What's on for Chinese New Year 2026 in Cardiff and South Wales

Chinese New Year has always been one of the most important holidays for our family. As a family-run Chinese takeaway originally from Guangzhou, we carry our traditions with us here in Wales. When late winter rolls around, we start preparing decorations, planning special dishes, and sharing stories of how we celebrated back home. In our experience, the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year bridges the distance – even though we’re far from China, we feel the same excitement building in our community as Chinese New Year 2026 approaches.

This upcoming Chinese New Year is extra special because it’s the Year of the Horse, kicking off on 17 February 2026. We’ve been marking the date on our calendar and telling our customers about it for weeks. There’s something about the New Year season that brings a buzz of energy – you see it in the red lanterns and couplets decorating homes, the sound of firecrackers on videos from abroad, and the way families plan reunions. Even here in Barry and Cardiff, we feel that anticipation. We want to share how our corner of South Wales is getting ready to celebrate, what events are happening around Cardiff (and beyond), and how you can join in the festivities – whether out in the city or cosied up at home with a feast from our kitchen.

Quick Look: Where to Celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 in South Wales

If you’re just looking for a quick guide to what’s on, here’s a summary of key places likely to host events around the Chinese New Year period (mid–February 2026):

Location	Expected Events	Likely Timing
Cardiff Central Library	Free family day with crafts, calligraphy, performances, and storytime	Weekend before or after 17 Feb
Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay	Lion and dragon dances, cultural workshops, dance and music shows, family activities	Weekend closest to 17 Feb
Newport City Centre & Riverfront Theatre	Lion dance parade, arts workshops, music and martial arts shows	Likely Saturday 15 or Sun 16 Feb
National Waterfront Museum, Swansea	Family day with performances, calligraphy, tai chi, arts and crafts	Weekend before 17 Feb
Local Schools & Community Centres	Cultural days, classroom activities, decorations, and workshops	Throughout February

We’ll cover each of these in more detail further down the blog – along with our own suggestions on how to celebrate at home.

When Is Chinese New Year 2026 and What Does It Mean?

Chinese New Year 2026 begins on Tuesday, 17th February 2026, ushering in the Year of the Horse. This festival is the most significant celebration in Chinese culture – a fifteen-day season of family reunions, feasting, and wishing for good fortune. If you’re new to the holiday, you might notice Chinese families (like ours) observing traditions that have been passed down for generations. For example, in the run-up to New Year’s Day we’ll be hanging red lanterns and spring couplets on our doors, symbolising joy and luck. Many of us also give out red envelopes filled with lucky money to children, a custom meant to share blessings for the year ahead. On New Year’s Eve, families gather for a reunion dinner – the most important meal of the year – enjoying foods that carry auspicious meanings. You’ll often find a whole fish (for abundance) and plenty of dumplings (for prosperity) on the table, among other treats. We’ve shared more about these traditions in another post, but even a brief mention here shows how deeply experience and symbolism are woven into this holiday.

The Year of the Horse itself is worth a quick highlight. In the Chinese zodiac, each year is represented by an animal sign in a 12-year cycle. Horses are traditionally seen as confident, energetic, and resilient. Welcoming the Year of the Horse means we’re hoping those qualities shine through in 2026 – both for individuals and the community as a whole. Even if you’re not deeply into zodiac astrology, it’s fun to know which animal is being celebrated. You might spot plenty of horse imagery in decorations at Chinese supermarkets or cultural events around this time. We’re already thinking of adding a little horse figurine next to the lucky cats on our shop counter for a bit of festive flair!

Chinese New Year 2026 Celebrations in Cardiff

We feel really fortunate that Cardiff, the capital of Wales, has an active Chinese New Year scene. It means a lot to us that our new home embraces the festival that meant so much to us growing up. If you’re in Cardiff in early 2026, there will be several opportunities to immerse yourself in the New Year festivities – and they’re not just for the Chinese community, but open to everyone curious to experience this vibrant culture.

One of the key events usually takes place in Cardiff city centre, often organised by the local council and community groups. For instance, in previous years Cardiff Central Library Hub has hosted free Lunar New Year activity days for families. They turn the library’s space into a mini-festival, with stalls and workshops that let you try traditional arts and crafts. Don’t be surprised if you find calligraphy demonstrations where you can practice writing Chinese characters, or paper lantern-making tables where kids (and adults!) get creative. We took our children to the library’s celebration last time, and they loved it – they made paper cut-outs, learned to use chopsticks through a fun little game, and even watched a lion dance up close between the bookshelves! The organisers really go all out: past activities have included tea tastings, Chinese music and dance performances, kung fu demonstrations, and even chances to dress up in traditional outfits. It’s heart-warming to see Cardiff embrace these traditions. If they follow the same pattern in 2026, the library’s Chinese New Year event will likely be on the weekend around New Year’s Day (keep an eye out for announcements as February approaches). The best part is it’s usually free and open to all ages, so it’s a great way for families to spend an afternoon together learning and celebrating.

