TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Chinatown area in Singapore is preparing to become the center of Lunar New Year celebrations. The celebration, which has a Year of the Horse theme, will take place from January 18 to March 18, 2026. This highly anticipated celebration will feature street light decorations, cultural performances, interactive workshops, and the International Lion Dance Competition, which is one of the most popular events in the annual festival.
One of the main highlights this year is the Street Light-Up with the theme "Galloping into the Prosperous Year", a visual project that combines traditional Chinese paper cutting art with contemporary characters.
The main installation, an 8.8-meter-tall golden horse, will stand in the festival area surrounded by 60 horses and 48 ingots, symbolizing progress, harmony, and hope for prosperity in the coming year. Decorative lights will illuminate the main streets, including South Bridge Road, Upper Cross Street, New Bridge Road, and Eu Tong Sen Street, adorned with orchid motifs representing Singapore, the symbol of the Holy Wealth of the Eight Gods, and accents of red fabric.
The official lighting ceremony and opening took place on January 30, 2026, and was live-streamed through digital platforms. Various performances were presented, including a fusion of the Tiongjoa and Malay Kuda Kepang dance, the Rajasthani Inda horse dance, Western styles, and Galloping into Spring, an erhu performance inspired by the image of running horses and the arrival of spring.
Minister for Communications and Information, Josephine Teo, said Lunar New Year is a time to renew and strengthen the bonds that unite families and communities. Furthermore, the depiction of 61 running horses together during Singapore's 61st independence celebration symbolizes the collective spirit and resilience of the nation striving for a common future.
"In welcoming the Year of the Horse, the strong, tough, and determined nature of the horse reminds us that our greatest strength lies in supporting and standing together to build a stronger and more caring Singapore," she said in a statement received by Tempo.
Similar statements were echoed by Guo Teyi, Director of the Leisure Events Division at the Singapore Tourism Board, that the Chinatown Lunar New Year celebration reflects Singapore's position as a dynamic multicultural destination, bringing together residents and visitors in shared joy. "We invite everyone to experience the spirit of Lunar New Year in Chinatown, a time for renewal, prosperity, and shared celebration in welcoming the Year of the Horse," Teyi said.
Singapore's Chinatown Lunar New Year Events
Here are various events that will be held to welcome Lunar New Year in Chinatown Singapore:
1. International Lion Dance Competition
The much-anticipated event, the International Lion Dance Competition, will be held on February 7 and 8, 2026, at the Kreta Ayer People's Theatre. Lion dance teams from Singapore, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Australia will showcase their best abilities in acrobatic and artistic performances. The competition will also be live-streamed for a wider audience to enjoy.
2. Art, Culture, and Lunar Market Workshops
The festival will also feature various community activities, including:
Chinese paper cutting art workshop led by renowned artist Xu Zunying on January 24
Mandarin orange container crafting workshop by the National Heritage Board on February 8
Lunar markets at People's Park Square and along Sago, Smith, Temple, Trengganu, and Pagoda streets
The event will reach its peak at the Countdown Party on February 16-17, bringing together residents from various communities in a concert and entertainment until midnight.
3. Sustainable and Environmentally-Friendly Festival
In line with sustainability campaigns, the festival committee will launch the Lantern Adoption Program from March 11 to 18. In this program, the public is welcome to take the lanterns used during the celebration for reuse at home.
Putri Az Zahra Suherman contributed to this article
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