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Lunar New Year will be celebrated across Auckland’s city centre this February, with a programme of free events, installations and cultural experiences bringing colour, music and creativity to streets, squares and cultural venues.
Running from Tuesday, February 17, 2026 to Tuesday, March 3, 2026, the programme celebrates Lunar New Year through a mix of traditional and contemporary Asian-Aotearoa culture, creating a connected city-wide experience in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau.
The city centre programme brings together Auckland Live, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, Ellen Melville Centre, Auckland Central City Library – Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero and Heart of the City, with support from Auckland Council Events and the city centre targeted rate.
Installations led by Auckland Live will visually transform the city centre, including Xin Xin, a giant Lucky Cat in Aotea Square, glowing red neon Lucky Cats along Darby Street, and a lightbox exhibition of contemporary illustration by New Zealand Asian artists at Te Komititanga. Together, the installations create a visual trail designed to encourage people to explore and celebrate across the city.
Director of Auckland Live Daniel Clarke says Lunar New Year is an important cultural moment, and the programme is about visibility and connection.
“Lunar New Year is a time when many communities reconnect with culture, family and tradition, and our role is to help make that visible and accessible in the heart of the city,” Daniel says. “By bringing activity into streets, squares and cultural venues, we’re supporting a city centre that feels welcoming, vibrant and alive.”
A key highlight is Lunar on Lorne, a refreshed Lunar New Year street party on Saturday, February 21, 2026, transforming Te Hā o Hine (Khartoum Place) into a celebration of contemporary Asian-Aotearoa culture with music, street dance, performances and street-level activity. Full programme details will be released via the Auckland Live website.
The programme also includes ASIAN [SOUND]SCAPES on Thursday, February 19, 2026, a free evening concert in Aotea Square as part of Auckland Live’s Summer in the Square, featuring contemporary Asian-Aotearoa musicians across genres.
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki will host a full day of free Lunar New Year activities on Saturday, February 21, 2026, including lion dancing, K-pop workshops and performances, lantern-making, calligraphy, Mandarin-language gallery tours (bookable), and whānau-friendly creative activities.
The Ellen Melville Centre will also present Chun Seollal Lunar New Year on Saturday, February 21, 2026, supported by the Waitematā Local Board, with cultural performances, cuisine and hands-on workshops led by Korean and Chinese communities. A further family-focused programme will take place at Auckland Central City Library – Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero on Saturday, February 28, 2026, featuring storytelling, craft workshops and creative play for tamariki.
Heart of the City’s activations include lantern installations and immersive walking food tours, offering a festive journey through food, culture and community across the city centre.
Lunar New Year celebrations continue beyond the city centre with the BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival at the Manukau Sports Bowl, running from Wednesday, February 26, 2026 to Sunday, March 1, 2026, marking the close of the Lunar New Year period with lanterns, performances, food and fireworks celebrating Chinese culture.
Full programme details and updates are available via Discover Auckland.
