Lunar New Year is celebrated across East and Southeast Asia, and by diaspora communities around the world. In China, it’s called Spring Festival. In Vietnam, it’s Tết. In Korea, it’s Seollal. Families clean their homes for a fresh start, gather for reunion dinners, hand red envelopes to children, and visit temples to welcome luck and prosperity in the year ahead.
In Houston, those traditions show up in lion and dragon dances thundering through plazas, temple celebrations in Asiatown, kids crafting lanterns in museums, and pop-up markets packed with dumplings and red envelopes. It’s one of the most colorful times of year to explore the city.
The Chinese zodiac follows a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by an animal and element. In 2026, Lunar New Year falls on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse.
Horses in the zodiac are known for being energetic, social and hard-working. Paired with the Fire element, 2026 is associated with passion, drive, and bold new starts. It’s a fitting backdrop for Houston’s packed Lunar New Year calendar, which stretches across several weekends before and after the holiday itself.
These celebrations take place in and around Houston’s Asiatown (often called Chinatown by locals) and bring together generations of families, food, and community groups from across the region.
The Chinese Community Center hosts one of Houston’s longest-running festivals, the 2026 Lunar New Year Festival, on Saturday, February 14, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Expect traditional lion and dragon dances, cultural performances, kids’ games and rides, calligraphy, community booths, and a busy vendor market with food trucks and local businesses. Admission is free; bring cash or a card for food, games and treats.
In the Museum District, Asia Society Texas celebrates with Lunar New Year 2026: Celebrating the Year of the Horse on Saturday, February 14, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The free community festival typically includes cultural performances, storytelling, hands-on crafts, and activities highlighting Lunar New Year traditions from across Asia, plus access to select exhibitions. Asia Society often adds optional, ticketed performances or programs; check their website for 2026 program details and any separate ticket prices.
Hungry? Join a guided Asiatown Tour HTX Lunar New Year foodie tour through Houston’s Asiatown. Guides lead small groups to multiple restaurants and bakeries for dumplings, noodles, desserts and more, while sharing local history and Lunar New Year traditions.
Dates for the 2026 Lunar New Year tours are typically announced closer to the holiday and often fall on a weekend in late January or February. These tours sell out quickly, so once dates go live, book early.
Downtown Houston now has its own free festival at Market Square Park, organized by Rise Market Collective. The 2026 Lunar New Year Festival at Downtown is scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026, bringing lion and dragon dances, cultural performances, and a RISE night market with dozens of food and craft vendors.
Admission is free, and you can pay as you go for snacks, drinks, and shopping. Check the event listing for final times and schedule as the date approaches.
Several of Houston’s big-name attractions build special Lunar New Year programming into their winter lineups, perfect for families who want celebrations plus exhibits or activities.
The Radiant Nature lantern festival returns to Houston Botanic Garden from November 14, 2025 through February 22, 2026. The after-dark experience fills the garden with more than 50 glowing installations inspired by nature, the zodiac, and the Year of the Fire Horse.
Wander through giant illuminated flowers, a field of glowing Texas bluebonnets, tunnels of light, and zodiac animals including horses. Radiant Nature is a separately ticketed, timed-entry event. Tickets for ages 4 and up start around $28.50, with children ages 3 and under admitted free and select discounted evenings on Thursdays and Sundays. Advance parking purchase is usually required.
The Children’s Museum Houston hosts a lively Lunar New Year bash each year with lion or dragon dances, drumming, performances and hands-on activities for kids.
For 2026, look for the celebration on a weekend close to the holiday, featuring crafts like lantern-making, zodiac-themed art, calligraphy, and red-envelope stations. The Lunar New Year event is typically included with general admission, with museum tickets starting around the usual daily rate; check the museum’s calendar for the exact 2026 date and pricing.
Space Center Houston often layers Lunar New Year programming into its winter season, pairing traditional performances with science demonstrations and space-themed activities.
In past years, guests have enjoyed lion dances, cultural showcases, and pop-up labs alongside the Galaxy Lights experience. For 2026, keep an eye on Space Center Houston’s events calendar for Lunar New Year–themed weekends. Lunar New Year activities are generally included with daytime admission, while any special evening light shows may require separate tickets.
Just south of Houston, the Texas Pearland Chinese Association brings Lunar New Year celebrations to the suburbs.
The Pearland Lunar New Year Festival is scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Pearland Recreation Center & Natatorium, typically running from late morning into the afternoon. Expect lion and dragon dances, cultural performances, calligraphy, robotics and STEM demonstrations, and a family zone with games and crafts. Admission is usually free, with vendors selling food and merchandise inside.
POST Houston has quickly become one of the city’s biggest Lunar New Year hotspots. In recent years, the downtown hub has hosted a free, all-day celebration with lion and dragon dances, cultural performances, a mini áo dài fashion show, and an Asian pop-up market spread across the food hall and northern docks.
The 2025 event ran from late morning into the night, welcoming thousands of visitors. For 2026, watch POST’s event calendar for the official Lunar New Year at POST date, schedule, and RSVP details. Families staying at Lodgeur Midtown will appreciate the quick rail or rideshare trip downtown to join the festivities.
Houston’s Lunar New Year season stretches across neighborhoods and weekends, from Asiatown festivals to museums, gardens, and downtown night markets. However you celebrate, it’s a chance to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse with family, food, and plenty of red envelopes.
If you’re still hungry after the festivities, check out Lodgeur’s favorite Asian restaurants in Houston. And read our next blog post for more Houston events in February.
