The Lunar New Year officially begins Feb. 17 this year. It’s a time for fresh beginnings, time spent with family and of course, incredible food! From lion dances to lanterns and lucky red envelopes, Metro Vancouver comes alive with colour and celebration. Best of all, many of the festivities are just a transit ride away.

Whether you’re welcoming the Year of the Horse with loved ones or solo, here are some transit-accessible spots for you to check out this year.

We’ve listed a few of the transit options — use our Trip Planner at translink.ca/tripplanner to discover the best route for you!

The easiest way to pay your transit fare is by tapping your contactless credit or debit card at the Compass fare gates and readers to pay an adult cash fare. We accept Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Interac Debit — both the contactless card or on a mobile wallet such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.

Vancouver

Chinatown Spring Festival Parade

The annual 52nd Lunar New Year parade returns this year and welcomes the Year of the Horse with a dazzling lion and dragon dances, vibrant and colourful floats and lively music. Locals love to line the parade route, making it one of Vancouver’s most anticipated cultural events of the year!

📍 Address: Vancouver Chinatown Millennium Gate, Pender Street, Vancouver
📅 Date: Feb. 22
🕚 Time: Starts at 11 a.m.
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: Stadium–Chinatown Station (Expo Line), R5 Hastings St RapidBus, 3 Main/Waterfront Station, 8 Fraser/SE Marine Dr, 19 Metrotown Station/Stanley Park, 22 Knight/Downtown, or 50 Waterfront Station/False Creek South

Taste of Chinatown

The Taste of Chinatown returns for another two weeks of culture, cuisine, and community. Explore cultural delicacies alongside with pop-ups, collaborations, and an exciting line up of foods to try!

It includes a Cocktail Showdown featuring eight top bars, an artist-led Sip & Paint, a Mahjong Parlour social night, and a hands-on fai cheun calligraphy activity. Additional drop‑in experiences include red envelope decorating with candy tasting, plus special collaborations like a Lunar New Year afternoon tea at the Fairmont Hotel and limited-edition apparel by Chairman Ting.

📍 Address: Chinatown Storytelling Centre, 168 E Pender Street, Vancouver
📅 Date: Feb. 6–22
🕚 Time: Various times
🎟️ Admission: Tickets required
Transit: Stadium–Chinatown Station (Expo Line), R5 Hastings St RapidBus, 3 Main/Waterfront Station, 8 Fraser/SE Marine Dr, 19 Metrotown Station/Stanley Park, 22 Knight/Downtown, or 50 Waterfront Station/False Creek South

2026 Lunarfest Vancouver and The Lantern City

Lunarfest and The Lantern City bring nearly a month of celebrations in Vancouver for the Year of the Horse and inviting the city to celebrate the Lunar New Year through art, culture and community.

Take a stroll looking at beautiful lanterns, learn the stories behind each piece, participate in workshops, or just enjoy live music with the community. There is something for everyone!

Lunarfest

📍 Address: Granville Island
📅 Date: Feb. 14–16 and Feb. 21–22
🕚 Time: Noon – 3 p.m.
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: 50 Waterfront Station/False Creek South

📍 Address: šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (the Vancouver Art Gallery north plaza)
📅 Date: Feb. 17–20 and Feb. 23–24
🕚 Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: Granville Station (Expo Line), Vancouver City Centre Station (Canada Line),
19 Metrotown Station/Stanley Park, 22 Knight/Downtown, 214 Lynn Valley/Downtown, 240 Lynn Valley/Downtown, 246 Highland/Downtown, or 250 Horseshoe Bay/Dundarave/Vancouver

The Lantern City

Various locations and exhibition dates in Vancouver!

📍 Address: Pendulum Gallery, 885 W Georgia St, Vancouver
📅 Date: Feb. 2–27
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: 4 Powell/Downtown/UBC, 10 Granville/Waterfront Station, 14 Hastings/UBC, 22 Knight/Downtown, or 240 Lynn Valley/Downtown

📍 Address: Bentall Centre, 505 Burrard St, Vancouver
📅 Date: Feb. 9 to March 9
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: Burrard Station (Expo Line), 2 Macdonald/Burrard Station, 16 29th Avenue Station/Arbutus, 22 Knight/Downtown, 44 UBC/Downtown, 240 Lynn Valley/Downtown, or 246 Highland/Downtown

📍 Address: Granville Island
📅 Date: Feb. 14 to March 8
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: 50 Waterfront Station/False Creek South

📍 Address: šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (the Vancouver Art Gallery north plaza)
📅 Date: Feb. 14 to March 9
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: Granville Station (Expo Line), Vancouver City Centre Station (Canada Line),
19 Metrotown Station/Stanley Park, 22 Knight/Downtown, 214 Lynn Valley/Downtown, 240 Lynn Valley/Downtown, 246 Highland/Downtown, or 250 Horseshoe Bay/Dundarave/Vancouver

📍 Address: 800 Robson Plaza, Vancouver
📅 Date: Feb. 14 to March 9
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: Burrard Station (Expo Line), Granville Station (Expo Line), Vancouver City Centre Station (Canada Line), R5 Hastings St RapidBus, 5 Robson/Downtown, 22 Knight/Downtown, 240 Lynn Valley/Downtown, 241 Upper Lonsdale/Downtown, or 250 Horseshoe Bay/Dundarave/Vancouver

Lunar New Year Lion Dance at Mount Pleasant

Celebrate the Lunar New Year in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant with a traditional lion dance performance spreading good luck and prosperity throughout the neighbourhood.

