Sheffield is set to welcome the Year of the Horse with its biggest Lunar Chinese New Year Festival yet including a Peace Gardens takeover, city-wide events and a week of cultural celebration.
The main event? A free, two-day festival in the Peace Gardens on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February 2026, packed with world-class performers, lion and dragon dances, live music, street food, parades and family-friendly fun in the heart of the city.
But it’s not just a weekend celebration – it’s a full cultural takeover. Events kick off yesterday (Monday 16 February) with a light switch-on at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, followed by the Gala Spectacular at The Octagon on Wednesday 18 February – an electric ticketed evening of Chinese acrobatics, dance, martial arts and live performance, with proceeds going to The Children’s Hospital Charity.
The week builds with cultural exhibitions at Meadowhall (15–20 February), a free night of live performance at The Oasis on Friday 20 February, and in-school workshops led by the Sheffield Confucius Institute – offering taster sessions in Mandarin, calligraphy, brush painting and traditional crafts.
The main festival weekend will see Sheffield city centre come alive, with highlights including:
- The world champion Acrobatic Lion Dance team from Foshan, China, performing at the top of Fargate
- A symbolic Eye-Dotting Ceremony outside Sheffield Town Hall on Sunday
- The show-stopping ‘Lion Meets the Dragon’ parade, with support from The Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Cllr Safiya Saeed
- A rolling programme of local, national and international acts on the Peace Gardens stage hosted by Dom Ng and Liesl Soards
- Martial arts, cultural fashion shows, live instrumental sets and street food galore
One standout moment will be the International Cultural Costume Show, choreographed by former supermodel Heather Stewart-Whyte, featuring Miss South Yorkshire 2025/26 Whitney Dsane and a welcome from Baroness Anette von Kohorn. Reimagined by Cultura Creative, the show champions diverse, inclusive representation on stage.
Now in its third year as a major public event, the festival is led by Cultural Inclusive CIC, with support from Sheffield BID, Sheffield City Council and title sponsor Chery, who’ll also be onsite during the weekend with family activities and a showcase of their Tiggo vehicle range.
Importantly, the festival reflects Sheffield’s multicultural identity, with representation from South Asian, African, Roma, Filipino communities and the Sheffield Kerala Association all sharing the stage.
Festival organiser Jerry Cheung says: “This festival has always been about more than just performance. It’s about connection, learning from one another and celebrating what makes Sheffield so special. Last year’s response was incredible – this year, we’re taking it even further.”
More info and Octagon Gala tickets:
sheffieldlunarchinesenewyear.com
@sheffieldlunarchinesenewyear
