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Lunar New Year 2026 in Sydney: Where to Eat, Drink and Celebrate the Year of the Horse
- Deb Carr
- 18 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Sydney comes alive during Lunar New Year, and 2026 is shaping up to be a particularly vibrant celebration. Marking the Year of the Horse, the city will host an exciting mix of fine dining experiences, cultural performances, immersive installations and festive precinct celebrations — all centred around themes of prosperity, renewal and togetherness.
Lunar New Year 2026 in Sydney Starts Here
From Circular Quay to Barangaroo and Haymarket, here’s where to celebrate Lunar New Year in Sydney this February and March.
Aria, Circular Quay
16 February – 3 March
One of Sydney’s most iconic dining rooms is welcoming Lunar New Year with an intimate bar-only experience at Aria. Designed by Executive Chef Tom Gorringe and Group Executive Chef Hamish Ingham, the limited-edition menu is refined, elegant and ideal for a special occasion overlooking the harbour.
Highlights include red braised Maremma duck pie with garnet plum sauce, Western Australian rock lobster toast, scallop and shiitake egg rolls, and a beautifully balanced vanilla bean rice pudding with raspberry, star anise croustillant and mandarin sorbet.
To toast the occasion, Aria’s signature Lunar New Year cocktail, Juzi Honeybee, blends Bombay Premier Cru gin with mandarin, rhubarb, oolong honey and lemon — light, aromatic and celebratory.
South Eveleigh
16 February – 22 February
South Eveleigh’s Colour. Culture. Connection campaign brings Lunar New Year to life through a series of physical and digital experiences designed for all ages.
Visitors can explore a Lunar New Year augmented reality mirror inspired by BaZi fortune-telling, watch traditional lion dances roam the precinct during the auspicious Plucking of the Greens ceremony, and experience a thrilling High Pole Lion Dance performed by the renowned Jin Wu Koon.
There are also Mahjong workshops running on selected days, offering beginner-friendly tables and guided sessions for anyone keen to learn the game.
Crown Sydney
3 February – 28 February
Crown Sydney’s Lunar New Year celebrations embrace the strength and vitality of the Horse with a month-long program of dining, cocktails and live entertainment, in partnership with Hennessy.
Golden Century will present a festive banquet filled with auspicious dishes such as Prosperity Salad with salmon sashimi and braised sea cucumber with XO sauce. Woodcut will showcase bold, fire-driven dishes inspired by the Horse zodiac, while Epicurean offers rotating Lunar New Year dinner menus featuring classic favourites like BBQ roasted duck and double-boiled black chicken soup.
Teahouse rounds out the experience with zodiac-inspired cocktails, and roaming lion dancers add to the festive atmosphere across the precinct.
Lotus, Barangaroo
Friday 20 February
Lotus Barangaroo will host the only traditional Lion Dance on Wulugul Walk this Lunar New Year, marking the Year of the Horse with an evening celebration of prosperity and new beginnings.
The restaurant is offering a $189 per person Prosperity Banquet alongside festive à la carte specials including a Seafood Prosperity Salad (Yee Sang) with salmon and scallop, and Char Siu pork ribs with pickled fennel.
Guests who spend $200 or more in a single visit will receive a Lucky Red Pocket containing a surprise voucher or special reward.
Darling Square
14 February – 1 March
Darling Square transforms into a glowing celebration of Lunar New Year with illuminated lantern installations, LED lion dancing, live Chinese calligraphy, music and free family-friendly activities.
Lion dances take place on selected Saturday evenings, with calligraphy demonstrations earlier in the night. Families can also enjoy a free toy pony ride with any spend at Darling Square — simply show your receipt to redeem.
DOPA
2 February – 8 March
DOPA is celebrating Lunar New Year across its Victoria Cross and Darling Square locations with limited-edition Flamin’ Karaage dishes topped with Big Z’s Fried Skewers’ signature spice blend.
Each Lunar New Year dish comes with a red pocket containing a DOPA dollar for a future visit, with two golden tickets hidden throughout the promotion — offering the chance to win a PlayStation 5 or Dyson Airwrap.
Vic’s The Chef’s Butcher
9 February – 28 February
For those celebrating at home, Vic’s The Chef’s Butcher is offering Lunar New Year promotions both online and in-store, rewarding customers with lucky red envelopes containing vouchers for future purchases.
A standout seasonal highlight is Vic’s exclusive dry-aged duck, matured in-house for a minimum of seven days. The ageing process enhances flavour, richness and succulence, delivering crisp skin and beautifully rendered fat when roasted — perfect for a Lunar New Year feast.
Turning Lunar New Year into a Sydney weekend away? Check hotel availability and prices here.
Celebrating Lunar New Year in Sydney
Whether you’re booking a fine dining experience, exploring cultural performances or enjoying festive precinct celebrations, Lunar New Year 2026 offers plenty of ways to welcome the Year of the Horse in Sydney.
This is one of those seasonal moments Sydney does exceptionally well — and a wonderful excuse to eat well, gather with friends and soak up the city’s energy.
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