By Ruth Bayang
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Communities across the Puget Sound region are preparing to welcome the Year of the Horse with weeks of Lunar New Year celebrations highlighting Asian American culture, tradition, and community connection. From large-scale street festivals to neighborhood park gatherings, the 2026 season offers a wide range of free, family-friendly events throughout February and March.
Seattle Chinatown-International District (CID)
One of the region’s largest Lunar New Year events returns on Saturday, March 7, from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. in Hing Hay Park and under the Chinatown Gate.
The 2025 CIDBIA annual Lunar New Year Celebration (Courtesy: CIDBIA)
This is the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA)’s 29th annual Lunar New Year Celebration. The free street festival celebrates the Year of the Horse with cultural performances, dragon and lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, and a neighborhood food walk featuring local businesses.
First held in 1998 at Union Station’s Great Hall, the CID Lunar New Year Celebration has grown into one of the largest events of its kind in the Pacific Northwest.
This year is especially meaningful, CIDBIA event producers said.
“Not only is 2026 the Year of the Horse, but it is also the Year of the Fire Horse, which only occurs once every 60 years. This zodiac symbolizes that this year will bring momentum, independence, and action.”
See our coverage of the 2025 event here.
Little Saigon celebrates Tết 2026
Little Saigon will welcome the Year of the Horse with a three-day Tết Celebration from Feb. 6–8. Events will take place at Little Saigon Creative, located at 1227 S. Weller St., Suite A, as well as nearby Hoa Mai Park.
The multi-day celebration highlights Vietnamese culture through community-centered programming designed for all ages. In Vietnamese tradition, Tết marks the Lunar New Year and represents renewal, family, and cultural identity. Festivities throughout the weekend will bring together neighbors, artists, and local organizations to honor these values through performances, activities, and shared experiences.
Organizers say the Little Saigon Tết Celebration is an opportunity to connect generations, uplift local culture, and celebrate the enduring presence of Vietnamese Americans in Seattle’s CID.
Seattle Center celebrates 30 Years of Tết in Seattle
Seattle Center will kick off Festál 2026 with a major milestone: the 30th anniversary of Tết in Seattle – Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The free festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14 and 15, inside the Seattle Center Armory and Fisher Pavilion.
Tết in Seattle – Vietnamese Lunar New Year kicks off Seattle Center Festál 2025. (Photo by Alex Garland)
The event celebrates three decades of honoring Vietnamese culture through live performances, food vendors, art displays, and hands-on activities. Festival highlights include a children’s Tết zone, a community art gallery, and a health fair offering free resources, making it an accessible and welcoming celebration for all ages.
APCC hosts Annual New Year Celebration in Tacoma
On Feb. 28, from 11 a.m.–6 p.m., the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) will present its 28th Annual New Year Celebration at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall. This year’s event honors Cambodia as the host country while featuring performances, demonstrations, and cultural showcases from communities across Asia and the Pacific Islands.
The festival includes two stages of entertainment, nearly 100 vendors, hands-on activities for children, martial arts demonstrations, and food booths offering flavors from across the region. APCC’s New Year Celebration draws thousands of attendees each year and is one of the largest multicultural events in Pierce County.
Bellevue welcomes the Year of the Horse
Lunar New Year at The Bellevue Collection in 2025 (Credit: Chance Merchant)
Lunar New Year at The Bellevue Collection returns Saturday, Feb. 21, transforming Bellevue Square into a vibrant celebration of culture and tradition from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Guests can enjoy live performances, martial arts demonstrations, arts and crafts, and cultural activities presented in partnership with the Seattle Chinese Culture and Arts Association and Taiwan’s Overseas Community Affairs Council.
Lunar New Year at The Bellevue Collection in 2025 (Credit: Vivian Hsu Photography)
Additional features include Lunar New Year décor throughout Bellevue Square from Feb. 17 to March 1, interactive displays highlighting Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean New Year traditions, and augmented-reality photo opportunities.
Lantern Festival at Seattle Chinese Garden
The Seattle Chinese Garden will host its Chinese New Year Lantern Festival Celebration on Saturday, March 7, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. The event celebrates 元宵节 (Yuan Xiao Jie), which marks the final day of Lunar New Year festivities.
Visitors can participate in Chinese knot-tying, calligraphy, crafts, tea tasting, and enjoy performances featuring music, tai chi, and martial arts, all set within the garden’s scenic grounds.
For a full list of celebrations, please check our Community Calendar. If we missed an event, email us at newstips@nwasianweekly.com so we can help spread the word.
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