Bay Area Lunar New Year 2026 celebrations span weeks, marking the Year of the Fire Horse
Lunar New Year begins Feb. 17, with major Bay Area events extending into March
Lunar New Year 2026 begins on Tuesday, Feb. 17, launching a holiday period that traditionally culminates with the Lantern Festival about two weeks later. The date reflects the lunisolar calendar used across multiple Asian cultures, and local programming in the Bay Area typically extends well beyond the 15-day holiday window with parades, street fairs, museum events and community performances.
In the Chinese zodiac, 2026 corresponds to the Year of the Horse, and specifically the Fire Horse. The zodiac’s 12-animal cycle is paired with a five-element cycle, creating combinations that repeat on a 60-year rhythm.
San Francisco’s parade anchor arrives March 7, with a downtown-to-Chinatown route
The region’s largest signature event is the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, scheduled for Saturday, March 7. Organizers list a 5:15 p.m. start, with the parade stepping off at Second and Market Streets, looping around Union Square and finishing near Kearny Street and Columbus Avenue at the edge of Chinatown. The route is described as roughly 1.3 miles, and the parade is staged as an illuminated night event.
In addition to curbside viewing along the route, organizers also sell bleacher seating, with ticket prices varying by section.
Chinatown’s two-day community street fair returns March 7–8
Chinatown’s Community Street Fair is scheduled for Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, with programming concentrated along Grant Avenue between California and Broadway and nearby cross streets. Organizers describe more than 120 booths and concessions, along with live cultural performances staged near Pacific Street below Grant Avenue.
- Saturday, March 7: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Sunday, March 8: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Museums, libraries and regional venues add education and family programming
Beyond Chinatown, Lunar New Year programming across the Bay Area typically includes museum and library events focused on traditions such as lanterns, red envelopes and zodiac symbolism. One example on the Peninsula is a free, scheduled Lunar New Year presentation tied to the Asian Art Museum’s docent program, hosted at the South San Francisco Library on Thursday, Feb. 19 (2–4 p.m.).
For many Bay Area families, the public calendar blends cultural tradition, arts programming and large-scale civic events—often stretching from early February through mid-March.
What to plan for: timing, crowds and transit impacts
Large weekend turnouts are expected for the March 7 parade and the March 7–8 street fair. Attendees should anticipate crowd control barricades along the parade route and temporary traffic changes in the downtown corridor and Chinatown during peak event hours. Organizers advise spectators to follow on-site instructions for safe crossings and emergency access points.