NYC’s Ultimate Lunar New Year Guide 2026 — Parades, Parties & Where To Eat For The Year of the Horse

Chelsea Market is going all out for Lunar New Year with a free, full-day celebration hosted by Pearl River Mart on Sunday, March 1.

The annual Lunar New Year Extravaganza transforms the iconic food hall into a buzzing cultural playground, complete with live ribbon and lion dancing, roaming performers, hands-on crafts, and plenty of food to snack on between activities.

Throughout the day, visitors can try their hand at mahjong (with teachers on hand), meet a Chinese metaphysics practitioner for personalized calendar consultations, and browse interactive art activities led by children’s book author Sylvia Chen.

The festivities are rounded out by Lunar New Year–inspired bites and drinks from Chelsea Market favorites like Mao’s Bao, Kimbap Lab, Tea and Milk, Maxi’s Noodle Pop-Up, and more.

It’s free to attend (food and drink available for purchase).

Manhattan’s Chinatown hosts the city’s biggest Lunar New Year celebration with its annual parade and neighborhood-wide street party on Sunday, March 1.

Celebrating the Year of the Horse, the beloved event fills the streets with colorful dragon and lion dances, booming drums, martial arts teams, marching bands, and elaborate floats weaving through the heart of Chinatown.

The parade kicks off around 1 pm and is paired with an all-day street festival featuring food vendors, cultural booths, and nonstop energy throughout the neighborhood.

Expect confetti in the air, giant horse-themed décor, and crowds lining the route from Mott Street through East Broadway and beyond.

The festivities also include a pre-parade Firecracker Ceremony and Cultural Festival earlier in the week, where thousands of firecrackers are set off to ward away bad spirits, followed by live performances and family-friendly activities. More details here.

Flushing Town Hall is going all out for Lunar New Year 2026 with one of NYC’s most wide-ranging celebrations, spanning art exhibitions, live music, film, workshops, and cultural rituals from across Asia and the diaspora.

Running from late January through February, the annual program honors the Year of the Red Horse with events representing Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Mongolian traditions—making it one of the city’s most diverse Lunar New Year lineups.

Highlights include Red Horizon: Art. Heritage. New Energy, a free contemporary art exhibition featuring Asian artists working across painting, sculpture, and mixed media; a Korean tea ceremony–led opening reception; genre-blending concerts that fuse traditional music with rock and modern sound; a hands-on horse painting workshop for all ages; a global animation film festival; and a rare chance to experience Mongolian throat singing live. More details here.

Hudson Yards is going all out for Lunar New Year with weeks of festive programming celebrating the Year of the Horse.

From February 2–22, The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards will host cultural performances, hands-on workshops, and larger-than-life installations in partnership with the New York Chinese Cultural Center.

Highlights include two towering 12-foot horse sculptures decorated with vibrant florals, lanterns, and hand fans, plus free lantern-making workshops on February 4 and February 11 (registration required).

Throughout the month, visitors can also catch traditional lion dances, flowing Dunhuang silk ribbon dances, and Shaolin Kung Fu performances taking place inside the Great Room.

The celebration extends beyond performances, too—shoppers can score limited-edition Lunar New Year collections, lucky red envelopes with prizes, and special perks like discounted Edge tickets. Even Vessel gets in on the festivities, glowing red for the holiday. More details here.

Industry City is bringing Lunar New Year energy to Sunset Park with not one, but two festive events celebrating the Year of the Horse.

On February 19, the campus will host a traditional Lion Dance performance by the Wan Chi Ming Dragon and Lion Dance Team, featuring rhythmic drumming, colorful processions, and blessings for local businesses as the parade winds through Industry City—from Box Tower to Innovation Alley. It’s free, family-friendly, and packed with classic Lunar New Year spectacle.

The celebrations continue on February 22 when Green Tile Social Club returns with its wildly popular Lunar New Year Mahjong Party.

Expect 40 Hong Kong–style mahjong tables, a curated market of AAPI-owned businesses, raffle giveaways, a café with local Asian vendors, live DJ sets, and interactive programming—all celebrating the diversity of NYC’s Asian American diaspora through a shared love of mahjong. More details here.

