Lancaster Chinese New Year

24/04/2026

What an incredible celebration.

Our Chinese New Year Festival 2026 has now come to a successful close, and we are truly grateful to everyone who made it possible.

This year, our indoor Cultural Variety Show at Lancaster Grand Theatre achieved over 95% occupancy, filling the theatre with music, dance, Shaolin Kung Fu, Kunqu Opera, singing and the warmth of our community.

Our outdoor celebration also brought thousands of people into Lancaster city centre to enjoy the parade, performances, workshops, food, culture and festive atmosphere together.

We have just finished editing the official festival video, and watching it back has reminded us how special this year was — every smile, every performance, every volunteer, every family, and every moment of support helped bring the festival to life.

A huge thank you to our artists, performers, volunteers, partners, sponsors, funders, traders, local businesses, media supporters, and every single person who attended, shared, donated, helped, or cheered us on.

This festival is not just about one event. It is about bringing people together, celebrating culture, creating memories, and building a more connected community.

From all of us at the Lancaster Chinese New Year Festival — thank you for being part of our story. ❤️

Please enjoy our festival highlights video, and we hope to see you again next year! 🐎✨

01/03/2026

Come to join the workshop in Lancaster University! 🧧🏮

Ink painting workshops with artist Li Qingyu.
All welcome, please register via the links below. ⬇️
Li Qingyu is a contemporary Chinese artist who has long devoted himself to freehand ink-and-brush paintings.

These workshops allow participants to understand the essential techniques and to create their own ink and brush work of art according to Chinese practice.

All materials will be provided.

🟡Monday 2 March 2026, 5:30pm-7:00pm, at Lancaster University Confucius Institute (The Roundhouse) - https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/confucius-institute/events/ink-painting-workshop-with-artist-li-qingyu

🟡Thursday 5 March 2026, 1:00pm-2:30pm at Lancaster Central Library - https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/confucius-institute/events/ink-painting-workshop-with-artist-li-qingyu-2026-03-05-13-00

🟡 Thursday 5 March 2026, 3:00pm-4:30pm at Lancaster Central Library - https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/confucius-institute/events/ink-painting-workshop-with-artist-li-qingyu-2026-03-05-13-00-2

28/02/2026

17/02/2026

✨ So excited to share that our lovely organiser Josh was invited for a BBC Radio interview!

He talked about the sweet and unexpected connection between Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) and Chinese New Year this year.

Wondering why Tom Felton’s face is upside down in China? Come and have a listen~ ✨ So fun and cute!

12/02/2026

A Sunday to Remember in Lancaster! 🏮🐎✨

We’re looking back at the absolutely spectacular celebrations we shared this past Sunday, 8th February. The energy, the colour, and the warmth that filled the streets of Lancaster were truly something else!

As we gallop into the Year of the Horse, we celebrate everything this zodiac represents: strength, vitality, and the spirit of charging forward toward success. 🐎 It was so moving to see that vibrant energy reflected across the city.

We were completely blown away by the immense turnout! Seeing so many families, friends, and visitors coming together was heartwarming, and having that beautiful winter sunshine ☀️ grace us all day made the magic even more real.

The city was buzzing with: 🏮 Breath-taking Dragon & Lion Dances 🥋 Powerful Kung Fu & elegant Traditional Dance 🎶 Enchanting Live Music, songs, & mind-bending Magic 🎨 Creative Cultural Workshops that were busy all day long!

We’ve received so much wonderful feedback already and it truly means the world to us. Your smiles make all the hard work worthwhile! ❤️

A HUGE thank you to everyone who came out to support us, and an immense shout-out to our incredible Sponsors for making this cultural milestone possible：

The National Lottery Community Fund

Lancashire County Council

Lancaster University

Lancaster University Confucius Institute

Arts Council England

Lancaster BID

Lancaster City Council

Hainan Airlines Global

Tora Ramen

St Nics

12/02/2026

From a tiny student flat… to New York Times Square, BBC, and ITV.

