How To Celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 In Hong Kong: CNY Events & Markets

Wondering how to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 in Hong Kong? We’ve rounded up Year of the Horse events, parades and flower markets, plus lion dances and more!

We may be about a month into 2026 but the real big deal in Hong Kong is Chinese New Year! Once you’ve learnt the traditional customs, made sure your ben ming nian isn’t coming to bite you, sorted out the perfect festive fit, booked your Chinese New Year meal and gathered lai see to give out (I’m talking to you, newlyweds!) — you’re ready to celebrate the biggest festival of the year. We’re talking Chinese New Year fireworks, the Cathay CNY parade and so much more for the Year of the Horse.

Editor’s Note: This article is being continuously updated with Chinese New Year information and offerings.

Read More: Auspicious Chinese New Year Menus & Buffets

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When Is Chinese New Year?

Chinese New Year celebrates the start of the Chinese lunisolar calendar year, tending to mark the end of a cold, dark winter and welcome spring. This year, the first day of that calendar will fall on Tuesday, 17 Februrary, 2026, welcoming the Year of the Horse — a creature that symbolises enthusiasm, speed and perseverance in Chinese culture.

Traditionally, the festival could be celebrated for up to 15 days, starting from its Eve through to the Spring Lantern Festival (not to be confused with the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival). We get three statutory public holidays for the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong, so Chinese New Year holidays will run from Tuesday, 17 February to Thursday, 19 February, 2026.

Read More: Public Holidays In 2026 – How to Maximise Your Annual Leave

CNY Events: How To Celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 In Hong Kong

Chinese New Year Flower Markets 2026 — Victoria Park & More

Heading to a Chinese New Year flower market in Hong Kong is almost synonymous with the festival. We’re expecting a total of 14 Lunar New Year fairs and flower markets across the city in 2026, with the biggest at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. Fairs will open on Wednesday, 11 February, giving you plenty of time to get ready for the new year — stock up on festive flowers, lucky kumquat trees, CNY decorations and Year of the Horse plushies and toys, while munching on Hong Kong-style eats and other treats.

When: Wednesday, 11 to Tuesday, 17 February, 2026
Where: 14 locations across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, the New Territories and Outlying Islands, at various parks and playgrounds
How much: Free entry

Lee Tung Avenue — Lanterns and Blossoms celebrate the Year of the Horse

With ‘Lanterns and Blossoms’, Lee Tung Avenue is wowing the crowd as usual with over 800 iconic Chinese lanterns forming a shimmering sea of lights to ring in the Year of the Horse. 12 pink peach blossom trees will transform the Central Piazza into a feng shui courtyard, bringing good fortune to its onlookers — and providing the perfect photo op spot! We can also expect Lee Tung Avenue to put on a magnificent traditional Dragon and Lion dance as it’s done in years past.

When: Thursday, 29 January to Sunday, 15 March, 2026; 10am to 11pm
Where: Lee Tung Avenue, 200 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
How much: Free entry

Discovery Bay Chinese New Year Weekend Market 2026 — Handmade Hong Kong

Make sure to pencil in Handmade Hong Kong’s annual Chinese New Year Market in Discovery Bay! Again, beautiful handmade offerings from local vendors will be on offer, like art, jewellery, candles, activewear, apparel, sweet treats, savoury eats and so much more over the course of two spectacular days.

When: Saturday, 14 to Sunday, 15 February, 2026; 11am to 6pm
Where: DB Plaza, 1 Discovery Bay Road, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island, New Territories, Hong Kong
How much: Free entry

2026 Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade

Cathay’s Chinese New Year Night Parade is back! Expect a procession of stunning floats to spread auspiciousness and luck across Tsim Sha Tsui, plus plenty of musical and dance performances before, during and after. Buy tickets for spectator stands or find somewhere along the parade route to view for free — make sure to check the parade route map!

When: Tuesday, 17 February, 2026, 6pm to 8:30pm (pre-parade performance), 8pm to 9:45pm (night parade)
Where: Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. From Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, 10 Salisbury Road through Canton Road, Haiphong Road and Nathan Road — see the parade route map here
How much: Free if you head to a spectator-friendly spot along the parade route. You can also buy tickets for spectator stands from the Hong Kong Tourism Board Kowloon Visitor Centre located in the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier

Lam Tsuen Well-Wishing Festival, Wishing Tree & Night Market

Visit Lam Tsuen’s Wishing Tree to participate in Hong Kong’s Well-Wishing Festival — the age-old custom of writing your hopes and dreams for the year ahead on joss paper and throwing them into the wishing tree’s branches in Tai Po. If your paper stays on the tree without falling back down, it’s believed that your wish will come true! This year, we’re expecting lotus lanterns, golden mandarins, food stalls and a couple of performances. 

When: Tuesday, 17 February to Tuesday, 3 March, 2026
Where: Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree, Lam Tsuen Wishing Square, Lam Tsuen Heung Kung Sho Road, Lam Tsuen, New Territories, Hong Kong
How much: Free

2026 Lunar New Year Fireworks Display In Hong Kong

Catch the annual Chinese New Year Fireworks show from either side of the Victoria Harbour; watching a guaranteed-to-be big, beautiful display as Hong Kong ushers in the Year of the Horse with a 23-minute fireworks performance themed ‘Prosperity Gallops Across Hong Kong’. The best places to watch the fireworks in Hong Kong will be along the shores of Tsim Sha Tsui, Central, Admiralty and Wan Chai — see our top fireworks vantage spots here.

When: Wednesday, 18 February, 2026; 8pm
Where: Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong