Lunar (Chinese) New Year 2026, Bristol
Come to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Horse at Wai Yee Hong’s Lunar New Year celebrations, on 21st February 2026. The annual celebrations is the biggest in the South West and raises money for The Grand Appeal. This family event is FREE to attend and will feature dance and martial arts performances as well as the traditional lion dance. To ensure that more people get to enjoy our New Year celebrations, there will be 2 performance times this year; 11am and 1.30pm. Acts include:
The event is free to attend, but we welcome donations to Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal. Simply drop your donation in the collection boxes on the day, or you can donate through our Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/wai-yee-hong
Festive Streetfood Market
We’re excited to welcome our foodie friends again in our Festive Street Food Market. Come and taste a wide variety of delicious foods from the stalls in our market or join in the festivities with a glitter tattoo or by having your face painted.
- Pick up delicious locally-made Chinese pastries and hot drinks from our cake stall.
- Juicy Japanese-style gyoza will be available from #WYHNewYear favourites, Eatchu.
- Returning to our New Year celebrations following a great debut serving up seafoody-treats last year, are King Fin. We can’t wait to see them again!
- The lovely Bakelabb will be returning with their selection of delicious Hong Kong-inspired baked goods. We’ve encouraged them to bake more, so they don’t sell out so fast this year!
- We’re excited to welcome our neighbours, Dragon’s Delicacy, who will be serving traditional New Year treats and dimsum.
- We’re pleased to see West Country Dim Sum returning with their delicious dumplings.
- Danny’s Burgers are also back, serving Bristol’s best smash burgers (try the Lao Gan Ma crispy chilli burger!).
- Stalwarts of #WYHNewYear, Wok ‘N’ Roll, return with their vegan-friendly rice bowls and banh mi to celebrate Tết.
- Brand new to the #WYHNewYear family, are Mr Noodle, who will be serving noodly goodness.
- Feeling thirsty? Our friends from Bristol bubble tea institution, Jo’s Tea, will be quenching your thirst with their delicious teas and exciting your tastebuds with their bubbles!
- Get your smoke on with the mighty Big Nath’s BBQ
- Those with a sweet tooth will love the vegan offerings from RebelRox Kitchen
- For visitors wishing to get crafty, visit CLare at Craft With Clare
- Wow Faces are back with their award-winning face painting and (biodegradable) glitter tattoos.
Quiet Activities
Some young ones may find our kung fu lions a little too loud so instead, take a moment away from the busy food market and performances:
- Come in-store to admire the intricately crafted papier-mâché lion head we will have on display. There are lots of interesting facts about how they are made, and information on the different styles and types of Lion Dance costumes.
- Meet the Choi Sun (God of Prosperity) and hopefully, have some of his luck rub off on you!
- Our friends from Avon & Somerset Police will be joining us too, so why not pop over to their mobile police station?
- Join our friends at the various stalls offering crafting opportunities and workshops.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, 21st February 2026
First Performance: 11.00am
Second Performance: 1.30pm
Entry: FREE (not ticketed, but please note that the whole area gets very busy on this day.)
Location: Eastgate Oriental City. Click for directions
Year of the Horse
2026 is the Year of the Horse, which is the seventh sign in the Chinese zodiac. Horses are carefree, outgoing and intelligent. If you are aged 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 or 96 this year, you are more likely than not to be a Chinese Horse.
Check out my Horse horoscope!
Learn more
Want to learn more about the traditions and folklore surrounding Chinese New Year? Why not take a look at:
- Festival Food – Chinese New Year
- Find out more about the Legend of the Chinese Zodiac!