By SGN | 12 Feb 2026
Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết.
Lunar new year celebrations go by several names, depending on where you are in the world, and are among the most vibrant, meaningful, and widely celebrated holidays across the globe.
Traditionally, Lunar New Year is a chance to wipe the slate clean and start afresh.
This year’s Lunar New Year contains extra symbolism, as 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse, a rare and powerful zodiac combination that represents freedom, movement, vitality, transformation, and dynamic change.
If you’re keen to make a meaningful change in your life, this is the ideal year for starting new projects, taking on leadership roles, and embracing change with confidence.
Whether you’re celebrating at home with loved ones, or are out and about, here’s how to make Lunar New Year in Singapore truly memorable — inspired by traditions from around the region.
Experience unique Lunar New Year traditions from around the world
Every culture adds its own twist to Lunar New Year. Dive into these fascinating global celebrations:
🇨🇳 China – Go with the flow of chunyun
China experiences chunyun, one of the largest annual human migrations in the world during its Lunar New Year celebrations, which also goes by the name of Spring Festival.
Foods consumed during this time in China include dumplings of varying shapes and sizes, typically for good luck, “lucky” fruits like tangerines, and nian gao (spicy rice cakes).
The evenings typically wrap up with dazzling fireworks, vibrant street markets, performances by folk artists, and the sights of beautiful lanterns adorning public spaces.
If you’re in Singapore, you can head to Chinatown or to your closest community hub to enjoy lantern displays, snack on Lunar New Year staples, and view light installations that echo the spirit of the festivities taking place in China.
🇲🇾 Malaysia – Try the orange toss
Lunar New Year in Malaysia is a fifteen-day affair where families reunite to share meals, perform the “Prosperity” tossing of Yusheng, a vibrant, raw fish salad where every single ingredient is considered auspicious, and represents a specific facet of prosperity (vitality, harmony, prosperity).
But before any celebrations take places, families will often clean and decorate homes, offer prayers, and purchase new clothes. Gatherings typically involve the exchange of ang pao (red envelopes containing money), playing cards, and watching lion dances.
On the fifteenth day of the festivities (also known as “chap goh mei” or “Chinese Valentine’s Day”), young and unmarried women toss oranges into the water (sometimes with phone numbers attached) in search of a good husband.
Here in Singapore, families gather to perform the same rituals: complete with the Prosperity toss, ang pao exchange, card games, and lion dances.
🇰🇷 Korea – Honour with tteokguk
Like China, Korea also experiences an immensely busy holiday travel season during Lunar New Year. However, most traffic is from international visitors displaying an increased interest in the festival, as well as in Korean culture in general.
Considered to be one of the most important festivals for Koreans, seollal commemorates the first day of the Korean Lunar Calendar. During this time, people reunite with their families, dress up in hanbok (traditional Korean clothing), play folk games, and eat delicious New Year’s foods, including tteokguk (rice cake soup with beef broth) and jeon (savoury pancakes).
In Singapore, you can experience elements of Seollal by visiting Korean restaurants and cultural spaces offering festive menus featuring tteokguk and jeon; a reminder that Lunar New Year in Singapore isn’t a singular tradition, but a celebration shaped by the convergence of many cultures.
🇻🇳 Vietnam – Tết’s floral fiesta
Tết, or Tết Nguyên Đán is one of Vietnam’s most treasured festivals, and a time for locals to worship ancestors, reunite with loved ones, and distribute “lucky money” (red envelopes).
Tết is also a time for incredible floral displays, with golden apricot flowers and vibrant kumquat trees bringing cities across Vietnam to life. This foliage symbolises warmth, growth, and prosperity.
Celebrations in Vietnam typically involve treats like bánh tét* (sticky rice cakes), mứt (candied fruits), and herbal tea, and cultural practices like traditional calligraphy for good luck and longevity.
In Singapore, Gardens by the Bay’s floral display titled Spring Blossoms (春花盛开之骏马奔腾) features eight majestic, life-sized horse lanterns handcrafted by Chinese artisans using Tang Dynasty-era techniques.
The horses can be seen frolicking amidst plum blossoms, orchids, chrysanthemums and bamboo, plants known as the Four Gentlemen” of Chinese art and philosophy.
Lunar New Year festivities in Singapore
Singapore comes alive in a flurry of activity during Lunar New Year, with celebrations blending traditional rites with modern spectacle.
Just like its neighbours in Southeast Asia, Singapore’s Lunar New Year also involves family reunions, gatherings, and large-scale island-wide spectacles for all to enjoy.
This year, Singapore Global Network is running an exciting Lunar New Year celebration, where curious onlookers can explore Master Mare’s stable of surprises, and learn more about their fortunes for the year ahead.
✨ Revel in the light of the River Hongbao show
2026 marks forty years of the River Hongbao show, which masterfully blends exciting performances, dazzling lights, and sumptuous flavours.
With curated lantern displays, live stage shows, cultural showcases, and interactive exhibitions, there is something for all at the River Hongbao show.
Catch the River Hongbao show from 15th February to 24th February, 6.30PM onwards. Please refer to this website for specific timings.
🎉 Catch the Chingay Parade
Unique to Singapore and Malaysia, the Chingay Parade is a delightful mishmash of performers bedecked in dazzling costumes, lively music, and beautiful costumes.
In Singapore, Chingay is an elaborate show of the nation’s rich traditions and artistic diversity.
Catch the Chingay Parade in person on 27th and 28th February, 8PM at the F1 Pit Building. Refer to this website to secure tickets.
Overseas Singaporeans and other overseas viewers can tune in to watch Chingay on its official YouTube channel, or on meWATCH.
With good food, meaningful traditions, vivid celebrations, and opportunities to connect with others, Lunar New Year is a wonderful time to explore, celebrate, and reflect.
We wish you a wonderful Year of the Horse. Huat ah! 🐎
