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● Get ready for an exciting Year of the Horse as the bustling streets of Chinatowntransform into a spectacular celebration with festive light installations, engagingcommunity programmes, and the highly anticipated return of the Lion DanceCompetition.

● Experience a dazzling Chinatown illuminated by the designs of TemenggongArtists-in-Residence, the festive art partners behind the street light designs, transformingthe streets and creating experiences that bring Singapore’s diverse communitiestogether.

Chinatown will usher in the Year of the Horse with thehighly anticipated Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations from 18 January to 18 March

Beyond the iconic Official Street Light-Up & Opening Ceremony, this year’s programme also features the annual Countdown Party (新春倒数派对) from 16 to 17 February 2026 at Kreta Ayer Square, bringing communities of all ages together in celebration. This year’s festivities include a refreshed collaboration with the Temenggong Artists-in-Residence, the festive art partners behind the street light designs, whose creative interpretations add depth and cultural resonance to the celebrations.

Street Light-Up: Galloping into the Prosperous Year

The 2026 Street Light-Up (新春亮灯) themed “Galloping intotheProsperousYear” (万马奔腾, 喜迎新春), draws inspiration from traditional Chinese paper-cutting, reimagined through a contemporary lens.

The installation is anchored by a magnificent 8.8-metre golden horse centrepiece, symbolising momentum, aspiration, and collective progress. Its dynamic form and intricate detailing showcase both artistic craftsmanship and a sense of forward motion, reflecting shared hopes and determination for the year ahead. Accented with orchids and peonies in woven baskets, this installation weaves together symbols of prosperity, harmony, and abundance, creating a festive landscape that speaks to unity and renewal across Singapore’s diverse communities.

Radiating outward from the golden horse, three surrounding sections unfold as a visual narrative, featuring a total of 60 horses and 48 fruits. The galloping horses surge dynamically toward the centrepiece, symbolising unity, aspiration, and collective progress to welcome all communities into the new year.

OfficialStreetLight-Up&OpeningCeremony

The Official Street Light-Up & Opening Ceremony (新春亮灯仪式与开幕典礼) will take place on 30January2026at6.00PMat KretaAyerSquare (牛车水广场), marking the formal launch of the Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations. The event will be broadcast live on Facebook and YouTube.

Chinatown will be illuminated with vibrant horse-inspired lanterns and auspicious motifs, creating an enchanting atmosphere for the festivities. The light-up will span key entrances across the precinct, including South Bridge Road, Upper Cross Street, New Bridge Road, and Eu Tong Seng Street. Decorative elements such as eight lanterns adorned with the sacred treasures of the Eight Immortals, and six auspicious fruit motifs symbolising abundance, will be

complemented by accents of Singapore orchids, paper-cut-inspired designs, and layered red drapes. This cohesive streetscape conveys wishes of unity, prosperity, and renewal for the Chinese New Year.

Cultural performances at the opening ceremony will celebrate Singapore’s multicultural identity, bringing together Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Western artistic traditions. Key performances include a horse-inspired dance that blends Chinese dance with Malay Kuda Kepang, Indian Rajasthani horse dance, and Western styles. Additional highlights include Melodies of Spring, which pairs Chinese vocals with dances from Malay, Indian, and Western traditions, and Galloping into Spring, an erhu performance inspired by the imagery of galloping horses and the arrival of spring.

The ceremony will be officiated by Mrs Josephine Teo, Minister for Digital Development and Information, Minister-in-Charge of Cybersecurity and Smart Nation Group and Adviser to Jalan Besar GRC Grassroots Organisations (GROs) (Kreta Ayer—Kim Seng), alongside Mr David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Education.

Mrs Josephine Teo shared: “Chinese New Year is a time to renew and strengthen the bonds that unite our families and communities. As Singapore celebrates its 61st year of nationhood, the imagery of 61 horses galloping forward in unison symbolises our collective spirit, shared purpose, and resilience as one people striving towards a common future. As we welcome the Yearof the Horse, the horse’s qualities of strength, endurance, and determination remind us that our greatest strength lies in drawing support from one another and standing together to build a stronger and more caring Singapore.”

