Liverpool is set to welcome Lunar New Year in spectacular style with a packed programme of colourful events and cultural celebrations across the city centre, marking the Year of the Horse.
The main celebrations will take place on Sunday 22 February in and around Liverpool Chinatown, home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe. A smaller, more relaxed programme of activity will also run on Saturday 21 February, offering visitors the chance to enjoy the festivities at a gentler pace.
Across both days, from 11am to 5pm, the city will come alive with family-friendly workshops, Tai Chi demonstrations, live music, street theatre, stage performances, a fairground, and a wide range of food and craft stalls. Sunday’s headline celebrations will also feature firecracker displays and traditional dragon, lion and unicorn parades through Chinatown.
Ahead of the main weekend, a special city centre procession will take place on Saturday 14 February, led by the Liverpool Hung Gar Kung Fu Friendship Association, Pagoda Arts and award-winning dance company Movema. Joined by members of Liverpool’s Chinese community, the procession will showcase traditional costumes and performances, with colourful Beijing opera-style outfits and stilt walkers from Artemis Productions. Starting at 1pm from Church Alley, the route will travel along Church Street, through Liverpool ONE, and finish at Royal Albert Dock Liverpool.
From Saturday 14 February, thousands of red lanterns will illuminate streets around Chinatown, Liverpool ONE and Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, while some of the city’s most iconic landmarks – including Liverpool Town Hall and St George’s Hall – will glow red in celebration of the new year.
This year’s programme also features two striking lantern installations: a majestic horse and a pair of powerful dragons, specially commissioned by Culture Liverpool, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool and Liverpool ONE. Symbolising strength, prosperity and renewal, the illuminated centrepieces have been created by The Pyro Studio and Event Design Company Ltd, with each sculpture meticulously handcrafted in Zigong, China, the world’s capital of traditional lantern-making, by master artisans and engineers at SC Genial Tech. Blending centuries-old craftsmanship with modern innovation, the installations promise a truly immersive visual experience for visitors of all ages.
Celebrated by communities across East and Southeast Asia, Lunar New Year is a moment of renewal and togetherness. Liverpool’s Chinese New Year programme has been developed in close collaboration with the city’s Chinese community and forms part of the wider Lunar New Year celebrations taking place across the region.
The event is organised by Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team, in partnership with the Liverpool Chinese Business Association and the Merseyside Chinese Association Joint Action Group, with support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool and Liverpool ONE.
Community groups and organisations hosting Lunar New Year activities across the Liverpool City Region are invited to submit their events for listing on the Culture Liverpool website.
Full event details and timings can be found on the Culture Liverpool website and via Culture Liverpool’s social media channels.
Secretary General of the Liverpool Chinese Business Association and the Merseyside Chinese Association Joint Action Group, Ming Wang, said:
“As we turn the page from the Year of the Snake, we gallop joyfully into the vibrant Year of the Horse – a year bursting with strength, freedom, and spirited adventure.
“Our local Chinese community, Culture Liverpool, and many partner organisations have once again come together with great heart and dedication to create a dazzling programme of arts and cultural events for all to enjoy.
“This festival shines with energy, excitement, and joy, offering a lively and diverse array of free activities for children and adults alike. We warmly welcome everyone to come and join the celebrations.”
Photo Credit: Tommy Wong