Down in Cardiff Bay, there’s another highlight we always look forward to: the celebrations at The Red Dragon Centre. This entertainment complex has, over the last few years, become a hub for Lunar New Year fun. In 2025, for example, the Red Dragon Centre welcomed the Year of the Snake with a vibrant day of festivities that drew crowds from all over South Wales. They teamed up with the Cardiff Confucius Institute (a cultural institute that promotes Chinese culture and language) to host a program of activities that ran through the day. We stopped by that event and it was truly lively – there were workshops for lantern making and paper cutting, performances of traditional Chinese music and dance, and even a Chinese lion dance that paraded through the centre. I’ll never forget seeing the lion dance up close; the dancers stopped right by our kids and “blessed” them for the New Year, which made their day. According to the organisers, even a Chinese Dragon made appearances at scheduled times, weaving through the crowd and posing for photos. The whole Centre was decorated in red and gold, and you could feel the festive buzz as families watched performances then grabbed a bite to eat. Speaking of food – the Red Dragon Centre is home to a few Pan-Asian restaurants, and during the New Year event they were busy with people grabbing Chinese dishes to get in the spirit. For 2026, we expect the Red Dragon Centre will host a similar celebration, likely on a weekend day close to 17th February. It’s a fantastic option if you want a free, all-day event where you can pop in and out. Plus, it’s all indoors (great for February weather!), and there’s ample parking, making it easy for families. Keep an eye on their events page or local news as we get closer – this is one event you won’t want to miss if you love lion dances and hands-on cultural fun.

Aside from these major public celebrations, Cardiff will have plenty of smaller happenings too. Local Chinese restaurants and businesses in the city often put up special decorations – don’t be surprised to see shop windows filled with red paper cuttings and Chinese knots. Sometimes restaurants feature special New Year menu items or host their own lion dances to bless the business. Community groups (like student associations at Cardiff University or the Chinese diaspora associations) often hold New Year gala shows or performances. For example, the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama has in the past hosted small Chinese New Year concerts blending Eastern and Welsh musical traditions. Even some of the city’s schools get involved by having students do New Year assemblies or craft projects. As a Chinese family living here, it’s really touching to see how widespread the participation is – from libraries and shopping centres to schools and eateries, Cardiff truly lights up for Lunar New Year. We make a point to go out and soak up the atmosphere. It reminds us a bit of how Guangzhou felt during Spring Festival (minus the loud firecrackers!). The sense of community and sharing our culture with our Welsh friends and neighbours is something we treasure deeply.

Beyond Cardiff: Chinese New Year Across South Wales

Cardiff might have the biggest celebrations, but it’s not the only place in South Wales ringing in the Year of the Horse. The festive spirit has been spreading across the region, and we love to see other towns and cities joining in. Here are a couple of highlights beyond the capital where Chinese New Year 2026 will likely be celebrated:

• Newport: Just east of Cardiff, Newport has in recent years launched its own Lunar New Year festivities – and they’ve been impressive! In 2025, Newport hosted a spectacular celebration at the Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre, which we attended as curious onlookers and supporters. The day kicked off with a lion dance parade through the city centre, starting at Friars Walk shopping area in the morning. Imagine drummers and cymbal clanging as a vibrant lion costume winds through the streets – it certainly turned heads and brought a crowd of families out despite the winter chill. After the outdoor excitement, everyone headed into the Riverfront Theatre for an afternoon of cultural workshops and performances. The organisers (Newport City Council in partnership with the Newport Chinese Community Centre) put together free craft workshops, calligraphy and art demonstrations, music and dance shows, and even martial arts performances. It was a true community event – we ran into a few friends from Barry who had driven over for the day. Newport’s commitment was clear: they even had support from the Welsh Government to make it happen. We expect Newport will do something similar in 2026, likely on the weekend before Chinese New Year or perhaps on New Year’s Day itself if it’s convenient. If you’re in the Newport area or fancy a short trip from Cardiff/Barry, it’s a fantastic way to celebrate. The atmosphere last year was warm and welcoming, with both the Chinese community and the wider public coming together. Plus, Newport’s event usually doesn’t require tickets – you can just show up and enjoy. Just remember to wear something red if you can (it’s considered lucky!), and if you have little ones, they might enjoy dressing up or making a paper lantern to bring along for the parade.

