Chinese New Year 2026

The year of the horse

Thank you to everyone who visited Age Concern at this year’s Chinese New Year Festival & Market Day at the ASB Showgrounds. It was a vibrant and welcoming celebration, and we were pleased to connect with so many older people and families from across Auckland. Events like this help us share information about our free services and ensure older members of our community know support is available.

Ethnic Communities page
Ethnic Communities page

Auckland Showgrounds, 217 Green Lane West, Epsom, Auckland

Saturday 14 February 2026 9:30am - 4:00pm

The Auckland Chinese Community Centre Inc has delivered Auckland’s annual Chinese New Year celebrations for more than three decades. Since 2002, this much-loved flagship event has taken place at the Auckland Showgrounds.

This year’s Chinese New Year Festival & Market Day, welcoming the Year of the Horse, promises a full day of colour, culture, and community. Festivities begin with a formal opening at 10.00am, including a traditional lion dance.

Visitors can explore over 200 market stalls offering Chinese New Year foods, hot and freshly prepared dishes, traditional arts and crafts, and a range of community and advisory services. A lively programme of cultural performances runs throughout the day, alongside rides and activities for children.

You’ll also find Age Concern Auckland at the festival. Please come and say hello at our stall (404), where our team will be available to share information, answer questions, and have a friendly chat.

As this is a large and busy public event, older visitors may wish to arrive earlier in the day, wear comfortable shoes, and take regular breaks. Seating areas are available around the Showgrounds, and bringing water is a good idea, especially if it’s warm.

As Auckland’s largest and longest-running Chinese New Year celebration, the festival attracts a very large public audience each year. It is especially valued by recent migrants from China and across Asia, offering a chance to reconnect with familiar traditions, flavours, and festivities from home.

The event is free and enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds, including local Kiwis and New Zealand-born Chinese, who come for the performances, the atmosphere, and the wide variety of Asian food and market offerings.

More info:
CNY – Auckland Chinese Community Centre