Manchester’s Lunar New Year Market returns this weekend with 130+ stalls

It's the time of year when we enter the Lunar New Year, and once again this weekend, Manchester City Centre will be exploding into a colourful and lively array of Asian culture as the Lunar New Year Market returns to celebrate the Year of the Horse, bringing more than 130 stalls and a full programme of cultural activity with it.

Taking place across Market Street, Exchange Square and New Cathedral Street on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th February 2026, the Market celebrates the food and culture of the city's asian commuinty, featuring crafts, festivities, and performances that mark one of the most important celebrations in the Lunar calendar.

Find more information on the Lunar New Year Markets, including traders and road closures - HERE

Alongside the market stalls, the weekend is soundtracked by a packed programme of cultural activity, from 20+ live music acts, including Cantonese opera and Chinese instrumental music, as well as everything from dance and band performances and traditional dance to Hong Kong independent short film screenings, guided cultural tours and family-friendly creative sessions.

Away from the market, the standout moment arrives on Sunday, when Manchester’s Dragon Parade takes over the streets. Starting from the junction of Oxford Road and George Street at midday, the huge traditional dragon weaves through the city before finishing in Chinatown, accompanied by dancers, drummers and performers. Loud, joyful and impossible to miss, it’s one of the most iconic sights in Manchester’s events calendar — a celebration of energy, renewal and collective spirit that brings the entire weekend together.

Now in its third year, the the Lunar New Year Market  - organised by Hong Kong Cultural Community CIC and Pretty Good Events - has become a a beloved fixture in Manchester’s calendar, the Lunar New Year Market showcases Asian traditions in a way that’s open, accessible and rooted in community, turning Manchester's streets into shared cultural spaces for food, music, performance, learning, and storytelling.

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