Various locations across Edinburgh
Also known as Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year is a celebration of the New Year according to the lunisolar calendar, beginning on 17 February 2026, with festivities traditionally lasting for 16 days. Celebrated throughout South East Asia, the focus is on spending time with family, exchanging gifts, festive decorations, and the countdown celebrations and firework extravaganzas on New Year’s Eve.
Each year is attributed to an animal from the 12 year cycles of the Chinese zodiac, and 2026 is the Year of the Horse. A symbol of movement, momentum and forward progress, in Chinese astrology people born under this sign are credited with strength, perseverance and aspiration, and this year is thought to be great for innovation, high energy and bold action.
The lead up to the celebrations is filled with traditions, including sweeping away the dust to get rid of any bad luck from the old year, gifting red envelopes containing money to friends and family, and putting up decorations of red, gold and the coming year’s zodiac animal. Family get-togethers also form an important part of the festivities, with the New Year’s Eve dinner taking centre stage.
In Edinburgh there’s a great range of celebrations from concerts and performances, to shopping experiences and workshops, to enjoy and take part in. View the full programme of events on Chinese New Year Celebrations.
