The Year of the Horse is upon us, which means it won’t be long before Vancouver’s beloved Chinatown Spring Festival and Parade return. The longstanding tradition marks the start of the Lunar New Year, though in 2026, the celebration will fall on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. So get ready to mark your calendars.
The beloved festival is a signature cultural event of Vancouver’s Chinatown and is expected to attract close to 200,000 people this year. Organizers include the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver, the Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association, S.U.C.C.E.S.S., the Chinese Freemasons Vancouver Branch, and the Shon Yee Benevolent Association of Canada.
“The Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival serves as an important window for showcasing the vitality and appeal of this cultural heritage to the world,” says Huang Shun, Consul of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Vancouver at a recent press conference.
According to Shun, the horse in Chinese culture represents perseverance and forward momentum. 2026 is an especially significant year, however, as it’s the year of the “Fire Horse,” an emblem of passion, strong energy, and renewal.
Canada’s largest assembly of traditional lion dancers
The festival not only has one of the largest non-commercial annual parades in Vancouver, but also features Canada’s largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams.
According to organizers, the parade will be held on Feb. 22, 2026, kicking off at Millennium Gate in Chinatown at 11 a.m. The parade will then travel along East Pender and Gore Streets, wrapping up at the intersection of Keefer and Carrall Streets.
Spanning 1.3 km, the parade will dazzle the streets of Chinatown for three whole hours, giving festival-goers plenty of opportunities to get in on the cultural celebration. According to the festival’s website, participants in the parade include representatives from all three levels of the Canadian government, military and police contingents, diplomats, and a slew of community organizations and dance groups.
Spring Festival Cultural Fair
The Spring Festival Cultural Fair will take place at the Chinese Cultural Centre and Dr. Sun Yat-sen Garden Courtyard (50 East Pender St.) following the parade, from 2 to 4 p.m. Organizers share that this fair will showcase a variety of multicultural performances, including live theatre, singing, dancing, and other artistic programming.
As with the parade, admission to the cultural fair is completely free.
Since its inception in 1974, the Chinatown Spring Festival has become one of the largest and most representative multicultural events in Canada. It’s a chance to come together with your community and loved ones and welcome the new year, regardless of your background.
Mark your calendars and get ready to ring in the Year of the “Fire Horse!”
When: Feb. 22, 2026
Time: Parade starts at 11 a.m.
Where: Parade travels along East Pender, Gore, and finishes at the intersection of Keefer and Carrall Streets.
Cost: Free admission
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