  
  

• Swansea: On the western side of South Wales, Swansea has also embraced Chinese New Year, often with events at cultural venues. The National Waterfront Museum in Swansea has become known for its annual Chinese New Year family day. In 2025, the museum welcomed the Year of the Snake with a packed programme of music, dance, and crafts. The Chinese in Wales Association (a wonderful organisation that supports the Chinese community across Wales) partnered with the museum to put on quite a show. Visitors enjoyed performances like traditional dragon dances and lion dances, Chinese folk songs, and even demonstrations of things like tai chi and kung fu fan routines. We saw photos of children absolutely captivated by the big dragon winding through the museum hall. There were also hands-on activities – from paper cutting to calligraphy – similar to what Cardiff offers, but in a different setting. The 2025 event in Swansea was free to attend and ran for several hours during the day, which made it easy for people to drop in with their families. If they continue this in 2026, it’s a great option especially for those in West Wales who might find Cardiff a bit far. Being at a museum, it also had a nice educational vibe – you could explore the exhibits in between catching a dance performance or trying on a traditional costume. We haven’t personally made it out to the Swansea event yet (Chinese New Year is usually a busy time for us at the takeaway), but we’ve heard lovely feedback about it. It’s on our wish list to experience one year, maybe even 2026 if we can manage a day off!

  
  

Aside from these, smaller towns in South Wales might have their own modest celebrations. Sometimes local community centres or schools in places like Bridgend, Merthyr, or Carmarthen host Chinese New Year workshops or lion dance shows if there’s a community presence there. It’s worth checking local “What’s On” listings as the date nears. Overall, it’s inspiring for us to see how Chinese New Year has grown beyond just big cities. When we first moved to Wales, we mostly saw celebrations in Cardiff, but now the joy is truly spreading all across South Wales. It means a lot to families like ours – it makes us feel seen and included, and it gives us a chance to share our culture more widely. Whether you’re in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, or anywhere in between, you won’t be too far from some Lunar New Year excitement in 2026.

Celebrating the New Year at Home in Barry – Our Takeaway’s Perspective

While the public events are fantastic, we know that not everyone will venture out into the crowds – and that’s completely fine. Chinese New Year is at its heart a family affair, and there’s something very special about celebrating it in the comfort of your own home. Here in Barry, we might not have a big street parade or a formal festival scheduled, but the spirit of the New Year is very much alive in living rooms and dining rooms across town. Over the years, we’ve noticed many of our neighbours and customers have their own home celebrations – some are families of Chinese heritage doing reunion dinners, and others are local families who simply enjoy marking the occasion as a way to learn about a different culture (and indulge in a tasty meal!).

Like many Chinese families, we choose to close our shop during Chinese New Year so we can celebrate properly with our loved ones. The reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve is the most important meal of the year for us – and after a busy lead-up preparing food for others, we take that moment to slow down and enjoy our own traditions at home. It’s how our parents and grandparents did things, and it’s a rhythm we still follow today.

If you’re planning to mark the New Year with a Chinese meal, we always suggest placing your order in the days leading up to the holiday or waiting until we reopen, we’ll always share our opening hours well in advance on our website and shopfront so no one’s caught off guard. Whether you pick up a celebratory meal just before we close, or wait and enjoy a post-New Year catch-up with family over our food, we’re still honoured to be part of your celebration.

Chinese New Year is all about rest, reunion and reflection, and taking a little break allows us to celebrate properly – just like our customers do. Thank you for understanding and letting us carry on that important part of our heritage.

Gong Hei Fat Choi / Blwyddyn Newydd Tsieineaidd Dda 2026

If you’re planning to celebrate Chinese New Year 2026 at home – whether you have Chinese heritage or not – we encourage you to make it your own special experience. You could decorate your home with some DIY paper lanterns (a fun activity with kids), try your hand at making dumplings from scratch, or simply order your favourite Chinese dishes and have a cosy night in. The most important thing is the feeling of togetherness and gratitude for the year behind and the year ahead. And if there’s any way we can help make your celebration easier or tastier, please count on us. We’ll be open as usual through the New Year period (except for maybe a day off for our own family dinner, which we’ll announce in advance if so). It brings us real happiness to know our cooking might be on your table as you say “Gong Hei Fat Choi!”(Happy New Year) to your loved ones.

Chinese New Year 2026 is shaping up to be a wonderful time in Cardiff, Barry, and all across South Wales. From the big public events with roaring lions and glittering dragons, to the intimate family gatherings around a hot pot or takeaway spread, the spirit of the Spring Festival is truly in the air. We feel proud and grateful to be part of this community and to share our culture’s most important celebration with you all. Whether you join the crowds at Cardiff Bay, wander into the library to make a paper lantern, or simply enjoy a quiet meal at home, we hope the Year of the Horse brings you good fortune, good health, and plenty of joy. As for us, we’ll be here in Barry, cooking with the same love and care as always, ready to wish you a Happy New Year in person – or through the flavours of your favourite dish. After all, celebrating together (in whatever way) is what this time is all about. Gong Hei Fat Choi / Blwyddyn Newydd Tsieineaidd Dda 2026 – Happy Chinese New Year 2026, from our family to yours!