A guide to Lunar New Year in Adelaide
Lunar New Year (or Spring Festival) is just around the corner, which means Adelaideans (along with many others all around the world) will soon be ringing in the Year of the Fire Horse. Unlike the recent New Year’s Eve celebration on 31 December, Lunar New Year follows the lunisolar calendar with the first day of the new year beginning on 17 February 2026.
Even if Lunar New Year is not a part of your cultural celebrations, everyone is welcome to enjoy the many events and customs that accompany it. If you’re wanting to join in on the festivities but aren’t too sure how, or where to start, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of our recommendations on how to ring in the Year of the Horse in Adelaide.
Attend the Lunar New Year Street Party
Each year, Adelaide celebrates the festive season with an unmissable street party in Chinatown on Gouger Street. For one day, a section of this popular city street closes to car traffic to celebrate Lunar New Year. This year will be a little different with social distancing but will still have the same fun and colour of years past.
See exhibitors and entertainers showcasing traditions through art and food on Saturday 21 February 2026. Stalls will trade from 12-9pm, with the official festivities running from 6-7:30pm.
Host a reunion dinner
Reunion dinners are one of the most important moments of Lunar New Year. Held on the eve of the new year, the reunion dinner is typically a big feast for families to come together and reflect on the past year. The dinners can take on different forms, such as a banquet style, or in some Southeast Asian cultures, a hot-pot dinner.
Looking for something special? From Thursday 29 January, Huami is offering a bountiful nine-dish Lunar New Year Banquet, designed by Chef Johnny Zong. With standout Cantonese delicacies including a fruit wood-oven roast meat platter, eight treasures lotus leaf rice and live fish steamed with ginger and scallion soy sauce, it's an abundant feast made for sharing with friends and family!
Enjoy dazzling lion dance performances at T-Chow, running from 7:15pm on 17, 20 & 21 February and a special lunchtime performance on 22 February. Don't forget to book in for their Chinese New Year banquet for an authentic feast.
Watch a cultural performance
Rundle Mall paints the pedestrian mall strip red on Friday 20 February to celebrate Lunar New Year. Look out for the famous lion dance and don't miss the God of Fortune handing out lucky red envelopes. A traditional gift handed out during Lunar New Year by elders (or married couples) to younger generations, your red envelope might contain gilded chocolates or a range of shopping vouchers. One lucky visitor will find a $250 Rundle Mall voucher in their envelope!
Adelaide Arcade will be transformed into a magnificent display of glowing Chinese lanterns to symbolise happiness and bring good luck for the new year. Join in on Tuesday 17 February, at 1pm to watch spectacular lion dancers perform a special Lunar New Year show! Keep an eye out for lucky red envelopes containing chocolates and maybe an Adelaide Arcade voucher!
Celebrate Lunar New Year at the Adelaide Central Market, with a traditional lion dance amongst market stalls on Saturday 21 February at 10:30. Kids can join in the fun with a free Lunar New Year craft and face painting until 12pm. While you're in the area, don't forget to stop past the Year of the Horse art installation at the Grote Street entrance to Chinatown on Moonta Street, snap a selfie for good luck!
Little ones will also enjoy the Chinese New Year Multilingual Storytime at the Adelaide City Libraries. Take in stories and songs as you learn about the Chinese Zodiac.
Go visiting
At its heart, Lunar New Year is a time for family and friends to come together. Take some time over the period of the festival to catch up with relatives, or friends. When visiting, it’s always a good idea to not go empty handed. Some ideas for gifts are fruits (mandarins, pineapples, apples are auspicious choices), tea (of any kind), or sweets — to symbolise a sweet life.
Head to Adelaide Central Market for the freshest produce for your Lunar New Year feast. Thompson's Fruit & Veg (Stall 26-28) is your one-stop shop for gorgeous Golden Pears, Singo Pears, lychees and good fortune Fuji apples!
Milk yuzu crunch, milk matcha and peppermint fudge or special selections housed in exclusive red and gold designs — treat your loved ones to Haigh's limited-edition collection inspired by Lunar New Year.
Looking for more unmissable events and new experiences in the city? View What’s On in Adelaide. Want the latest delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the weekly Experience ADL newsletter for the inside scoop of things to do and see.