London is one of the world’s best places to celebrate it. With coming up Chinese horse year around 900 thousand of Londoners and visitors to capital are gathering in central London to take part in the vibrant celebrations of Chinese New Year on 22, the last Sunday of February 2026. By Jian Ping Sun
As Year of the Horse arrived, which in Chinese culture symbolises strength, vitality, and perseverance. The theme of the 2026 London Celebrations is Celebrating the Year of the Horse: Galloping ahead, Sharing the Journey.
It’s a sixth day of the Chinese New Year was fully packed with a festive atmosphere in central London. From Trafalgar Square to Chinatown, the air was filled with the sounds of drums and gongs, dragon and lion dances, and lively crowds. The annual London Chinese New Year celebrations once again to one of a very hot attraction event in the world.
Among the crowd watching the Chinese New Year parade were international students, overseas Chinese in the UK, representatives of Chinese tourists who has travelled from afar.
From morning 10:00 the grand Chinese New Year parade started from Trafalgar Square and proceeded all the way to Chinatown. Floats, dragon and lion dance paraded through the streets, with onlookers frequently raising their phones to take photos and videos to appear joyful and passionate atmosphere.
Many children ride on their parents’ shoulders just to get a good look at the parade and exciting dragon and lion dances, turning the streets of London into a giant “New Year’s celebration stage.”
Around midday, a large crowd gathered in Trafalgar Square to watch the “the Festival of Spring 2026” a series performance from China on the stage. The Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, Chairman of the London Chinatown Chinese Association Chu Ting Tang (OBE), Westminster Mayor Paul DeMoldenberg, and other Chinese and foreign guests took the stage to celebrate the Chinese New Year, the Year of Horse.
Zheng Zeguang emphasized remind British travellers would no longer require a visa to visit China, encouraging more people to explore the country and deepen cultural exchange. The event organiser, LCCA Zhu Ting Tang expressed his heartfelt gratitude to his deep gratitude to the audience, volunteers, performers, local businesses and sponsors. He wishes new year’s joy and happiness would fill the world, into every household.
With the traditional lion awakening, followed by flying lion dances, the main stage in Trafalgar Square featured a variety of cultural performances, culminating with a stunning grand finale that always impressive and attractive to many attendees throughout from morning to evening.
First held in 2002, London’s Chinese New Year celebration has become a highlight of the UK’s cultural calendar. Activities throughout the day included workshops, food stalls and stage performances, all leading up to a dramatic light show that closed the event. In Chinese culture, the Year of the Horse symbolizes strength, vitality and progress — themes reflected in the energy of the celebrations, with carrying London confidently into a new year of shared promise and remains a powerful symbol of friendship between communities.