The parade begins with a ceremonial lion dance at Sun Hop Park and will make its way up along Main Street from Broadway to 29th Avenue! Follow the lion to its destination if you wish!

📍 Address: Sun Hop Park, 3333 Main St, Vancouver
📅 Date: Feb. 21
🕚 Time: Noon
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: 3 Main/Waterfront Station

Richmond

Aberdeen Centre: Flower and Gift Fair

Aberdeen Centre welcomes the Year of the Horse with fresh flowers, festive decorations, and the scent of delicious treats. Take a look around and visit local vendors offering special treats, crafts, gifts and more.

Aberdeen Centre is also one of two locations hosting a LEGO Lunar New Year pop-up from Feb. 13–17. It features a build-your-own station, a photo-op with a giant LEGO lion and giveaways!

📍 Address: 4151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond
📅 Date: Feb. 6–17
🕚 Time: during mall hours (extended hours until 12:30 a.m. on February 16)
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: Aberdeen Station (Canada Line), 403 Three Road/Bridgeport Stn, 407 Gilbert/Bridgeport, 410 22nd Street Station, 430 Metrotown/Brighouse Station, N10 Brighouse Stn/Downtown

Lansdowne Centre

Lansdowne Centre is celebrating the Lunar New Year with festive décor, games, arts and crafts, and special shopping experiences. The main event takes place on Friday, Feb. 21, featuring an Opening Ceremony, a Dragon Dance at noon, and celebrations from 1–5 p.m., along with Lion Dance performances throughout the mall.

📍 Address: Lansdowne Centre, 5300 Number 3 Rd, Richmond
📅 Date: Feb. 10 to March 3
🕚 Time: Mall hours
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: Lansdowne Station (Canada Line), 403 Bridgeport Station/Three Road, 405 Five Road/Cambie, 407 Gilbert/Bridgeport, 410 Richmond-Brighouse Station/22nd St Station, 416 East Cambie/Brighouse Station

Richmond Centre

Richmond Centre offers interactive Lunar New Year experiences and numerous workshops this year, including a calligraphy wall where visitors can add their family name and a zodiac character created by a calligrapher.

On Feb. 21,  from 2–3 p.m. Enjoy a lion and dragon dance, a visit from the God of Fortune and the chance to receive a lucky red envelope!

📍 Address: 6551 No. 3 Rd., Richmond
📅 Date: Feb. 17 to March 3
🕚 Time: Mall hours
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: Richmond-Brighouse Station (Canada Line), 401 Richmond-Brighouse Station/One Road, 403 Bridgeport Station/Three Road, 405 Five Road/Cambie, 410 Richmond-Brighouse Station/22nd St Station, or 430 Metrotown/Brighouse Station

Surrey

Lunar New Year at the Museum of Surrey

The Museum of Surrey hosts a family-friendly Lunar New Year Celebration featuring a variety of performances, dragon dance demonstrations and more!

Visitors can also learn about Chinese Korean, Vietnamese Cultures through interactive workshops.

📍 Address: 11710 56A Ave, Surrey
📅 Date: Feb. 21
🕚 Time: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: 320 Langley/Fleetwood/SurreyCentralStation, 342 LangleyCentre/NewtonExchange, or 370 Cloverdale/Willowbrook

Burnaby

Lunar New Year at the MET

Metropolis at Metrotown brings nearly a month of everything Lunar New Year, including a Lion dance performance, a dumpling eating contest and a LEGO pop-up!

Metrotown is one of two locations in the Lower Mainland that will be offering a LEGO pop-up for Lunar New Year.

📍 Address: Metropolis at Metrotown, 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby
📅 Date: Feb. 2 to March 3
🕚 Time: Varies
🎟️ Admission: Free!
Transit: Metrotown Station (Expo Line), 19 Metrotown Station/Stanley Park, 49 Metrotown Station/UBC, 110 Metrotown Station/Lougheed Station, 116 Metrotown Station/Edmonds Station, 119 Metrotown Station/Edmonds Station, 130 Metrotown Station/Hastings/Kootenay Loop/Phibbs Exchange/Capilano University, 144 Metrotown Station/SFU, or 430 Metrotown Station/Richmond–Brighouse Station

Lunar New Year at The Amazing Brentwood

A day of celebration is planned at The Amazing Brentwood to ring in the Year of the Horse. From traditional calligraphy, lion dances and performances, and live music to enjoy.

Keep an eye out for lucky red envelopes, some may include chocolate and if you’re lucky, vouchers and gift cards!

📍 Address: The Amazing Brentwood, 4567 Lougheed Hwy, Burnaby
📅 Date: Feb. 14
🕚 Time: Noon to 3 p.m.
🎟️ Admission: Free!
 Transit: Brentwood Town Centre Station (Millennium Line), 25 King Edward, or 130 Metrotown Station/Phibbs Exchange

Coquitlam

Celebrate Lunar New Year at Mackin House

Coquitlam Heritage celebrates the Lunar New Year at the Mackin House with storytime sessions, cultural snacks and a Lunar New Year photo shoot upstairs, hosted by staff.

📍 Address: Mackin House, 1116 Brunette Ave, Coquitlam
📅 Date: Feb. 7
🕚 Time: Noon to 3 p.m.
🎟️ Admission: Free!
 Transit: 153 Coquitlam Central Station/Braid Station or 156 Lougheed Station/Braid Station