A worshiper wears a horse head decoration at Wong Tai Sin Temple to welcome the Lunar New Year of the Horse in Hong Kong, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026.
Communities across Asia and worldwide welcomed the Lunar New Year with vibrant prayers, cultural shows, and public festivities. The holiday marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse, following the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac cycle. Families gathered, cities sparkled with lights, and traditional rituals blended with modern celebrations.
Global Festivities Mark the Lunar New Year
The Lunar New Year remains the most significant annual celebration in China and several East Asian nations. However, the festival now attracts global participation, reflecting growing cultural connections and diaspora communities worldwide. From temple ceremonies to street festivals, celebrations combined spiritual traditions with lively public entertainment.
Robots Shine at China’s Spring Festival Gala
China’s annual CCTV Spring Festival Gala once again became a centerpiece of national celebrations. This year, advanced humanoid robots joined children for an elaborate martial arts performance. Developed by Unitree Robotics, the machines demonstrated coordinated movements and even performed sword routines.
The performance highlighted China’s continuing push toward sophisticated robotics supported by improving artificial intelligence technology. Viewers saw the show as both entertainment and a display of the country’s growing technological ambitions.
Midnight Prayers Fill Hong Kong Temples
In Hong Kong, large crowds gathered at temples shortly before midnight to welcome the new year. Worshippers carried bundles of incense while quietly waiting for their turn to pray. Many bowed repeatedly before placing incense sticks into large ceremonial containers.
The ritual reflected hopes for prosperity, health, and family stability during the coming year. Smoke from the incense drifted through the temple courtyards as bells rang softly in the background.
Vietnam Celebrates Tet With Music and Fireworks
In Vietnam, where the festival is known as Tet, celebrations featured outdoor concerts and dramatic countdown events. Performers sang popular songs while audiences gathered in major city squares. When midnight arrived, fireworks exploded across multiple skylines simultaneously.
Colorful light displays illuminated bridges and tall buildings as crowds applauded and sang along. The festive atmosphere combined national pride with shared community excitement.
Moscow Hosts Chinese Street Fairs
In Moscow, the Lunar New Year sparked two weeks of cultural programs across the Russian capital. Visitors sampled Chinese dishes from temporary street stalls while walking through snow-covered streets decorated with lanterns and dragon symbols.
The celebration comes during a period of strengthening diplomatic relations between China and Russia. Observers noted that cultural exchanges like these increasingly symbolize broader political and economic cooperation.
Sacred Bell Ritual Draws Worshippers in Taiwan
In Taipei, worshippers gathered early at the historic Baoan Temple for traditional ceremonies. Temple officials rang a sacred bell 108 times, a number considered spiritually auspicious in Buddhist and Taoist traditions.
Visitors lit incense, bowed respectfully, and placed bright flower arrangements on ceremonial tables. Many families described the ritual as an essential spiritual start to the Lunar New Year.
Buenos Aires Chinatown Bursts With Celebration
Across the Pacific, thousands of people assembled in Buenos Aires’ Chinatown for public Lunar New Year festivities. Spectators watched energetic dragon and lion dances performed on a central stage. Martial arts demonstrations and cultural shows entertained large crowds throughout the day.
Argentina’s Chinese immigrant community, numbering more than 180,000 residents, played a central role in organizing the celebrations. Their events continue to strengthen cultural ties while introducing traditional customs to wider audiences.
A Festival Blending Tradition and Modern Life
This year’s Lunar New Year celebrations showed how ancient customs continue evolving alongside modern culture. Religious rituals, advanced robotics, global street fairs, and international fireworks displays all reflected the holiday’s expanding reach.
While traditions differ by region, the shared themes remain consistent. Families reunite, communities celebrate renewal, and millions begin the year with hope for prosperity and harmony.
