Gung hay fat choy!
Lunar New Year celebrations are lighting up Victoria, and there are plenty of ways to join in on the festivities.
While the Lunar New Year officially starts February 17th, starting February 15th, the city will come alive with cultural performances, museum experiences, parades, lion dances, and community events—all celebrating a season rooted in welcoming good fortune, honouring tradition, and coming together.
While Victoria’s Chinatown Gate repairs won’t be completed before Lunar New Year, celebrations will still go ahead as planned. Repairs began in fall 2025.
Whether you’re marking the occasion with family or simply hoping to experience the sights, sounds, and stories of the Lunar New Year, there are plenty of ways to celebrate this year.
Here are 6 Lunar New Year events happening in and around Greater Victoria:
2026 Lunar New Year Parade & Blessing of Merchants
Celebrate the Year of the Horse in Canada’s oldest Chinatown!
The main event begins at the Gates of Harmonious Interest, featuring an 8-lion performance by the Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club, a dragon dance by the Victoria Chinese Public School, and traditional Chinese dance performances.
Lions and dragons will parade along the 500 block of Fisgard Street, ending at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association / Chinese Public School at 636 Fisgard Street.
- Where: Victoria’s Chinatown
- When: Sunday, February 22nd – 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
2026 Victoria Chinese New Year Gala
Get ready to celebrate the Chinese New Year in style at the 2026 Victoria Chinese New Year Gala!
This long-standing tradition brings together more than 1000 local residents—including Chinese families and students—to welcome the Lunar New Year through an exciting celebration of music, dance, songs, comedy, and drama.
Tickets are available for $12 here!
- Where: Dave Dunnet Community Theatre, 2121 Cadboro Bay Road
- When: Sunday, February 15th – 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Victoria Chinatown Museum
As the most important holiday in many East Asian cultures, the Lunar New Year provides an annual opportunity to reaffirm cultural identity, honour ancestors, and pass down cherished traditions to younger generations.
Visit the museum and pick up a lai see—a red envelope with a gold coin—symbolizing good fortune and prosperity in the year ahead, and the welcoming of spring.
Admission is free!
- Where: Victoria Chinatown Museum, 10 Fan Tan Alley
- When: Tuesday, February 17th – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club Public Performances
The Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club, which is located in Victoria’s Chinatown, teaches traditional kung fu to students.
During February, to celebrate the Year of the Horse, they will be doing a series of public performances throughout Greater Victoria.
Catch them at Casino Victoria, the Victoria Royals game, Mayfair Shopping Centre, Jack’s Chinese Restaurant, Lunar New Year Parade and Blessing of Merchants, Fairway Market on Quadra/Hillside, and Uptown.
- Where: Various locations
- When: February 17th to 28th – various times
Victoria Royals Lunar New Year Game
The Royals will don Lunar New Year inspired warm up jerseys that will be up for auction this Friday at noon to celebrate the Lunar New Year!
Head to Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, and be one of the first 1000 fans in attendance will receive lucky red envelopes, with one lucky fan going home with a suite night to a future game.
Several other exciting promotions will also be held during the game, including performances by Victoria-based Wong Sheung Kung Fu Club Dragon Dancers, and the Philippine Bayanihan Centre in the concourse before the game.
The Victoria Taiwanese Association will be presenting New Year scrolls and demonstrating New Year scroll calligraphy on-site which fans can take home as a keepsake.
Grab your tickets here!
- Where: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, 1925 Blanshard Street
- When: Friday, February 20th – puck drops at 7:05 p.m.
Celebrate Chinese New Year at the Royal BC Museum
Welcome the New Year with movement, music, and cultural traditions!
Join Jessica Yue to learn a festive Chinese New Year dance and explore how families celebrate this joyful season—honouring past good fortune and wishing for prosperity in the year ahead.
- Where: Royal BC Museum, 675 Belleville Street
- When: Saturday, February 21st – 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