Ms Guo Teyi, Director, Leisure Events Division, Singapore Tourism Board, added: “The Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations exemplify Singapore’s position as a vibrant multicultural destination, bringing together locals and visitors in joyful celebration. These festivities are part of Singapore’s rich tapestry of cultural celebrations throughout the year, representing our nation’s unique multicultural identity and the harmonious spirit thatdefinesus. We invite everyone to experience the festive spirit of Chinese New Year at Chinatown –atime of renewal, prosperity, and shared celebrations as we welcome the Year of the Horse.”

LionDanceCompetition

A fan favourite makes an exciting return with the ChineseNewYearInternationalLionDance Competition (新春国际狮王争霸邀请赛), happening on 7 and 8 February 2026, at 6.00PMat the Kreta Ayer People’s Theatre.

This spectacular showcase will bring together elite lion dance troupes from Singapore and across the region, including China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia, each presenting their distinctive styles, breathtaking stunts, and vibrant artistry. Audiences can look forward to an electrifying celebration of skill, tradition, and multicultural diversity, as the teams compete for top honours on the grand stage.

More details on this ticketed event will be announced on the official Chinatown Festivals social media channels. The excitement will also be brought to the community through a live screening at Kreta Ayer Square, allowing everyone to be part of the festive multicultural celebration.

ChinesePaperCuttingWorkshop

As part of the festive celebrations, a special collaboration with the Temenggong Artists-in-Residence will present a Chinese Paper Cutting Workshop (中国纸手工作坊) on 24 January 2026, 6.00 PM at the Kreta Ayer Square, with limited slots available.

The workshop will be conducted by Ms Xu Zunying, a renowned Chinese paper-cutting master from Chaoshan, China, who brings with her over 40 years of artistic experience. A provincial-level inheritor of Guangdong Paper Cutting, Ms Xu is widely acclaimed for her exquisite craftsmanship. Her works have earned numerous accolades and have been showcased at prestigious international exhibitions, offering participants a rare opportunity to learn from a true master of this traditional art form, while connecting with Singapore’s diverse multicultural community.

More information on the workshop will be announced in due course.

MandarinOrangeCarrierPaperCraftWorkshop

The National Heritage Board (NHB) will be organising a MandarinOrangeCarrierPaperCraft (新春柑桔纸袋手作坊) on 8 February 2026 at Kreta Ayer Community Club.

Participants can look forward to creating a unique and festive carrier to hold mandarin oranges, perfect for bringing along their well wishes while visiting family and friends during the celebrations.

More information on the workshop will be announced in due course.

MindfulCelebrations&CommunityValues

In line with Chinatown’s commitment to responsible and sustainable celebrations, the 2026 festivities will be thoughtfully planned with a focus on efficient installations, community-driven initiatives, and practical measures to minimise waste and reduce energy consumption throughout the festive period.

As part of these efforts, the Lantern Adoption Programme (认领灯笼) will be open from 11to 18 March 2026, offering members of the public the opportunity to adopt selected lanterns used during the celebrations and give them a meaningful second life beyond Chinatown.

More details on the application process will be shared via Chinatown Festivals’ official social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook).

ProgrammeInformation

For more information, please refer to Annex A: ChinatownChineseNewYearCelebrations2026 Programme Highlights. To view the full programme, please visit chinatownfestivals.sg.

Please find the digital press kit via this link.

AboutChinatownFestivalCommittee

The Chinatown Festival Organising Committee is a special project committee established to organise and coordinate festival-related activities. Now celebrating its 25th year, the committee organises the annual Chinatown Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations, preserving and promoting Chinese culture and traditions while injecting vibrancy into the Chinatown precinct.

For more information, please visit https://chinatownfestivals.sg and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or TikTok.

*All Photos from Chinatown Festivals Committee