London’s Lunar New Year 2026: Parade, Feasts & Festivities
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, arrives Tuesday, February 17, 2026, heralding the energetic Year of the Horse. Widely celebrated across China, Tibet, Vietnam, and Korea, London prepares for a vibrant series of events.
London's main festivities unfold February 21-22, 2026, centered around Chinatown, Trafalgar Square, and Soho. Saturday, February 21, features lion dance performances in Chinatown. The highlight, the Chinese New Year Parade, departs Trafalgar Square at 10 am Sunday, February 22. This grand procession, showcasing Europe's largest gathering of Chinese dragons and lions, luminous floats, drumming, and dancing, weaves through central London before concluding in Chinatown. The afternoon continues with lion dancing, street food, cultural workshops in Leicester Square, and various performances in Trafalgar Square.
Beyond the parade, numerous London venues offer unique celebrations. Culinary highlights include XI Home Dumplings Bay's lion-faced matcha dumplings (Feb 1-15) and Canton Blue's upscale Cantonese set menu (Feb 3-Mar 3). Chop Chop at The Hippodrome features lion dances and a 20% discount for Year of the Horse individuals (Feb 16-19). Duck & Waffle presents a high-altitude feast (Feb 16-20), while Dear Asia in Aldgate hosts horse decoration crafting (Feb 17).
Cultural activities abound, with Greenwich Peninsula hosting dragon/lion dances, tea tasting, and traditional workshops on February 21. The National Maritime Museum provides free family-friendly events like Chinese calligraphy and lantern making on the same day. For authentic Asian cuisine, Chinatown is key, alongside recommendations for Korean in New Malden, Vietnamese in Hackney, and Tibetan in Woolwich. The article details extensive celebrations but does not mention any associated risks.
(Source: https://londonist.com/london/things-to-do/chinese-new-year-london-lunar-new-year)
