What to do and where to eat during Sydney Lunar Festival

We’re rounding up some of the best things to do and places to eat during Sydney Lunar Festival. It’s happening from 29 January to 16 February.

Keep checking back as we add more events.

Featured events

Sydney Lunar Streets

Haymarket
Saturday 1 February, 5pm–10pm

Kick off your Lunar New Year celebrations and see the laneways of Haymarket transformed into an exciting street festival. Chinatown will buzz with live entertainment, roving performers, market stalls, food trucks, DJs and lion dances.

Dragon boat races

Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour
Friday 7 to Sunday 9 February

Watch the biggest dragon boat races in the southern hemisphere as more than 3,000 paddlers churn up the waters and battle it out.

Lunar Spectacular Show

Sydney Town Hall
Saturday 8 February
Two shows: 2pm and 5pm

Performers from Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese communities share their culture through traditional and contemporary dance and music.

Lion dancing and cultural performances

Various locations in Haymarket
Thursday to Sundays, Thursday 30 January to Sunday 16 February

Lion dancing troupes and cultural groups ring in the Lunar New Year with plenty of drumming, dance, flamboyance and skill.

Snake installation on Dixon Street

Dixon Street, Haymarket
Every day, Wednesday 29 January to Sunday 16 February

A family of friendly snakes welcome you to Chinatown for Lunar New Year.

Lunar gateways

Haymarket, various locations
Wednesday 29 January to Sunday 16 February

Don’t miss seeing these impressive structures beautifully illuminated at night. Each gateway is handpainted with Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese or Thai cultural designs.

Light rail snake

City centre and surrounds
Wednesday 29 January to Sunday 16 February

The Sydney Lunar Festival light rail snakes it way around the city centre. Catch a glimpse of the colourful artwork and hop on board during the festival.

Banner galleries

Haymarket, various locations
Monday 20 January to Sunday 16 February

Eight Asian-Australian artists share what the Year of the Snake means to them. Don’t miss the colourful and vibrant banner artworks displayed on our outdoor street flags.

Performances

Year of the Snake karaoke with Rainbow Chan

Art Gallery of NSW
Wednesday 29 January, 6:30pm to 9:30pm

Party like it’s 1989, 2001 or 2025 at this karaoke night, hosted by singer and multidisciplinary artist Rainbow Chan. Come dressed in your snake-themed best and perform your favourite hits or sit back and dine on dumplings with beer.

Chinatown Comedy Club Lunar New Year special

Covent Garden Hotel
Wednesday 12 February, 7:45pm

See some of Australia's best comedians at this action-packed and hilarious evening hosted by Soul of Chinatown.

Performance with Lion Dance Kids

Art Gallery of NSW
Saturday 1 February, 10:30am to 11am

Experience the heart-thumping beats of Lunar New Year as dancers perform remarkable acrobatic stunts and share their stories.

Fascinating Thaitown

Campbell Street, Haymarket
Saturday 8 February

Immerse yourself in traditional dance, music and a rhythmic and an energetic drum procession through the precinct. Strike a pose in front of the new mural by local artist Gabby Malpas and feast on dishes full of symbolic ingredients to bring you good luck for the year ahead.

Lunar New Year’s Eve Gala

Sydney Opera House
Tuesday 28 January, 8pm to 10pm

Be captivated by a mesmerising display of artistry, showcasing a vibrant program of traditional and contemporary Chinese music, classical Western masterpieces and enthralling cross-cultural collaboration.

Talks and workshops

Fashioning the Sydney Chinese community in the global 60s

Sydney Mechanics School of Arts
Saturday 15 February, 1pm to 3pm

Hear from Dr Mei-Fen Kuo as she discusses how local women’s associations shaped their communities and identities during the 1960s.

Book launch: The Old Reliable Firm

Charles Darwin University Marcus Clarke Campus
815 George Street, Haymarket
Thursday 6 February, 6pm to 8pm

Join Dr Sophie Couchman and the Chinese Heritage Association of Australia as they introduce a Chinese-Australian story of family, migration and entrepreneurship.

Tai chi workshop

Abadee Building
10 Dixon Street, Sydney
Tuesday 11 February, 10am to 12pm

Try this ancient martial art for relaxation, flexibility, body coordination and healthy living. This workshop from the Chinese Youth League is free and open to everyone.

Hidden Gems & Stories: Show & Tell at the Museum of Chinese in Australia

Hidden Gems and Stories: Show and tell

Museum of Chinese in Australia
Saturday 15 February, 9:30am to 5:30pm

Bring your personal historical documents, heritage memorabilia and photographs related to the history of Sydney’s Chinatown. A panel of specialists, historians and curators will appraise them and help identify their history and significance.

Lunar New Year Butoh workshop

Hyde Park
Sunday 2 February, 6pm to 7pm

Try your hand at this avant-garde form of Japanese dance theatre aimed at developing presence.

Symbols of change: Lunar New Year and beyond with Powerhouse

Darling Square Library,
Thursday 20 February, 11am to 12pm

Explore the rich symbolism of the Year of the Snake, a sign of wisdom, renewal and growth. This talk shares stories and objects from the museum’s collection.

Art

Celebrate LNY with the Australian Chinese Painting Society

The Shop Gallery
112 Glebe Point Road, Glebe
Thursday 6 to Wednesday 12 February

Marvel at beautiful rice paper artworks by members of the society. Each artist brings their distinctive style, offering traditional, modern and experimental takes on this ancient medium.

Neis Wai's solo exhibition 'Objects of Desire' at Community Bank Darling Square Artspace

Objects of Desire by Neis Wai

Community Bank Darling Square Art Space
11 Little Pier Street, Haymarket
Wednesday 5 to Friday 28 February

Stop at this thought-provoking exhibition and make time for reflection and transformation on Lunar New Year. These artworks invite you to confront the desires that shape, challenge and define you.

Journey Through Tradition by Anthony Van Lam

The Alley
212 Enmore Road, Enmore
Sunday 2 February to Friday 30 May

Traditional motifs unfold on canvas in this exhibition that explores Chinese artistic heritage in the past and present.

To Freely Flourish film screening

Level 4, Town Hall House
Thursday 30 January, 5:30pm to 7pm

Feel inspired to live openly and truthfully at a free screening of this crowd favourite from the Beijing Queer Film Festival. After the screening, ask your questions at the panel discussion with writer-director Victor Wu.

Feast

Want more?

Keep checking back to see what new events we've added.

Discover the Sydney Lunar Festival program.

The City of Sydney is proud to partner with SSI during Sydney Lunar Festival.

Published 10 January 2025, updated 28 January 2025

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