Where to celebrate Lunar New Year in Queensland
EVENT
By Jess Pridmore
Celebrating Asian cultural heritage with engaging performances, delicious food, live music, interactive workshops, and plenty more, here's where to find flagship Lunar New Year events in Queensland.
Brisbane | Cairns | Gold Coast | Sunshine Coast
When is Lunar New Year?
Unlike New Year observed every year on the 31st December in Western (Gregorian) calendars, Lunar New Year falls on a different date every year, thanks to the adherence of the lunar calendar in many Asian cultures.
In 2025, Lunar New Year was on Wednesday 29 January. Missed it? Well, mark your calendars now for the 2026 event on Tuesday 17 February 2026. Discover more Queensland events in February.
What is Lunar New Year?
One of the most important, and widely celebrated dates in Asian cultures, Lunar New Year is a celebration of year’s end, traditionally a time to reconnect with family. Beginning on the first day of the first lunar month of the year, Lunar New Year is a 15-day festival ringing in the new year, often beginning with a day of feasting, dragon dances and fireworks, and ending with a spectacular ‘Lantern Festival’ on the 15th day.
In many cultures, Lunar New Year associates each year with animals of the zodiac. 2025 is the Year of the Snake, symbolising wisdom, charm, elegance and transformation in Chinese culture.
How can I celebrate Lunar New Year?
BrisAsia, Brisbane. Photo by Brisbane City Council
BrisAsia Festival | Various locations around Brisbane
When: 31 January - 9 February 2025
One of Brisbane’s largest annual cultural festivals, BrisAsia is a celebration of all things Asian culture. Across 10 action-packed days, visitors can take part in over 25 events and activities around the city ranging from traditional cultural displays to street performances and K-pop showcases.
Some of the highlights? Hip-hop, street cars and food galore at Southside by Night (31 Jan), live music and lion dancing at Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha (2 Feb), Kpop at the Thomas Dixon Centre (8 Feb) and food with flair at the city's Longwang restaurant.
Lunar New Year in Fortitude Valley
When: 1 - 2 February 2025
Experience the Lunar New Year in the heart of Fortitude Valley and enjoy the unique flavours and vibrant culture that the Valley has to offer. Expect traditional lion, and dragon dances alongside roving street performers and cultural markets throughout Chinatown Mall, the Fortitude Valley precinct, and many restaurants and venues in the area to welcome the Year of the Snake.
Lunar New Year | Mt Gravatt Street Food
When: 1 February 2025
Immerse yourself in the (un)official pastime of Lunar New Year… feasting! Come along to the Mt Gravatt Street Food's Lunar New Year celebrations for a taste of some of Asia’s best street food dishes. Roving performers (eyes peeled for the dragon!), the K-pop final, and activations will keep all ages suitably satiated throughout the evening.
Moreton Bay Lunar New Year Celebrations | Caboolture Town Square
When: 8 February 2025
Head to Caboolture Town Square for a host of free and family-friendly Lunar New Year celebrations. From 3pm, watch the square transform with a huge traditional music and dance performance, complete with LNY’s famous dragon dance. Throughout the afternoon tuck into a host of traditional Asian dishes from local stallholders and restaurants, get involved in pop-up workshops and activities for the kids, then hang around for the firecracker display to end the night.
Lunar New Year Celebrations | Club Services Ipswich
When: 29 January 2025
One of the best Lunar New Year events in the Ipswich area, head to Club Services Ipswich for an evening of cultural immersion, complete with traditional lion dancers.
Lunar New Year in Cairns
Cairns Chinese New Year Festival, Cairns & Great Barrier Reef. Photo by CADCA
Cairns Chinese New Year Festival 2025 | Cairns CULTURAL Precinct and Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
When: Multiple events across 1 - 15 February 2025
Cairns & District Chinese Association Inc. boasts a jam-packed lineup in its 15-day Cairns Chinese New Year Festival.
Over the Lunar New Year festive season, Queensland’s tropical city comes alive with colour; tuck into a New Year’s banquet or Yum Cha experience, take in a visual art exhibition, and attend the finale event, the Lantern Festival, for watch magical dragon dances, traditional music, food stalls and a spectacular fireworks finale.
Lunar New Year on the Gold Coast
Lunar New Year in Chinatown, Southport, Gold Coast. Photo by @4ussiestyle
Chinatown Lunar New Year | Southport
When: 1 February 2025
Find yourself on the Gold Coast this Lunar New Year? Head to Southport’s famous Chinatown celebrations for a Lunar New Year to remember. Check out market stalls, kid-friendly origami,and Chinese calligraphy workshops, fan dancing, a fireworks show and an iconic dragon dance. The annual $5 food safari will also return, serving up delicious delicacies and traditional Lunar New Year foods for all the family.
The festivities begin at 3pm along Davenport and Young Streets, with the fireworks show at 7.30pm.
Lunar New Year on the Sunshine Coast
The Wharf on the Mooloolah River, Sunshine Coast
Lunar New Year | The Wharf Mooloolaba
When: TBC 2025
Sunshine Coast’s creative hub, The Wharf in Mooloolaba is honoured the Year of the Dragon in 2024 with a huge celebration in the courtyard, complete with an afternoon of food, music, dance and activities for all ages. Stay tuned for news on any 2025 celebrations.
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