Austin Lunar New Year events span February and early March, from lion dances to community festivals
A citywide calendar for the Year of the Horse
Lunar New Year begins on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, launching several weeks of public celebrations in Austin and nearby communities. Observed across many East and Southeast Asian cultures and throughout the diaspora, the holiday is marked locally with performances, markets, family activities and community dinners that continue into early March.
Public festivals and markets
Several of the season’s largest gatherings are organized as daytime, family-friendly events that combine shopping, food and cultural programming.
Lunar New Year @ Arboretum (Feb. 15): A midday event in the Arboretum food court area featuring a lion dance performance to open the program, bilingual storytime, and booths from local Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) artisans and makers.
The Lunar New Year Festival at Springdale General (Feb. 22): A one-day festival hosted at The Paper + Craft Pantry with a stated mission of highlighting Asian-owned, creatively aligned small businesses. Organizers describe the event as family-friendly, with optional donation-based and VIP RSVP options.
Meanwhile Brewing Company celebration (March 1): A daytime Lunar New Year event combining an AAPI vendor market, a scheduled lion dance performance, a DJ set, and a mahjong pop-up geared toward casual play and learning.
Performances across Austin’s venues
Performance groups also anchor the season’s programming, with lion dance and cultural showcases scheduled at multiple venues. Austin Moonflower Performing Arts Group lists appearances throughout February, including a Feb. 22 performance at Fo Guang Shan Xiang Yun Temple and additional Lunar New Year celebrations planned at Round Rock Premium Outlets on March 1 and at The Domain shopping center on March 7.
In Austin, Lunar New Year programming typically stretches beyond the start date, with events continuing for weeks through performances, markets and community gatherings.
Community dinners and networking gatherings
Alongside public festivals, several organizations are organizing smaller gatherings centered on food and interpersonal connection.
ACC AAPI Cultural Center Lunar New Year Get-Together (Feb. 20): Planned at Austin Community College’s Highland Campus, with an evening program described as including student performances, interactive games, and dinner.
Ascend Austin Lunar New Year gathering (Feb. 19): A community meal-format event with a red-envelope activity designed around exchanging written well-wishes.
What to know before you go
Many events are presented as free to attend, while some use RSVP systems, optional donations, or ticketing for specific activities. For families, daytime schedules and venues with on-site food and restrooms are common features of larger events. With multiple celebrations planned on the same weekend—particularly Feb. 21–22—attendees may find it useful to confirm times, parking details and RSVP requirements in advance.