Chinese New Year celebrations across the North West

The Lunar New Year is fast approaching and will herald in 2026 as the Year of the Horse.

From dazzling parades to workshops led by masters of cultural heritage, we highlight some of the celebrations taking place across the North West ahead of the Chinese New Year which starts on 17 February.

The annual Chinese New Year Dragon Parade - one of the UK's biggest celebrations - will take place in Manchester city centre from Oxford Street to Chinatown on 14-15 February.

As well as the dragon dance weaving through the streets accompanied by drumming and acrobatics, organsier the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM) said there would be traditional lion dances "to bring luck and prosperity" and arts and crafts stalls celebrating creativity and tradition, as well as stalls offering Asian cuisine.

The Year of the Horse represents progress and forward motion—making it the perfect time to gather, celebrate, and welcome a prosperous new year together.

The Manchester Museum is staging an "evening of friendship and celebration" between 16:00 and 21:00 GMT on 18 February to mark the Lunar New Year.

Highlights of the event include a traditional lion dance and a special collaboration with the Hong Kong Plucked String Chinese Orchestra.

There will also be hands-on workshops in traditional arts and crafts featuring two masters from China, who will present the delicate artistry of Su embroidery and woodblock New Year prints.

Both crafts are listed on China's national intangible cultural heritage list, and it will be a rare opportunity for Manchester audiences to experience the traditional crafts up close.

Meanwhile, Kargo MKT food hall in Salford is hosting a two-hour calligraphy and lantern workshop on 22 February from 13:15.

More than 5,000 visitors are expected in Lancaster for its annual Chinese New Year Festival on Sunday between 10:00 and 18:00.

The official festival opening ceremony is at 12:00 on the Market Square plinth, followed by a colourful, lively dragon and lions street parade.

The annual event hosted by Popber, a non-profitable social platform, is now in its fifth year and highlights include Chinese dance, instrumental music, singing and a kung fu demonstration and drumming by Lancaster-based Batala.

There will also be free family-friendly workshops such as calligraphy, Chinese traditional opera face mask painting and the opportunity to wear traditional costumes.

The Confucius Institute at Lancaster University is staging two events on 1 March.

There will be activities in the Roundhouse in the afternoon followed by a New Year Variety Show featuring student performances in the university's Great Hall, Lancaster University in the evening. It is open to all with tickets due to go on sale shortly.

They will also be holding painting workshops on campus led by Chinese painter Li Qingyu between 2-5 March with one at Lancaster library on 5 March.

The University of Lancashire Confucius Institute has organised workshops with visiting masters of China's cultural heritage.

The workshops are being held on 19 February from 14:00-16:00 in room VB005 at the university's Victoria building.

It has also collaborated with Preston's Harris Museum to stage celebrations on 21 February opening at 14:00 with a traditional lion dance then Kung Fu, Tai Chi Fan and Qigong performances, as well as a Sichuan Opera Face-Changing show.

There will be four sessions of traditional craft workshops, again led by masters of intangible cultural heritage.

The workshops are as follows:

• Woodblock Printing which includes an explanation of each Chinese motif. You will learn the traditional method of creating Chinese New Year prints, with the opportunity to take your print home and display on your door.
• Face Mask Painting
• Chinese Lantern Making: Another family-friendly workshop where you can create your own lanterns to take home.
• Embroidery - focusing on embroidery techniques and showcasing the masters' artwork and will feature demonstrations with English translations. This workshop is designed for over 13s.

The Confucius Institute at Edge Hill University said its spectacular show on 12 February includes the famous lion dance, playful pandas and dazzling juggling acts as well as incredible acrobatics, thrilling Kung Fu displays and gravity-defying stunts. It has performances in The Hub at 12:00 and then the full show in the Rose Theatre at 19:00.

During half-term, the institute is holding a day of free family workshops at Shakespeare North Playhouse on 17 February and then at Ormskirk Indoor Food Market on 19 February.

Meanwhile, libraries across Lancashire are celebrating Chinese New Year with craft workshops and fun activities.

The events are as follows:

• Making colourful decorations from paper at Clayton Green library, Chorley, later from 10:30
• Making Chinese lanterns at Coal Clough library, Burnley, between 10:30 and 11:30 on 14 February
• Decorating a horse inspired by the Chinese zodiac at Brierfield library, Pendle, between 11:00 and 12:00 on 14 February
• Celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Horse at Great Harwood library from 10:30 until 12.00 on 16 February
• Chinese themed crafts at Heysham library between 10:00 and 12:00 on 17 February
• Colour, culture and creativity at Clitheroe library between 11:00 and 12:00 on 17 February
• Make a horse decoration at Bamber Bridge library between 14:00 and 17:00 on 17 February
• Children's crafts at Kirkham library on 18 February from 14:00
• Craft session at Lancaster library from 10:00 until 12:00 on 19 February
• Making paper lanterns at Accrington library on 19 February at 15:00
• A special Chinese New Year themed Storytime filled with exciting tales about traditions and animals from the zodiac

Liverpool is staging events a series of events to welcome the Lunar New Year, culminating with the main one on 22 February.

The Hung Gar Kung Fu Club lion dancers are at Liverpool's Blackstock Market on Sunday between 12:00 and 15:00 on Sunday between 12:00 and 15:00.

Blackstock Market said they were a huge hit last year and the group has proved popular with families as it has already performed twice in the lead up to Chinese New Year as part of its Free Family Fundays.

The Liverpool Hung Gar Kung Fu will also lead a procession through the city on 14 February along with Pagoda Arts, and award-winning dance company Movema plus members of the Chinese community who will showcase traditional costumes and performances.

Incorporating colourful Beijing opera-style costumes and stilt walkers from Artemis Productions the procession will start at 13:00 from Church Alley, on to Church Street, leading on to Paradise Street in Liverpool ONE before heading to the Royal Albert Dock.

There will then be a weekend of events in and around Liverpool's Chinatown - home to the oldest Chinese community in Europe - on 21 and 22 February.

Activities will take place from 11:00-17:00 on both days and festivities will feature family workshops, Tai Chi demonstrations, live music, street theatre, unique stage performances, a fairground, and food and craft stalls.

However, the main event is on 22 February when there will also be firecracker displays and traditional dragon, lion, and unicorn parades.

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