Lunar New Year is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in the world, marking the beginning of a new year based on lunar calendars.
It holds a similar cultural importance in many Asian societies to the calendar New Year in the West, while also being observed by communities across the globe.
In Lisbon, Lunar New Year celebrations reflect the city’s growing connections to Asian communities, including Chinese, Vietnamese, and the wider East and Southeast Asian diaspora.
As Lisbon continues to attract people from around the world, it is increasingly seen as a place where global traditions find a home.
In 2026, Lunar New Year falls on 17 February and welcomes the Year of the Horse, a zodiac sign traditionally associated with movement, innovation, and high levels of activity — a fitting symbol for a city known for its energy and cultural exchange.
What Is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year marks the beginning of the year according to the lunar calendar, rather than the Gregorian calendar used in most Western countries.
Because lunar months follow the cycles of the moon, the date of Lunar New Year changes every year, usually falling between late January and mid-February.
Lunar New Year is celebrated across many cultures, most commonly in East and Southeast Asia.
It is particularly associated with China, where it is known as the Spring Festival, Korea (Seollal), and Vietnam (Tết), among others.
In these cultures, Lunar New Year is a time for family reunions, honouring traditions, and welcoming good fortune for the year ahead.
Beyond Asia, other cultures also observe New Year celebrations based on non-Gregorian calendars, such as Rosh Hashanah in Jewish culture and the Hijri New Year in Islamic cultures, though these fall on different dates and follow different traditions.
In its East Asian forms, Lunar New Year is especially associated with new beginnings, family reunions, and good fortune and prosperity.
Unlike Western New Year celebrations, Lunar New Year is not a single-day event, but a festival that typically lasts one to two weeks, with the most important moments taking place on Lunar New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day and concluding with the Lantern Festival.
What’s the Difference Between Lunar New Year and Chinese New Year?
The term “Chinese New Year” is often used in Portugal to refer to all Lunar New Year celebrations.
While this usage is widespread, Lunar New Year is the more accurate and inclusive term, as many cultures celebrate the New Year using similar lunar calendars.
Within China, the festival is known as the Spring Festival, while Lunar New Year is the broader and more inclusive term that encompasses celebrations across multiple countries and cultures.
In short, Chinese New Year is a commonly used Western term for the Spring Festival celebrated in China, while Lunar New Year is the more accurate umbrella term for celebrations across East and Southeast Asia and beyond.
Lunar New Year 2026: Key Dates and Zodiac Meaning
In 2026, Lunar New Year falls on Tuesday, 17 February. Because it follows the lunar calendar, the date changes every year.
Celebrations usually extend beyond a single day and often include events in the lead-up week, New Year’s Day itself, and festivities continuing until the Lantern Festival around two weeks later.
In the traditional Chinese calendar, 2026 marks the Year of the Horse, specifically the Fire Horse, which appears once every 60 years.
The Horse is traditionally associated with energy and movement, independence and ambition, and travel, progress, and change.
The Fire element adds themes of passion, intensity, and boldness, influencing the tone and imagery of celebrations throughout the year.
Zodiac animals often shape how Lunar New Year is celebrated.
They can influence decorations, posters, and lantern designs, performances and storytelling, museum and cultural-centre programming, and even restaurant menus and décor.
As a result, each Lunar New Year feels distinct, even when core traditions remain the same.
How Is The Lunar New Year Typically Celebrated in Portugal?
In Portugal, Lunar New Year is not officially celebrated, as it's merely observed.
However, celebrations do occur across the country, combining large public festivities with more intimate family traditions.
Public celebrations often focus on spectacle and symbols of good fortune. These typically include lion and dragon dances, red decorations, lanterns and banners, and firecrackers or firework displays, which are traditionally used to ward off evil spirits and bad luck.
At home, within Asian communities, celebrations centre around family gatherings and auspicious customs.
Families often eat foods with positive symbolic meanings, such as dumplings and fruit to represent wealth, noodles for longevity, and fish for abundance.
Cultural activities like calligraphy, paper crafts, and traditional music are common, as are lucky traditions such as thoroughly cleaning the home before the New Year and giving money in red envelopes to younger relatives as a symbol of prosperity.
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Portuguese Bank Holidays in 2026
Lunar New Year in Lisbon: What Usually Happens
Lisbon, Portugal's capital, is where the Lunar New Year's celebrations are more prevalent.
While full details for Lisbon’s 2026 celebrations have not yet been announced, past years suggest a consistent pattern.
Celebrations usually include community-led events in central neighbourhoods, particularly around Martim Moniz, as well as public performances such as lion and dragon dances.
These often culminate in a major parade along Avenida Almirante Reis.
Museum and cultural-centre programming is also a key part of the celebrations, with workshops, talks, and exhibitions frequently hosted by institutions such as Museu do Oriente.
Many events are family-friendly and designed to introduce Asian cultural traditions to a wider audience.
Exact programming may vary year to year, but these elements are reliably part of Lisbon’s Lunar New Year celebrations.
Food, Restaurants and Lunar New Year Menus
Food plays a central role in Lunar New Year celebrations, with many dishes chosen for their symbolic meanings, often based on wordplay or visual associations.
Traditional festive foods include glutinous rice cakes (niangao), eaten for prosperity because the name sounds like “a more prosperous year” in Chinese, longevity noodles (yi mein) whose length symbolises long life, traditionally eaten whole and without cutting, and lucky fruits such as tangerines, oranges, and pomelos.
These fruits are valued for their golden colour and associations with wealth, luck, and abundance.
In Lisbon, many Asian restaurants mark the occasion with special Lunar New Year menus, group banquets, and traditional dishes linked to luck and prosperity.
Restaurants offering an authentic Lunar New Year dining experience include:
- The Old House in Parque das Nações, known for traditional Sichuan cuisine;
- Dawanmian in Martim Moniz, a casual Zhejiang restaurant celebrated for its handmade noodles;
- Dim Sum in Oeiras, specialising in Cantonese dumplings;
- Boa Bao in Chiado, offering modern Chinese and Southeast Asian flavours;
- Dinastia Tang in Parque das Nações, a long-established restaurant that reopened in a new location in 2024 and often hosts traditional music during Lunar New Year.
How to Experience Lunar New Year in Lisbon Like a Local
To make the most of Lunar New Year in Lisbon, it is worth following local cultural institutions and city event calendars, visiting central neighbourhoods during the main celebration period, and booking restaurants well in advance around the key dates.
Attending museum talks or workshops can offer deeper cultural insight, and celebrating with friends or family reflects the communal spirit at the heart of the festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Lunar New Year celebrated in 2026?
- Lunar New Year in 2026 falls on 17 February. Celebrations often extend over several days or weeks, concluding with the Lantern Festival.
Is Lunar New Year the same as Chinese New Year?
- Chinese New Year is the most widely recognised form of Lunar New Year, but the festival is celebrated across many cultures, each with its own traditions.
Where can I experience Lunar New Year celebrations in Portugal?
- Lisbon hosts the most visible celebrations, including cultural performances, museum programming, and special restaurant menus. Smaller events have also taken place elsewhere in Portugal, including in the north and the Algarve.
Do I need tickets to attend Lunar New Year events in Lisbon?
- Many public events, such as parades and street performances, are free to attend. Some museum events and performances may require tickets or advance booking.
Is Lunar New Year family-friendly?
- Yes. Many events include workshops, demonstrations, and activities suitable for all ages.
Is Lunar New Year a public holiday in Portugal?
- No. Lunar New Year is not an official public holiday in Portugal. However, as celebrations often span several days, many events take place on the surrounding weekends.
