Chinese New Year officially began on February 17, 2026, one of the most anticipated and evocative events of the year. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, the Lunar New Year follows the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, which means that the date varies every year, always falling between the end of January and mid-February, corresponding to the second new moon after the winter solstice. 2026 inaugurates the Year of the Fire Horse: in Chinese culture the Horse is a symbol of energy, vitality, movement and courage, while fire amplifies its dynamic and transformative charge. The traditional celebrations last about fifteen days, until the Lantern Festival which closes the festive period in a blaze of lights and collective moments. In Italy, three cities stand out for the liveliness and richness of the celebrations: Milan, Rome and Prato.
Milan: Piazza Sempione turns red
Milan celebrates Chinese New Year 2026 with a large event in Piazza Sempione, jointly organized by the city’s Chinese associations and the Municipality. Despite the coincidence with the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the celebrations do not stop: for organizational reasons linked to the Games, the big party in the square was postponed by a week compared to the traditional date, set for Sunday 1 March.
Entrance is free and open to all, with a view to an intercultural celebration capable of involving citizens and visitors of all origins. The area will be divided into two zones with limited access, to guarantee safety and fluidity even with thousands of people present at the same time. The main entrances will be those on Corso Sempione and Via Pagano, with regulated access also from the park. Starting from 2.00 pm, under the Arch of Peace, the dancers will perform the famous dance of the Lion and the Dragon, symbols of good omen and prosperity, accompanied by parades of period costumes and martial arts demonstrations. The organizers recommend arriving late in the morning to facilitate checks and find a good position.
In the Via Paolo Sarpi district, the heart of the historic Milanese Chinese community present in the city for over a century, the streets already come alive in the previous weeks: red lanterns, traditional decorations, restaurants and shops with typical Spring Festival dishes make the atmosphere unique. The calendar is full even before the grand finale on March 1st: calligraphy workshops and tea ceremonies will be held on Saturday 21 February at the Parco Center, while on Sunday 22 February at the Temple of the Lost Future there are music and shows organized by Taste of Oriente.
For the little ones, on Saturday 28 February at the Peoples and Cultures Museum, children aged 6 to 11 will be able to discover the Year of the Horse and create a Chinese lantern. Finally, there is the China House at Villa Clerici, set up specifically for the Olympics: the structure hosts traditional Chinese exhibitions linked to sport, workshops and demonstrations.
Rome: Piazza Vittorio opens its doors to the Year of the Horse
In Rome the celebrations are mainly concentrated in the Nicola Calipari Gardens in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, in the Esquilino district, which has for years been considered the heart of the capital’s Chinese community. The celebrations will take place on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd February, from 9am to 9pm, with free entry on both days.
On Saturday 21st the Gardens will host cultural and culinary performances, gazebos dedicated to Chinese culture and moments of meeting with the community. Sunday 22nd will mark the peak of the festival with the traditional dragon parade and lion dances, in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador and several authoritative guests.
There is no shortage of initiatives spread across the area. From 18 to 28 February the Central Market will host – for the first time in its history – a series of events dedicated to Chinese New Year, created in collaboration with Associna and LIAO (West Asia Meeting Laboratory): workshops, cooking classes and traditional dinners to bring adults and children closer to the culture and traditions of the Spring Festival.
The Libraries of Rome are also participating: on 25 February, at 5pm, the Nelson Mandela Library hosts a workshop for children aged 5 to 10 with readings and origami dedicated to the Lunar New Year (booking required: nelsonmandela@bibliotechediroma.it). On the gastronomic front, restaurants such as Dao Restaurant in via Sardegna and Dao Bistrot Jonio offer special menus for the Year of the Fire Horse, designed to be shared and to experience the holiday as a collective experience.
Prato: the European capital of Chinese New Year
Prato boasts one of the largest Chinese communities in Europe, and its 2026 New Year celebrations transform the city into a huge open-air stage. The program extends from Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd February.
The celebrations start on February 16th at 4pm at the Pu Hua Si Buddhist temple, in Piazza Gualchierina 19, with the ringing of bells and the Buddhist rite of opening the new year. On Saturday 21 February the great Dragon parade will cross the Macrolotto, the industrial district at the heart of Prato’s Chinese community, with a long procession that winds through streets and intersections full of history and meaning. On Sunday 22 February the procession will start again from the Pu Hua Si temple to move towards the historic centre, arriving in Piazza Santa Maria delle Carceri: here the most awaited moment will be held, the spectacular Lion dance, with acrobatics, drums and gongs that mark each choreographic movement designed to chase away bad luck and negativity and open the doors to a year of prosperity.
Whether you choose to experience the celebration among the lights of Chinatown in Milan, the historic square of Rome or the streets of Prato, Chinese New Year 2026 is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in one of the oldest and most fascinating traditions in the world — and wish everyone a Year of the Horse full of energy and luck.
