Lancaster First in England to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 with Spectacular festival
Lancaster will be the first city in England to host this year’s Chinese New Year Festival, which is expected to draw thousands. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the festival remains the only event of its kind in Lancashire.
More than 5,000 visitors are expected to attend the celebrations, welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse. Festival highlights include a cultural variety show and a street carnival. Around 600 red Chinese lanterns – symbols of good fortune and blessing – along with festive banners will decorate New Street, Penny Street and Market Street for an entire month.
Josh Leung, from organisers, Popber, said: “Lancaster Chinese New Year Festival 2026 aims to bring new energy and happiness to the community at the beginning of the year. The Year of the Horse itself is associated with energy, creativity, bravery, enthusiasm, and independence. Since we began we’ve received an outpouring of positive feedback and experienced many touching moments. Celebrating our fifth year is a major milestone.”
This year the cultural variety show takes place on Saturday 31 January at Lancaster Grand Theatre from 7.30pm. A main feature will be Shaolin Kung Fu masters who blend discipline, strength and breathtaking speed. Fifth-generation Kunqu successor Chloe Sun will take the audience into the refined world of China’s oldest operatic tradition with poetic gesture, silk-sleeved grace, crystalline vocals and storytelling.
The Youth Chinese Orchestra will bring a cinematic flair with traditional Chinese instruments alongside professional dancers who move between classical and contemporary modern styles. In song there will be melodies that blend rich tradition with originality.
“We’re bringing even more of what audiences love: more tradition, surprise and togetherness. Expect new arrangements, beautiful costumes and staging that brings you closer to the action,” said Josh.
Tickets available now from the Lancaster Grand Theatre box office and online from its website.
On Sunday 8 February the free family-friendly carnival and market take place in and around Lancaster Market Square, 10am – 6pm. The official festival opening ceremony is at 12 noon on the Market Square plinth, followed by a colourful, lively Dragon and Lions street parade.
At the carnival visitors can try workshops like calligraphy, Chinese traditional opera face mask painting and they can wear traditional costumes. There will be Chinese dance, instrumental music, singing and a Kungfu demonstration and drumming by Lancaster-based Batala.
Special guests include the Mayor of Lancaster, Councillor Margaret Pattison, and Lancaster City Council leader, Caroline Jackson and representatives from Lancaster University.
“Lancaster is home to a thriving Chinese community, including international students at Lancaster University. The festival is for everyone though and supports diversity and inclusivity in the city. Each year the cultural variety show is packed out and the free street carnival attracts thousands of people. The festival is now one of the region’s most popular events,” added Josh, a Lancaster University graduate and founding member of the festival team, one of the youngest organising committees in the country. Popber, a Community Interest Company, was set up to help businesses in the city and supported by Chinese students from Lancaster University.
Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year because it follows the lunar calendar. It starts with the new moon, any time between 21 January and 20 February. In 2026, it begins on February 17 and ends on March 3.
The free carnival is a non-profit event. It and the festival overall are supported by funding from a number of bodies. They include Arts Council England, the National Lottery Community Fund, Lancaster University, Lancaster University Confucius Institute, Lancaster BID and Lancashire County Council and Hainan Airlines.
Josh said: “We’d like to thank St Nicholas Arcades for their support and everyone who contributed to our crowdfunding campaign. Also Lancaster City Council and Totally Local Lancaster have been helpful to us.”