That still doesn’t feel real to type — but it’s real. And the reason it happened is simple: we’ve done this with our hearts every single year.

Five years ago, we were literally sat there asking, “Where should we celebrate Chinese New Year… Manchester? London?”
And then the question that changed everything came out of nowhere:

“Why not here — with our friends, and with everyone in Lancaster?”

That’s where the story started.

Over the past five years, we’ve grown from two people into a bigger team — learning, building, and adding something new every year. We’ve always wanted the festival to keep its traditional heart, but also feel fun, modern, and genuinely enjoyable for the people around us — not just “something to watch”, but something the whole city can feel part of.

Honestly, organising the Lancaster Chinese New Year Festival feels like writing a love letter to Lancaster every year.
The theatre variety show. The lion and dragon parade. The performances. The cultural workshops.
Every year we ask ourselves the same thing:

How do we push our limits — and make next year even better?

And yes… that mindset comes with huge challenges. People have told us, “You don’t need to aim that high.”
But we do — because we want to give the best to the city, the audience, and the community here. We’ve brought top-class performers from across the UK on a national level — and some have even travelled all the way from China to be part of this celebration.

Because when we commit, we commit with our whole hearts.

Five years might sound like a short chapter… but think about a child who was 5 when we started. When they’re 10, this festival has been part of half their childhood. That’s powerful.
And it’s exactly why we do it: we hope children in Lancaster can grow up learning more about Asian cultures, celebrating alongside neighbours from every background, and feeling proud of how diverse and warm this community is.

Every smile on the day. Every message after. Every comment under our posts.
It genuinely means the world to us — and it’s the reason we keep going, even when it’s tough.

Because this all started with two of us, in a tiny living room in student accommodation, holding on to a small dream.
Now it’s grown into something bigger — something known nationally — and we truly can’t thank you enough.

So, since this is our 5th year, we want to hear from you:

What’s your biggest impression or favourite memory from the festival?
How many years have you celebrated with us — or is this your first time?

Your words mean more than you know.

Happy New Year to everyone — and wishing you all 馬到成功 in the Year of the Horse 🐎🧧

09/02/2026

Did you spot yourself in the news? 📸✨

The Lancaster Guardian has just released a gallery of 30 incredible, vibrant photos from our 5th anniversary celebrations! From the dragon parade to the smiling faces in Market Square, these photos perfectly capture the energy you all brought to the city.

A massive thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate the Year of the Horse with us. Lancaster, you looked amazing! 🐎❤️

Thousands of people celebrated the best of Chinese culture in Lancaster when the city welcomed in the Year of the Horse.

08/03/2025

🎊 Thank You for Celebrating Lancaster Chinese New Year 2025 with Us! 🎊

What an incredible festival! ❤️🐲 From the breathtaking performances to the vibrant parades, cultural workshops, and thousands of smiling faces, this year’s Lancaster Chinese New Year Festival was truly unforgettable!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who joined us—whether you participated in the parade, attended the variety show, explored the workshops, or simply came along to celebrate. Your energy and enthusiasm made this festival so special!

A special shoutout to all the performers, volunteers, partners, and sponsors who helped bring this event to life. Your dedication and support made it all possible!

✨ Relive the Magic! ✨
🎥 Check out our official event highlights video and see all the best moments from the festival!

We hope you all had a fantastic time celebrating the Year of the Dragon with us, and we can’t wait to make next year even bigger and better! 🐉

The Festival is funded and supported by:
Lancashire County Council Crowdfund Lancashire
Lancaster University
Lancaster University Confucius Institute
Arts Council England
The National Lottery Community Fund
BID Lancaster Love Lancaster BID
CVS Lancaster
Lancaster City Council
Hainan Airlines Global
Edovy

Let us know in the comments your favourite moments from the festival! 🎆