Lunar New Year, marking the start of the Year of the Horse on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, brings vibrant cultural celebrations across Honolulu that highlight community, tradition, and shared heritage.
Chinatown Festival & Parade
- The 50th Annual Chinatown Festival & Lunar New Year Parade returns in historic Honolulu Chinatown.
- Festival Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM
- Parade: Steps off at 4:30 PM from the Hawai'i State Capitol lawn down Hotel Street through Chinatown, leading to celebration zones at 'A'ala Park & Beretania Street.
- Expect lion and dragon dances, live entertainment, cultural performances, food vendors, keiki activities, craft booths, and a community tradition that welcomes good fortune for the year ahead.
Kick-Off & Community Events
Celebrations often begin the weekend before with cultural programming like lion dance performances, special community gatherings, and evening events in Chinatown and nearby venues, including festivities around Friday, Feb. 13, organized by local groups leading into the main festival weekend.
A City-Wide Celebration
Beyond Chinatown, many Honolulu neighborhoods and cultural centers mark Lunar New Year with performances, traditional foods, and activities through mid-February as part of the broader cultural season honoring renewal, family, and prosperity.