Liverpool will welcome in Chinese New Year with vibrant events and activities.
Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22 marks the start of 2026 as the Year of the Horse with events taking place across the city centre to commemorate it.
The main New Year celebrations will be held on the Sunday in and around Liverpool’s Chinatown, home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe.
A smaller, quieter programme of events are due to be held on the Saturday alongside activities taking place across both days between 11am and 5pm.
They include family workshops, Tai Chi demonstrations, live music, street theatre, unique stage performances, a fairground, and food and craft stalls, plus firecracker displays and traditional dragon, lion, and unicorn parades on Sunday only.
Leading up to the main celebrations, the Liverpool Hung Gar Kung Fu Friendship Association, Pagoda Arts, and award-winning dance company Movema, will lead a procession through the city centre on Saturday, February 14, joined by members of the Chinese community to showcase traditional costumes and performances.
Incorporating colourful Beijing opera-style costumes and stilt walkers, the procession will start at 1pm from Church Alley, onto Church Street, leading on to Paradise Street in Liverpool One before heading to the Royal Albert Dock.
Thousands of red lanterns will also adorn the streets around Chinatown, Liverpool One and Royal Albert Dock Liverpool from February 14, and some of the city’s most iconic buildings – including the Town Hall and St George’s Hall – will be illuminated red in honour of the new year.
This year also sees the installation of two breathtaking lantern centrepieces.
A majestic horse and a pair of formidable dragons have been specially commissioned by Culture Liverpool, Royal Albert Dock and Liverpool One for this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations.
Each illuminated sculpture has been meticulously handcrafted in Zigong, China – the global capital of traditional lantern-making – by master artisans and engineers at SC Genial Tech.
Blending centuries‑old craft with cutting‑edge innovation, the team has produced an unforgettable, immersive experience designed to captivate audiences of all ages.
Members of the community who have Chinese New Year activity happening in and around the Liverpool City Region can submit their event to be listed on the Culture Liverpool website.
Ming Wang, secretary general of the Liverpool Chinese Business Association and the Merseyside Chinese Association Joint Action Group, said: “As we turn the page from the Year of the Snake, we gallop joyfully into the vibrant Year of the Horse – a year bursting with strength, freedom, and spirited adventure.
“Our local Chinese community, Culture Liverpool, and many partner organisations have once again come together with great heart and dedication to create a dazzling programme of arts and cultural events for all to enjoy.
“This festival shines with energy, excitement, and joy, offering a lively and diverse array of free activities for children and adults alike.
“We warmly welcome everyone to come and join the celebrations.”