The Must-Do Events This Lunar New Year

Gallop into the Year of the Horse: Sydney’s best Lunar New Year events for kids & families 🐎🧧

The Year of the Horse is officially here — and if you know a Horse, you know the vibe: energetic, confident, always on the move and not afraid of a little noise. Frankly? A perfect match for Sydney’s Lunar New Year celebrations.

Whether you’re chasing lion dances with wide-eyed preschoolers, feeding tweens their bodyweight in dumplings, or just want an excuse to wander lantern-lit streets after dark, Lunar New Year is one of the most joyful, family-friendly events on Sydney’s calendar.

Here’s where to go, what’s new, and the key dates to lock in now — before everyone else gets the same idea.

🏮 Sydney CBD & Surrounds

Chinatown, Haymarket and the CBD remain the beating heart of Lunar New Year in Sydney — and 2026 is shaping up to be a big one.

🐉 Sydney Lunar Festival

📅 14 February – 1 March 2026
📍 Haymarket, Chinatown & CBD

This is the flagship — and if you only do one Lunar New Year outing, make it this.

Across two full weeks, the city comes alive with lion and dragon dances, lantern installations, street performances, markets and enough good smells to derail any dinner plans. It’s high-energy, brilliantly chaotic and surprisingly easy to do with kids if you go early.

What families love

• Free events you can dip in and out of
• Lanterns + drums = instant kid buy-in
• Easy to pair with dinner, dessert or a museum visit

🏮 Lion Dancing & Cultural Performances

📅 Throughout the festival period (mid-Feb to late Feb)
📍 Town Hall, Darling Square, Chinese Garden of Friendship & surrounds

You’ll find lion dances popping up across the city during the festival — usually in the early evening and always crowd-pleasing. Expect big drums, acrobatics and kids frozen in awe (or covering their ears — both valid).

Inner West mum tip: arrive early and stand side-on for the best view (and easiest exit).

🏮 Lantern Installations (New & Returning)

Lanterns remain a huge drawcard in 2026, with illuminated installations lighting up Haymarket and surrounding streets throughout the festival period. These are made for evening wanders, post-dinner strolls and “just one more photo” moments.

🏮 Inner West Favourites (Yes, you can stay local)

🧧 Lunar New Year Launch in Ashfield

📅 Tuesday 17 February 2026
🕛 12:00pm – 3:00pm
📍 Ashfield Forecourt & Foyer, 260 Liverpool Rd, Ashfield

If you’re after a low-stress, daytime Lunar New Year outing, this is a great place to start.

Ashfield’s official Lunar New Year launch is family-friendly, accessible and perfectly timed for lunch-hour celebrations. Expect colour, noise and plenty of cultural moments without the late-night crowds.

What’s on

• 12:00pm — Lion Dance performance by Pak Hok Kung Fu
• 1:00–3:00pm — Cultural performances and activities presented by CASS

It’s a lovely introduction to Lunar New Year traditions for younger kids and a good option if you want to celebrate without committing to a full day out.

This event forms part of Inner West Council’s Lunar New Year 2026 Program.

🧨 Lunar New Year Hercules Street Gala

📅 Sunday 22 February 2026
🕛 12:00pm – 6:00pm
📍 Hercules Street & Fox Lane, Ashfield

If the launch is the warm-up, this is the main event.

Led by Unity Arts Alliance, the Hercules Street Gala sees Ashfield go full festival mode for an entire afternoon — streets closed, stages set, food sizzling and performances rolling one after another.

What to expect

• An open-air market along Hercules Street with diverse food vendors serving festive treats
• An outdoor stage with live music and contemporary performances
• Ashfield Town Hall transformed with curated cultural booths and indoor showcases
• A standout performance program featuring:
• 🦁 Lion and dragon dances
• 🥋 Shaolin Kung Fu
• 🎭 Peking Opera excerpts
• 🎨 Sichuan Opera face changing
• 🎶 Contemporary music, dance and drama
• 🙌 Interactive demonstrations designed to inspire local pride

🧧 Free Lunar New Year Celebration at Burwood Plaza

📅 Saturday 15 February 2026
🕛 10:00am – 2:00pm
📍 Burwood Plaza, Burwood Road, Burwood
🎟️ Free • All ages welcome

This one’s a real crowd-pleaser for families who want fun, food and culture without the crowds of the CBD.

Burwood Plaza comes alive with a free Lunar New Year celebration featuring:

• 🎶 Live performances throughout the morning

• 🎨 Kids’ activities and cultural workshops

• 🦁 Lion dancing to ring in the Year of the Horse

• 🍜 Food stalls with festive eats and treats

It’s perfect for littlies who still nap (you can be home before lunch ✌️) and a gentle introduction to Lunar New Year festivities if this is your family’s first time.

🏮 Greater Sydney: Worth the Trip

🐲 Cabramatta Lunar New Year Festival

📅 Saturday 28 February 2026
📍 Cabramatta Town Centre

Cabramatta doesn’t do Lunar New Year quietly — and that’s exactly why it’s so good.

This all-day festival is packed with lion dance workshops, roaming performers, kids’ rides, craft activities and some of the best street food in Sydney. It’s vibrant, joyful and unapologetically busy in the best possible way.

Why families make the trip

• Free, high-energy fun
• Great for primary-schoolers and tweens
• A proper cultural celebration kids can feel

🎨 Chatswood Lunar New Year Celebration Days

📅 Across February 2026
📍 Chatswood CBD & The Concourse

Chatswood’s Lunar New Year program is ideal for families with younger kids. Expect storytimes, craft sessions, performances and a big celebration day that feels festive without being overwhelming.

If this is your child’s first Lunar New Year outing, Chatswood is a brilliant place to start.

🌉 BridgeClimb Sydney — Lunar New Year Edition

📅 February 2026

For older kids and teens, BridgeClimb adds a special Lunar New Year twist during the festival period, complete with Year of the Horse keepsakes and unbeatable harbour views. Not an everyday activity — but definitely a memorable one.

About Author

Francesca Millena

Writer, foodie and ideas-sponge, Francesca grew up in the Inner West and loves writing about all things IW related from playgrounds and podcasts, restaurants and retail, bubble tea and basketball courts. Mum to an active child, she also knows a thing or two about keeping a little one entertained on a rainy day.

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