What started over 20 years ago as a small community event in London’s Chinatown has grown into the largest Lunar New Year celebration outside Asia. The festivities now attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, with the CNY parade among the biggest attractions on the festive lineup.
This year, the Chinese calendar rings in the Year of the Horse on February 17. According to the Chinese zodiac, the Horse signifies success and good fortune – hopefully boding well for the year ahead.
The London Chinatown Chinese Association will once again pull out all the stops to celebrate the occasion, with a grand parade and plenty of activities for the whole family. Restaurants in the area and throughout London will also serve limited-edition festive menus and special items to celebrate the new year.
When and where is the Chinese New Year parade this year?
The parade will take place on Sunday, February 22, five days after the Lunar New Year 2026.
It will unfold across London’s West End, starting just east of Trafalgar Square and making its way up Charing Cross Road and past Leicester Square, before heading down Shaftesbury Avenue toward Chinatown. The parade’s endpoint will likely be around Wardour Street.
What can I expect at the parade?
You can expect to witness the largest gathering of Chinese lions and dragons in Europe, along with festive floats, vibrant costumes, and themed performances, including lion dances. Along the route, local vendors will set up shop for the day, selling festive delicacies to keep you fuelled as you watch the parade.
As it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors, the parade route tends to get quite busy – we recommend getting there early to grab a bite, secure a good view, and avoid getting stuck in the crowd.
What else is on near the parade?
You’ll want to stick around the streets of Chinatown after the parade, as this is where you’ll get to drop by a plethora of food and product stalls, while more lion dances and performances pop up around you.
The main stage and the majority of stalls are usually set up in Trafalgar Square, but you’ll come across cultural activities, workshops, and performances in Leicester Square and along Dean Street and Shaftesbury Avenue as well. Activities in previous years involved themed arts and crafts, calligraphy, music, and traditional clothing.
Where should I eat for Chinese New Year?
Chinese restaurants in the area are worth a visit on parade day, as many of them will serve up festive dishes and special menus you won’t find outside of Lunar New Year celebrations. Some of these specials include a limited-edition menu at Din Tai Fung and wonton soup giveaways (yes, giveaways) at the newly opened Hoko.
To celebrate the Lunar New Year Singapore-style, pay a visit to fine dining restaurant Gouqi for a bit of Lo Hei.
How do I get to the parade?
The closest stations to reach the parade are Leicester Square (which will take you straight into the heart of Chinatown) and Charing Cross (a key starting point near Trafalgar Square). Keep in mind that the area will likely be extra crowded for the parade, so factor in plenty of time to get there.
What do I wear?
Wearing something red is always a safe bet. The colour symbolises luck, prosperity, and vitality in Chinese culture, making it a favourite during Lunar New Year celebrations. Black is often considered inauspicious, so if you want to feel part of the celebrations, it’s probably not the best colour to wear that day.