The year of the horse was welcomed in with Sheffield’s biggest Lunar New Year celebration yet.
On February 21 and 22, Sheffield’s Peace Gardens welcomed traditional Chinese dragon dances, food and local chinese businesses to help bring in the Lunar New year.
Leo Sun, trader at the festival, said: “We don’t normally have chances to say Happy Chinese New Year to each other. Giving these blessings to each other is a good thing.”
The 2026 celebration was the third and biggest ever Lunar New year celebration that has been held in Sheffield with thousands of people attending due to its expansion in 2024, turning it into a full-scale outdoor event.
The aim of the event is described by founder and organiser Jerry Cheung as a way to promote diversity and build community connections in Sheffield.
Cultural CIC, the organiser behind the festival, partnered with Sheffield BID (a non-profit organisation working to enhance Sheffield city-centre) to help fund the weekend’s festivities.
They hope that ‘the festival provides a huge boost to the city and the businesses that call Sheffield city centre their home.’
Diane Jarvis, Chief Executive Officer of Sheffield BID, said: “As a major partner to this festival, our focus is on ensuring events like the Peace Gardens weekend bring real vibrancy, footfall and economic benefit into the heart of Sheffield.”
Jerry Cheung started these annual Sheffield celebrations in 2004 which this year was packed with a total of 187 performances over the two days, including from world champion lion dancers, who had come all the way from China.
Other performances included demonstrations from martial arts company Jin Long Culture and Performing Arts, a cultural fashion show and traditional Chinese dances.
Virginia Chu, a volunteer at Sheffield Chinese Christian church when asked about the importance of the event, said: “We can group some people together, make a very good atmosphere and enjoy all the happiness.”
A stage was set up in the Peace Gardens for the festival and street food vendors set up market stalls around the town hall to help showcase Chinese and east Asian traditions and culture.
The celebrations acted to mark the beginning of the year of the fire horse which is associated with bringing optimism and intense fast-paced energy and adventure.
