Chinatown Chinese New Year Festival 2026 (Singapore)

Chinatown Chinese New Year Festival 2026 (2026年牛车水农历新年庆祝活动), Singapore’s annual celebration in the historic Chinese enclave of early immigrants, will be held from 18 January – 18 March 2026.

Like the last edition, Chinatown’s four main streets will sparkle each night with dazzling Chinese New Year (CNY) light installations and vibrant festive decorations. With the Horse as the Zodiac sign for 2026, visitors can look forward to charming horse-themed characters and auspicious greetings featuring the Chinese character for “Horse 马”.

Beyond capturing memorable photos with loved ones, visitors can immerse themselves in a wide range of traditional activities, including shopping at the bustling CNY bazaar, taking part in hands-on Chinese art workshops, watching a CNY dialect songwriting competition and a lion dance competition, and joining the lively CNY countdown party to welcome the Year of the Horse.

 

 

2026 Chinatown CNY Countdown Party Livestream 2026新春倒数派对直播 [16 February 2026]

 

 

List of Activities / 牛车水农历新年2026庆祝活动节目表

• 17 January 2026 (Saturday) – Pre-event Activities 前奏节目 
  • (2:00pm) Lion Dance Performance by Tian Eng Dragon & Lion Dance Centre on Pagoda Street (Facing South Bridge Road) 新加坡天鷹龍狮学院舞狮表演 [Map]
• 18 January 2026 (Sunday) – 17 February 2026 (Tuesday) – CNY Fairs 新春市集 
  • Explore the Chinatown CNY Bazaar, where you’ll find Chinese New Year decorations, delicious festive treats, traditional snacks and a bustling local food fair.
    • (18 Jan – 16 Feb 2026) Festive fair at open space between People’s Park Food Centre & People’s Park Complex [Map]
      • Operating Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm daily
    • (27 Jan – 17 Feb 2026) Festive fair in Chinatown, along Temple Street [Map], Pagoda Street [Map], Sago Street [Map], Trengganu Street [Map] and Smith Street (former Chinatown Food Street) [Map]
      • Operating Hours:
        • Monday – Thursday: 11:00am – 10:30pm
        • Friday – Sunday: 11:00am – 11:30pm
        • Eve of Chinese New Year (16 February 2026): 11:00am – 1:00am
• 24 January 2026 (Saturday) – CNY Workshops 春节工作坊与舞狮表演
  • (11:00am – 12:30pm) Calligraphy Workshop with Master Guo Shuming 郭树明书法工作坊 – S$24.80 per person [Register]
  • (1:00pm) Lion Dance Performance by Chin Woo Athletic Association on Smith Street 新加坡精武体育会舞狮表演 [Map]
  • (1:30pm) Lion Dance Performance by Chin Woo Athletic Association on Pagoda Street (Facing South Bridge Road) 新加坡精武体育会舞狮表演 [Map]
  • (1:30pm – 3:00pm) Calligraphy Workshop with Master Guo Shuming 郭树明书法工作坊 – S$24.80 per person [Register]
  • (6:00pm – 7:30pm) Chinese Paper Cutting Workshop 中国剪纸工作坊 with Temenggong Artists-in-Residence at the Kreta Ayer Square [Map] – Free [Register]

 

 

 

 

• 30 January 2026 (Friday) – CNY Light-up Ceremony 新春亮灯与开幕典礼
  • (6:00pm) The official CNY Street Light-Up Ceremony will take place at Kreta Ayer Square [Map]
• 30 January 2026 – 18 March 2026 (Friday – Wednesday) – CNY Light-up Timing 新春亮灯时间
  • (7:00pm – 12:00am) Horse-themed installations and festive light displays along four main roads will be illuminated nightly. On the first day of Chinese New Year, 17 February 2026 (Tuesday), the lights will remain on until 6:00am.
    • New Bridge Road [Map]
    • Eu Tong Sen Street [Map]
    • Upper Cross Street [Map]
    • South Bridge Road [Map] – Front section near Upper Cross Street only
• 31 January 2026 (Saturday) – CNY Workshops 春节工作坊与舞狮表演
  • (1:00pm) Lion Dance Performance by Tian Eng Dragon & Lion Dance Centre on Smith Street 新加坡天鷹龍狮学院舞狮表演 [Map]
  • (2:00pm – 3:30pm) Festive Lion Dance Workshop by Tian Eng Dragon Dance Centre 舞狮体验工作坊 – S$28.80 per person [Register]
  • (4:00pm – 5:30pm) Festive Lion Dance Workshop by Tian Eng Dragon Dance Centre 舞狮体验工作坊 – S$28.80 per person [Register]
  • (6:00pm) Lion Dance Performance by Tian Eng Dragon & Lion Dance Centre on Pagoda Street (Facing South Bridge Road) 新加坡天鷹龍狮学院舞狮表演 [Map]

 

 

 

 

• 1 February 2026 (Sunday) – CNY Songwriting Competition 贺岁词曲创作比赛
  • (7:00pm – 9:00pm) “Voices of Spring” Chinese New Year Dialect Songwriting Finals & Award Ceremony《方言春作》贺岁词曲创作比赛总决赛暨颁奖典礼
• 7 February 2026 (Saturday) – Lion Dance Competition 舞狮比赛
  • (6:00pm – 10:00pm) Lion Dance Competition 新春国际狮王争霸邀请赛(现场) at Kreta Ayer Community Club [Map] – S$10 per person with free gift [Register]
• 8 February 2026 (Sunday) – CNY Workshops 春节工作坊 & Lion Dance Competition 舞狮比赛
  • (10:00am – 12:00pm) Mandarin Orange Carrier Paper Craft Workshop 新春柑桔纸袋手工坊 at Kreta Ayer Community Club [Map]
  • (2:00pm – 4:00pm) Mandarin Orange Carrier Paper Craft Workshop 新春柑桔纸袋手工坊 at Kreta Ayer Community Club [Map]
  • (6:00pm – 10:00pm) Lion Dance Competition 新春国际狮王争霸邀请赛(现场) at Kreta Ayer Community Club [Map] – S$10 per person with free gift [Register]
  • (6:00pm – 10:00pm) Free live screening of Lion Dance Competition 新春国际狮王争霸邀请赛(直播) at Kreta Ayer Square [Map].

 

 

• 14 February 2026 (Saturday)
  • (4:00pm) Lion Dance Performance on Pagoda Street (Facing South Bridge Road) 舞狮表演 [Map]
• 16 February 2026 (Monday) – CNY Countdown Party 新春倒数派对
  • (10:00pm) Live stage performances, leading up to the countdown to welcome CNY 2026 at Kreta Ayer Square [Map]
• 22 February 2026 (Sunday)
  • (2:00pm) Lion Dance Performance on Pagoda Street (Facing South Bridge Road) 舞狮表演 [Map]
• 11 – 18 March 2026 (Wednesday – Wednesday) – 认领灯饰申请
  • Applications are open to take home the lanterns used in this celebration, at no cost.

 

 

 

 

Road Closure Hours / 牛车水道路关闭时间

Temple Street will be closed on the following dates and times:

• 27 January – 15 February 2026 (Tuesday – Sunday)
  • Mondays – Thursdays: 4:00pm – 11:00pm
  • Fridays – Sundays: 2:00pm – 12:00am
• 16 – 17 February 2026 (Tuesday – Wednesday) 
  • CNY Eve & CNY Day 1: 2:00pm – 1:30am

Please exercise caution outside these hours, as cars, motorcycles and vans may still pass through the street while you enjoy shopping at the bazaar.

 

Chinatown CNY 2026 Photo Gallery / 2026牛车水农历新年照片库