Midtown’s iconic Peninsula New York is ringing in the Year of the Horse with a refined Lunar New Year celebration that blends tradition, spectacle, and seriously good food.

Drawing on the brand’s Asian heritage, the festivities kick off with a traditional Lion Dance on February 17, starting outside the hotel and continuing into the grand lobby—an energizing way to welcome luck, prosperity, and fresh beginnings.

Food lovers can also book the hotel’s Lunar New Year–themed Asian Brunch Buffet at Clement Restaurant, taking place on February 15.

The lavish spread features classic dishes like handmade dumplings, a congee bar, char siu BBQ pork, five-spice roasted duck legs, spring rolls, longevity noodles, and festive Horseshoe shortbread cookies—all served in a beautifully decorated setting.

Families can celebrate Lunar New Year with a festive morning (or afternoon) at MOCA, filled with interactive performances, hands-on crafts, and tasty treats.

Highlights include:

• Lion Dance & Ribbon/Fan Workshops: Learn moves from professional performers and create your own floating ribbon or fan.
• Sugar Painting & Tang Yuan Making: Watch live sugar art and make traditional rice balls representing togetherness.
• Storytime & Author Meet-and-Greet: Join Vickie Lee for Ruby’s Chinese New Year and learn Lunar New Year legends with MOCA educators.
• Gallery Hunt & Zodiac Photo Corner: Explore the museum with riddles and snap a photo with high-stepping horses.
• Drop-In Arts & Crafts: Make lanterns, 3D horse models, and Nian monster noisemakers.

Stop by Queens Center to enjoy a vibrant parade featuring The Chinese FreeMasons Lion Dancers on February 21, plus creative with crafts for all ages led by Chris Deng!

It’s free and happening on the second level near Starbucks. More details here.

If your Lunar New Year plans lean more cocktails-and-DJ than parade crowds, head to the Lower East Side for LES After Dark: Year of the Horse at UNTITLED Hotel’s rooftop bar, UNLISTED.

The spirited celebration takes over the 11th floor on February 21 with skyline views, festive energy, and a playful nod to the symbolism of the Fire Horse—passion, courage, and optimism.

The night features music by resident DJ Ezzek, electric custom cocktails crafted just for the occasion, and Water Magic Fortune Telling—drop a piece of paper into water to reveal your 2026 fortune.

Entry is free with RSVP, making this one of the most fun (and affordable) Lunar New Year parties in NYC.

Ring in the Year of the Horse with festive menus, celebratory dishes, and limited-edition treats across the city!

From traditional dumplings to creative modern takes, here are some spots to celebrate with food:

• Santi – Italian takes on Lunar New Year with duck in Cara Cara orange, pappardelle with Montauk prawns and XO-inspired sauce, plus an Italian-flavored mooncake to take home.
• Soothr LIC – Seasonal menu featuring Ha Gao shrimp dumplings, steamed crab-pork rolls, Lobster XO, and a Fortune Mandarin dessert symbolizing luck and prosperity.
• Godunk – Celebrate with a complimentary grilled hamachi collar for tables spending $100+, a simple way to honor the holiday.
• Breads Bakery – Good Fortune Babka layered with red bean, caramel, chocolate, and miso glaze; portion of proceeds supports Asian American elders.
• CheLi – Shanghainese specialties like crispy mandarin fish, golden-fried soft-shell crab, and Three Blessings desserts celebrating prosperity, strength, and reunion.
• Kiko – Two-night chef collaboration featuring lobster wontons with yuzu broth, black vinegar beef rib, and a six-course menu paired with wine and sake.
• Grandma’s Home – Family-style menu with Lunar Prosperity Dumplings, Typhoon Shelter Lobster, braised yellow croaker with rice cakes, and a Golden Persimmon Mousse.
• Genesis House – Korean-inspired dining with Tteokmanduguk soup and a Year of the Horse cocktail for renewal and prosperity.
• Kings Co. Imperial – Bold Lunar New Year specials including Crab Rangoon soup dumplings, Dan Dan lasagna dumplings, red-braised pork belly, and HK-style crispy fried chicken.