Leicester is set to come alive with colour, sound and movement as Cosmopolitan Arts announces its 2026 Chinese / Lunar New Year celebrations, marking the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse with a vibrant weekend of free events across the city.
Taking place on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 February 2026, the celebrations will span key locations including Highcross Leicester, Leicester city centre, De Montfort University and Jubilee Square, offering residents and visitors an exciting programme of performances, processions and participatory activities for all ages.
Picture credit: Visit Leicester
The festivities begin on Saturday 21 February, with a dynamic takeover of Highcross Leicester from 1pm to 6pm. Audiences can enjoy an energetic mix of traditional and contemporary performances, including live music, fan and ribbon dances, martial arts demonstrations and interactive workshops. A major highlight will be a professional face changer, appearing in Leicester for the first time. Throughout the afternoon, traditional lion dances will pop up across multiple city-centre locations, bringing messages of luck, prosperity and celebration.
Celebrations continue on Sunday 22 February, starting at 3:00pm at De Montfort University, where a spectacular lion dance will take place outside the Food Village. At 3:30pm, the festival moves into the streets with a vibrant procession beginning at Jubilee Square and weaving through the city centre. Featuring lion dancers, dragons, giant puppets, Buddhas and symbolic figures from Chinese tradition, the procession will culminate at Town Hall Square.
From 5:00pm, Town Hall Square will be transformed for a large-scale finale performance, combining lion dance, live music, pyrotechnics and fireworks in a breathtaking conclusion to the weekend’s celebrations.
Presented by Cosmopolitan Arts, a proud National Portfolio Organisation, the Chinese / Lunar New Year celebrations are free to attend and designed to bring communities together in a joyful, inclusive and culturally rich atmosphere.
Cosmopolitan Arts extends its sincere thanks to Arts Council England, Leicester City Council and the Confucius Institute for their continued support in making this landmark celebration possible.
