In Chinese culture, there’s a legend that the Jade Emperor summoned all the animals in the kingdom to take part in a race, with 12 winners each granted a zodiac year. Today, each animal bestows personality traits to those born in their year. The Year of the Horse is all about energy, freedom and adventure.
Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which follows the sun, the traditional Chinese calendar follows the moon, and the New Year begins with the first new moon of this calendar. Lunar New Year, aka Chinese New Year, aka Spring Festival, falls on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
What Lunar New Year celebrations are happening in Bristol?
Cotham Hill
Cotham Hill’s beloved Indo-Chinese restaurant, RockSalt, will celebrate Chinese New Year on Tuesday, February 17, decorated with traditional red lanterns, and accompanied by a lion dance performance from 7pm. Plus, alongside menu specials inspired by the Lunar New Year, there are 250 £5 Deliveroo gift vouchers hidden across the city as part of a social media–led treasure hunt, with clues revealed across RockSalt’s Instagram in the run up.
Wai Yee Hong
The biggest Lunar New Year party in Bristol will once again take place at Wai Yee Hong on Saturday, February 21, 2026. The annual celebrations at the Chinese supermarket in Eastville are the biggest in the South West and FREE to attend—though it is raising money for The Grand Appeal.
Enjoy martial arts performances, traditional lion dances, and more, with two performances at 11am and 1:30pm. Acts include UWE K-Pop Dance Troupe, Clevedon School Elite Dancers, Yi Quin Lion Dance Troupe, and Bath Taekwondo. On top, the Festive Street Food Market will also return, with a wide variety of Asian foods.
Pick up everything from locally-made Hong Kong-inspired baked goods from Bakelabb to Japanese-style gyoza from Eatchu and even Bristol’s best smash burgers, Danny’s Burgers (the Lao Gan Ma crispy chilli burger is a must-try). You can even get a glitter tattoo or have your face painted.
Fancy some quieter activities? In-store, learn more about Lion Dance costumes and admire the intricately crafted papier-mâché lion head, meet the Choi Sun (God of Prosperity) and have some of his luck rub off on you, while various stalls are offering crafting opportunities and workshops.
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
If you’re not free on that day, there are more Lunar New Year celebrations to be had in Bristol this February. Bristol Museum & Art Gallery will also be galloping into the Year of the Horse on Saturday, February 28, 2026, with lion dances, martial arts and dance performances. There’ll also be craft activities, roving pandas, a Horse Detective Trail and a Chinese-inspired menu in the café.