a family-friendly “Fire Horse, Gold Rush” interactive game, an artisan market, arts and crafts activities, and cultural booths with calligraphy and community partners, creating a lively community celebration to welcome the new year.
Metropolis at Metrotown
Metropolis at Metrotown is welcoming the Year of the Horse with a month-long Lunar New Year celebration running from February 2 to March 3, 2026, featuring cultural exhibitions, family activities, live performances, and community partnerships throughout the shopping centre. Programming includes the Vitality exhibition by the Chinatown Storytelling Centre with select live calligraphy demonstrations, a Lunar New Year LEGO Play Pop-Up from February 7 to 11, arts and crafts workshops on February 14 and 15, Lion Dance performances and workshops with Bak Mei Vancouver Kung Fu & Lion Dance on February 21, roaming appearances by the God of Fortune on February 17 and 21, and a finale on February 22 with dragon dance, Shaolin Kung Fu, a dumpling eating contest, and traditional dance showcases. A seasonal shopping promotion begins February 18, offering a gift card and commemorative plush with qualifying purchases while supporting the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, alongside festive décor displayed throughout the mall.
Chinatown Storytelling Centre
Taste of Chinatown!, presented by Scotiabank, returns to the Chinatown Storytelling Centre starting February 6, marking their third year of Lunar New Year programming. Running throughout February, the series celebrates the Year of the Horse with ticketed tastings, creative workshops, family-friendly activities, and collaborations with local businesses and makers.
This year’s lineup includes the 3rd Annual Chinatown Cocktail Showdown on February 6; Sip & Paint: Lunar New Year Edition on February 15; Family Day programming focused on the art of Fai Cheun on February 16; Mahjong Parlour Night on February 20; and a Year of the Horse Red Envelopes and Candy Tasting on February 22. Most events take place at the Centre, with select pop-ups and retail collaborations extending into the neighbourhood.
Annual Chinatown Spring Festival Parade
The annual Chinatown Spring Festival Parade takes place on Sunday, February 2, starting at 11:00am, marking its 51st year in Vancouver Chinatown. The free parade begins on West Pender Street near the Millennium Gate, travels east to Gore Avenue, then loops back along Keefer Street before ending at Carrall Street.
Following the parade, local businesses throughout Chinatown host traditional 採青 lion dance performances by various athletic clubs to welcome good fortune for the year ahead. First held in 1973, the parade remains a cornerstone Lunar New Year event, featuring lion and dragon dances, firecrackers, and strong community participation. Transit is recommended due to crowds, with Stadium Chinatown SkyTrain station nearby.
Aberdeen Centre Lunar New Year Fair
Aberdeen Centre in Richmond has a Lunar New Year fair. A Flower and Gift Fair runs from February 6 to 17, followed by a Year of the Horse stage show and live countdown on February 16 at 8:30 pm. Celebrations continue with a Lion and Dragon Dance in the outdoor courtyard on February 17 at 11:00 am, along with cultural performances in the indoor central atrium on February 21, 22, and 28 in the afternoons.
Go on a Dumpling Crawl
While it is not a literal trail of dumplings, the Dumpling Trail brings together a curated group of Richmond restaurants known for their dumpling offerings. Designed as a self-guided experience, it encourages you to move at your own pace, stopping in for different styles and fillings while getting a sense of how varied dumplings can be across the city.
LunarFest
Celebrate the Year of the Horse through arts and culture; learn more about this year’s LunarFest arts and storytelling activities on lunarfestvancouver.ca.
International Buddhist Temple Visit
Many visitors stop by the International Buddhist Temple around New Year’s time to pray for a prosperous year ahead. Located at160 Steveston Hwy., Richmond, BC.
Ling Yen Mountain Temple
Ling Yen Mountain Temple will be holding a Traditional Ringing the Bell blessing ceremony on February 16 and 17.
Bodhi Meditation Centre
Bodhi Meditation Centre will be hosting an admission-free Lunar New Year Lantern Festival featuring glowing displays and blessing activities from February 20 to 22, running daily from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.
CF Richmond Centre
CF Richmond Centre will be hosting a Lion and Dragon Dance with eye-dotting ceremony, merchant “grabbing green” tour, and a God of Fortune appearance on February 21 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Visitors will also be enjoying cultural experiences including a calligraphy wall, lantern-making workshops, and digital red envelopes from February 17 to March 3.
Gateway Theatre
Gateway Theatre will be presenting Silk Road Music’s Lunar New Year Celebration matinee concert on February 28 at 2:00 pm.
Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site
At Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site, the Chinese Bunkhouse will be offering free zodiac-themed activities, games, and decoration-making sessions on February 14, 15, and 16 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Steveston Tram
The Steveston Tram will be running a themed Family Day scavenger hunt from February 13 to 16 between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site
The Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site will be featuring a Chinese lucky knot keychain workshop with admission and a free outdoor performance by the Vancouver Chinese Lion Dance Association on February 15 from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm.
Chinese New Year Free Printables for Kids
I’m offering FREE Chinese New Year printables to help kids learn about Chinese New Year (and to keep them busy!). You’ll find activity sheets, colourings pages, bing and more.
Gift Ideas
Mission Hill is marking their fifth Lunar New Year with the Fire Horse Collection, a commemorative trio featuring three of their most celebrated wines. The set includes 2022 Terroir Cabernet Sauvignon, 2020 Quatrain, and 2022 Perpetua, each recognized by WineAlign with Gold or Platinum awards. The collection is priced at $212 and is available for purchase online. Each order includes a branded Year of the Horse wine stopper, with complimentary shipping across British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
Mission Hill is also offering a Winery of the Year Celebratory Set, also priced at $212. This three-bottle set includes 2020 Compendium, 2022 Perpetua, and 2022 Terroir Meritage. The release marks their record sixth Winery of the Year title at the 2025 WineAlign National Wine Awards.
Lunar New Year Vancouver Dinner at Home
Here are some ideas on how to prepare a Lunar New Year Dinner at home.
Grocery Shopping in Vancouver Chinatown
Vancouver Chinatown shops offer many items at lower prices compared to elsewhere. There are shops that offer produce, meat and BBQ, live seafood, houseware and more.
What you need for a hot pot at home
Many people opt for a simple but comforting hot pot at home to celebrate Lunar New Year. Check out my guide on where to buy hot pot ingredients in Vancouver for tip and ideas.
Party Platters
Party trays can be ordered from the following restaurants:
- Western Lake (4989 Victoria Drive Vancouver, BC)
- T&T Supermarket (various locations, check out the flyer section to see what they are offering)
Lunar New Year Recipes
Check out my recipe on preparing Chinese Spicy Red Braised Pork Belly.
Sesame Bok Choy is a simple, healthy side dish to complement your Lunar New Year feast.
For a Lunar New Year breakfast, here is my recipe on Homemade Chinese Doughnuts, otherwise known as youtiao or 油条.
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