Multicultural Melbourne turns on the charm at Lunar New Year, with festivals, feasts, cultural traditions and maybe even a lucky dumpling.
As Melbourne gallops into the Year of the Fire Horse, our city comes alive with Lunar New Year celebrations External link, and you can check out these iconic Chinatown restaurants External link any time.
Tens of thousands flocked to Chinatown at the weekend for the Melbourne Chinese Lunar New Year Festival External link, featuring the epic dragon parade and lively performances from lion dancing crews.
Ever wondered how a lion dance comes to live? Meet Amber, a fourth-generation lion dancer who trains all year for performances at Chinese Lunar New Year.
A woman inside a giant traditional lion dance costume, she lifts the yellow costume off her head and smiles to camera.
Amber: "That’s essentially it. Controlling the lion."
Text overlay: How did you get into lion dancing? Images are colourful costumes and lions-heads stored on shelves. Old photographs showing the narrators ancestors
Amber: "My name is Amber. I’m actually a fourth-generation lion dance descendant. So, my great-grandfather used to do lion dancing in the Melbourne CBD back in the 1940s and 50s. That was also followed by my grand-uncle, who did lion dancing around the 70s. And my dad also did lion dancing in the 80s, as well. And now more recently, myself."
A woman in a red uniform with a sash around her waste, against a wall of flags and memorabilia. As she speaks the camera follows her through a training hall and into the storage room where giant lion costumes are stored.
Amber: "So, when I get asked about how it sort of ties into that Melbourne culture, I think there’s a lot of history captured in sort of the
different generations that have walked through this training hall. That’s quite meaningful to me."
Text overlay on footage of a storage rack full of lion dance equipment: So can you show us some lion dance moves?
Amber: "The way you control the lion, it’s all from the inside.We have a string here, which controls the blinkers. Got my hand underneath and I’m putting it here and it’s part of that movement that we do.
Footage of dancing lions in a training hall.
Amber: "There’s a lot of stuff that goes into the preparation of our Lunar New Year performances. So first, equipment checks that we need to be running as well. Making sure that our drums, our lions are all ready, and public for performance, and of course, lots of training as well.
Footage of lion dancers performing outside a restaurant.
What are your hopes for the Year of the Horse?
Melburnians across the city welcomed the Year of the Horse with family and friends.
We asked Melburnians from our diverse Chinese and Asian communities to share their favourite cultural traditions and hopes for the new year.
Read on to hear their favourite traditions and hopes for the new year.
A Chinatown festival where everyone belongs
“The Horse symbolises energy and momentum – values that reflect the spirit of Chinatown.
“In 2026, I’m especially hopeful for a year of renewed vitality for small businesses, creativity in our city, and continued cultural exchange.”
Christina Zhao, President of Melbourne Chinatown Business Association
Family time soaking up the new year spirit
“The Year of the Horse represents positive spirit and energy in our culture. It's a meaningful day to bring the family together over a nourishing meal.
“[My family is back home in Malaysia], so I will spend the day with my brother in Melbourne, check out the festivities in Chinatown and have a traditional Malaysian Chinese dinner!”
Dr Belle Lim, Young Melburnian of the Year
Lucky dumplings make lifelong memories
“One new year tradition in my hometown is that families will make dumplings at night. My grandparents will put some coins and Chinese dates in it. After the count-down, whoever finds the coins or dates will get good luck and money in the coming year.
“Laughing and shouting excitedly as we take our first bite of each dumpling gives the whole family joy and happiness. This is the best memory I have in my whole life.”
Shihao Sun, international student
Coming together in Korea Town
“I’m looking forward to celebrating Lunar New Year in Korea Town, where food, culture and community come together. ”
“Some of my fondest memories are gathering with the whole family, sharing food, and walking through streets in Korea filled with lanterns and celebrations.”
Chelsea Kim, President, Korea Town Association
Eating is a sport at Lunar New Year
“When growing up in Malaysia, our living room featured a big portrait of galloping horses, symbolising success, strength and overcoming obstacles. As an adult, horses are a reminder to embrace my independence, trust my instincts and live authentically.
“My favourite way of ushering in the new year is the ‘prosperity toss’. Guests toss the ingredients for yee sang salad high into the air with chopsticks while calling out good wishes for the year ahead.”
Gary Lee, Manager, International Education team at City of Melbourne
Good luck and a smooth start
“ Growing up, we would take part in Xing Tong Ji, a custom from Foshan where people go walking to pray for good luck and a smooth year, and visit Zumiao Temple.
“The Year of the Horse feels like a good reminder to keep moving forward while staying connected to these traditions.”
Lok Qiu, My Melbourne Student Ambassador 2025
A chance to bring Chinese culture closer to your heart
“I am a fifth-generation Chinese Australian, so I value the opportunity to embrace Chinese traditions in any way I can. The annual Lunar New Year Festival in Melbourne’s Chinatown is such an occasion.
“The Millennium Dragon emerges from the Chinese Museum for the festival. And we celebrate Chinese culture with mah jong and new year flower arranging classes, lantern workshops for children, Taoist blessings, tea tastings and more across 2 weeks.”
Mark Wang, CEO, Chinese Museum in Chinatown
A morning visit to the temple
"The Horse symbolises passion and progress, reflecting its energetic nature and ability to travel great distances. May you achieve your dreams, prosperity and happiness in the Year of the Horse!”
Nicholas Wee, support worker at The Couch International Student Centre
Tet festivities with Vietnamese playgroup friends
"Lunar New Year, or Tet in Vietnamese, is one of the most important cultural celebrations for Vietnamese people, a time of renewal and togetherness. This year, families at Vietnamese playgroup are among many in the diaspora who cannot return home for Tet. We will have a small celebration together."
"A key tradition is lì xì – lucky money in red envelopes symbolising the sharing of prosperity for the year ahead."
Families from Vietnamese cultural playgroup in the City of Melbourne
Passing on traditions at Chinese playgroup
"The horse is often associated with good things arriving quickly and smoothly. For the Year of the Horse, our family likes to place small symbols of good fortune on the horse’s back.
"Chinese New Year for us is about hope, luck, and fresh beginnings, and we enjoy sharing these traditions with [our daughter] and happily the grandparents too this year.”
Jiaxing, mum from narrm Chinese Playgroup in the City of Melbourne
Best wishes for the Year of the Horse from your councillors
Eight dishes for good fortune and prosperity
“Our family will usually have a New Year's Eve dinner with eight dishes including fish, prawns, chicken, lettuce, and new year cake symbolising wealth, happiness, growth, good fortune and prosperity.
“I wish you and your family a brilliant Year of the Horse!”
Councillor Gladys Liu
Strength, progress and family
“The Year of the Horse is a time to reflect on Melbourne’s shared ambition to foster economic vitality, support our business and residential community, and continue engaging confidently with the world.”
“Like many families, I associate Chinese Lunar New Year with coming together around food, sharing well-wishes for the year ahead and honouring tradition. It’s a meaningful reminder of the cultural richness that strengthens our city and the sense of possibility each new year brings.”
Councillor Kevin Louey
Charging forward with confidence
"As a Chinese Australian, the Year of the Fire Horse reminds me of energy, freedom, and determination – qualities that inspire me to charge forward with confidence in the year ahead.
"Celebrating Chinese New Year in Australia connects me to my heritage, from sharing a reunion dinner with family and friends to watching the dragon ‘Dai Loong’ awaken and move around [one of] the oldest Chinatowns in the world.
"Happy CNY2026, I wish everyone a speedy path to your dreams and ignite the fire for your passion this year!"
Councillor Philip Le Liu
