Every year, thousands of people come from all over to experience Lunar New Year in San Francisco. The Chinese New Year Parade in SF’s Chinatown is a world-famous celebration with an extensive history in the city, and it comes accompanied by numerous other cultural events. We listed out those festivities and many more in this guide to the best ways to celebrate the 2026 Lunar New Year in and around SF.
Lunar New Year takes place on February 17th, 2026, although SF’s festivities will be ongoing through February and March, and the parade won’t happen until March 7th.
The holiday honors the beginning of a new year according to the lunar calendar; that is, the date of the new moon appearing between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20. It correlates with the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac and five elements. 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse, which symbolizes energy, passion, and action. Many East Asian cultures celebrate Lunar New Year in a multitude of ways, including the Japanese Oshōgatsu, the Korean Seollal, and the Vietnamese Tết Nguyên Đán.
1. SF Chinese New Year Parade and Festival
San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade is one of the city’s most famous events, dating all the way back to 1851. It’s the oldest and largest celebration of its kind outside of Asia, showcasing over 100 units including elaborate floats, performers, and firecrackers. A team of 180 people puppets the showstopping 288-foot-long Golden Dragon (“Gum Lung”), which is undoubtedly a highlight of the parade.
On the weekend of the parade, Chinatown will also come to life with its massive annual Community Street Fair, which sets up over 120 booths on Washington, Jackson, Pacific, and Grant Avenues. This is a good place to purchase gorgeous artisan products, browse festive Lunar New Year decor, and watch even more performances. While the parade is only happening on Saturday, the street fair will be up all weekend.
🗓️ Date: The parade is on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 5:15pm and usually lasts around 2.5 hours. The Community Street Fair will happen on both Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8.
📍 Location: Chinatown, San Francisco, CA. Read our festival guide for more information.
2. Flower Market Fair
One of the Chinese New Year Festival’s biggest events is the Flower Market Fair along Grant Ave, which always takes place on the weekend before Lunar New Year Day. Thousands visit to purchase fresh flowers, fruits, candies, supplies, and decorations with which to decorate their home. Browse over 120 booths and enjoy performances by traditional Chinese magicians, acrobats, and dancers.
In Chinese culture, Lunar New Year is often celebrated with fruits like oranges and tangerines, which symbolize happiness, and fresh flowers and plants to symbolize growth and prosperity. You’ll find these items and many more at the Flower Market Fair.
🗓️ Date: Feb. 14-15, 2026
📍 Location: Grant Ave between Clay and Broadway in Chinatown, San Francisco, CA
3. More Chinese New Year Festival events
SF’s Chinese New Year Festival is best known for the parade, Flower Market Fair, and Community Street Fair. However, the festival also produces several more events between January and March that are worth putting on your radar. Below is their full schedule, including favorites like the Miss Chinatown Pageant and Chinatown YMCA Run.
🗓️ Dates:
- Jan. 31 – Mar. 15, 2026: Zodiac on Parade (horse sculpture art installations)
- Feb. 14-15, 2026: Flower Market Fair
- Feb. 17, 2026: Chinese New Year’s Day Opening Ceremony
- Feb. 28, 2026: Basketball Jamboree
- Mar. 6, 2026: Miss Chinatown Pageant and Coronation Ball
- Mar. 7, 2026: Chinese New Year Parade
- Mar. 7-8, 2026: Community Street Fair
- Mar. 15, 2026: YMCA Chinatown Chinese New Year Run
4. Lunar New Year events with the Asian Art Museum
The Asian Art Museum in San Francisco usually hosts family-friendly activities in honor of Lunar New Year. This year includes several ongoing events from different Asian cultural traditions.
🗓️ Dates:
- Feb. 8, 2026: Korean Seollal Celebration
- Feb. 15, 2026: Vietnamese Tết Celebration
📍 Location: Asian Art Museum – 200 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
5. After Dark: New Moon, New Year
This Lunar New Year, the Exploratorium presents a special “After Dark” event dedicated to welcoming the Year of the Horse. Learn about the significance of astronomical calendars and watch lively traditional dances.
🗓️ Date: Feb. 19, 2026
6. “Lunar Underground” NightLife
The California Academy of Sciences hosts these wonderful after-hours events on Thursday nights, where you can see the museum’s 60,000 animals up close without the daytime crowds. The event coinciding with Lunar New Year will honor the holiday with delicious food, LED lion dances, and one-of-a-kind decorations.
🗓️ Date: Feb. 19, 2026 at 6pm
📍 Location: California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr, San Francisco, CA 94118
7. SF Symphony Lunar New Year Concert and Banquet
SF Symphony presents the 26th annual Lunar New Year celebration and banquet supporting the Symphony’s annual programs. It begins with pre-concert entertainment in the lobby, followed by a concert inspired by a spectrum of Asian music and traditions and an elaborate banquet.
🗓️ Date: Feb. 28, 2026
📍 Location: Davies Symphony Hall – 201 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94102
8. Chinatown walking tours
Even if you can’t make it to Chinatown for one of the Lunar New Year events, this is still a great time of year to visit on your own time. We put together a guide with some of the neighborhood’s most famous attractions and restaurants, which makes for a good starting point for a self-guided tour. But you can also sign up for free guided walking tours courtesy of SF City Guides, which leave no stone unturned.
🗓️ Date: SF City Guides tours are ongoing. You can see their schedule here.
📍 Location: Chinatown, San Francisco, CA
9. SF restaurants serving traditional LNY food
Some popular foods to enjoy during Lunar New Year include dumplings, tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), spring rolls, fish, and longevity noodles. Here are a few restaurants where you can find all sorts of festive options.
- Palette Tea House – Dim sum in Fisherman’s Wharf with patio seating.
- Harborview Restaurant & Bar – Dim sum on the Embarcadero with a patio across from the Ferry Building.
- Dumpling Home – Find SF’s most affordable Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant in Hayes Valley.
- China Live – This high-end Chinese restaurant in Chinatown usually offers an extravagant Lunar New Year menu.
- Z&Y Restaurant – Bring the family for a delicious Peking duck meal to share in Chinatown.
- See more of our favorite Chinese restaurants here.
10. More Lunar New Year events around the Bay Area
Millbrae Lunar New Year Festival
Over 100 vendors will line the streets in downtown Millbrae for a celebration featuring lion dances, fire crackers, performances, martial arts, and delicious food.
🗓️ Date: Feb. 14, 2026
📍 Location: 200-400 blocks on Broadway, Millbrae, CA 94030
Little Saigon Tết Festival
The Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce presents a Tết Festival in Little Saigon in celebration of Vietnamese culture and Lunar New Year.
🗓️ Date: Feb. 15, 2026 from 12-5pm
📍 Location: Clinton Park – 655 International Boulevard Oakland, CA 94606 United States
Santana Row Lunar New Year
One of the Bay Area’s nicest shopping centers, Santana Row, will have a lunchtime celebration with lion dances, cultural performances, and surprise red envelopes.
🗓️ Date: Feb. 21, 2026 from 11am-1pm
📍 Location: Santana Row Park – 377 Santana Row, San Jose, CA 95128
Hội Xuân Lunar New Year Tết and Moon Festival
This large festival in San Jose is celebrating its 11th anniversary with a three-day festival honoring Vietnamese culture. Festivities include lion dancers, a student talent contest, carnival rides, and the crowning of Miss Vietnam California.
🗓️ Date: Feb. 20-22, 2026
📍 Location: Eastridge Center (former Sears parking) – 2200 Eastridge Loop, San Jose, CA 95122