Happy Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse

Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year based on the lunisolar calendar and is a major cultural celebration observed across many Asian and diasporic communities. Lunar New Year Festival is celebrated with many different customs and traditions by widely diverse cultures.

Festivities celebrate family, prosperity, and good fortune to invite health and happiness in the year ahead. Decorations featuring wishes for good luck such as couplets, calligraphy, and lanterns are often displayed. Several cultures include dragon dancing and lion dancing as a part of their Lunar New Year traditions. Dragons are believed to represent power, strength and good luck. Performers dance during celebrations to drive away evil spirits and usher in blessings for the community.

The Asian American Cultural Center celebrates Lunar New Year annually through collaborations with many campus departments, including International Education and University Housing, as well as local partners, including K-12 schools, 40-North, and more. Our goal is to foster intergenerational, cross-cultural understanding about the significance and history of the Lunar New Year while also engaging students in embracing and affirming their intersectionality.

A red-and-gold Lunar New Year 2026 flyer featuring a lantern with a horse illustration, event dates from January 31 to March 3, a list of community celebrations, multiple partner logos across the top, and a QR code for more information.

Highlights: Many Ways to Celebrate Lunar New Year

Discover Traditions Across Cultures — A Quick Guide

Lunar New Year is celebrated in many ways across different Asian cultures around the globe. We invite you to join the Asian American Cultural Center, along with our campus and community partners, for a series of family-friendly events celebrating Lunar New Year across Urbana-Champaign throughout February and March 2026.

Upcoming Events | February–March 2026
These programs are open to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, or national origin. 
For event details, social media updates, and photos, please follow the links below:

Lunar New Year Dragon Tour
January 31–March 2
Dragons will pop up across campus and community locations throughout the season. Visit, learn, and take photos along the way. Visit aacc.illinois for locations and more information.
Location: Asian American Cultural Center | 1210 W. Nevada St., Urbana, IL

Art Exhibit: In Between 
Spring 2026
Winter Artist Showcase featuring works by Soyoung Jung at the Asian American Cultural Center.
Location: Asian American Cultural Center | 1210 W. Nevada St., Urbana, IL

Lunar New Year–Themed Meal*
Wednesday, February 11 | 4:30–6:30 PM
Enjoy activities, performances, and photo opportunities with a dragon.
In partnership with the Asian American Cultural Center, International Education, and University Housing.
Location: Illinois Street Residence Hall (ISR).

Lunar New Year with Multiple Traditions
Friday, February 13 | 5:00–7:00 PM
University YMCA, in partnership with the New American Welcome Center.
Location: University YMCA | 1001 S. Wright St. Champaign, IL

PostMark Urbana
Saturday, February 14 | 2:00–4:00 PM
Activities, performances, and dragon photo opportunities.
Sponsored by 40 North, Urbana Arts & Culture Program, and Urbana Park District.
Location: The Urbana Free Library | 210 W Green St, Urbana, IL
Event link: https://www.facebook.com/share/17pgCDhmMn/

KUROSHIO | PostMark Spotlight Series
Saturday, February 14 | 3:00–5:00 PM
An exploration of sound celebrating Lunar New Year led by Jason Finkelman
Location: Gallery Art Bar | 119 W Main St, Urbana, IL 
Event link: https://www.facebook.com/share/19XfxJTyVz/

CAACI Lunar New Year Festival*
Sunday, February 15 | 4:30–7:00 PM
Location: Wesley Church, Great Hall, 1203 W. Green St., Urbana, IL

Join the Chinese American Association of Central Illinois for a festive evening featuring Chinese dance performances, songs and traditional folk music, calligraphy, mahjong, and more. Due to limited capacity, advance registration is required.

*Free admission. Meal tickets required.

Tsagaan Sar: Mongolian Lunar New Year Celebration
Wednesday, February 18 | 5:30–7:00 PM
Presented by Bella Badral, in partnership with International Education and the Asian American Cultural Center
Celebrate Tsagaan Sar, the Mongolian Lunar New Year, with traditions, greetings, and festive foods.
Location: Asian American Cultural Center | 1210 W. Nevada St., Urbana 

Rest & Renew: Lunar New Year Community Wellness Lounge
Thursday, February 19 | 3:00–5:00 PM
Presented by Sophie Bush
Pause and recharge this Lunar New Year through gentle activities, community care, and shared dumplings.
Location: Asian American Cultural Center | 1210 W. Nevada St., Urbana 

AACC Grad Student Network | Happy Lunar New Year
Thursday, February 19 | 5:30–7:00 PM
Meet new people and enjoy Lunar New Year activities, dumplings, and more.
Location: Asian American Cultural Center | 1210 W. Nevada St., Urbana 

AACC Faculty and Staff | Lunar New Year Potluck
Monday, February 23 | 11:30 AM–1:30 PM
Gather for a new beginning filled with friendship, good health, and a great year ahead. AACC will provide main entrées. You are welcome to bring your favorite dishes to share, but it is not required. More information to come. 
Location: Asian American Cultural Center | 1210 W. Nevada St., Urbana 

Lunar New Year Dragon Tour 2026

Dragons across campus — learn, explore, and celebrate 

Throughout February, AACC's dragons will be popping up across campus in celebration of Lunar New Year. Visit a dragon to read about its significance and ways to celebrate the festival. Take a dragon selfie and tag @aaccillinois to enter a raffle for an AACC swag bag. Every selfie tagged counts as one entry for the raffle -- visit multiple locations for multiple entries!


Tour Dates:

DragonLocationStart DateEnd Date
Amber DragonGrainger College of EngineeringJan 31Feb 5
Illinois DragonGraduate CollegeJan 31Feb5
Baby DragonCollege of EducationJan 31Feb 6
Baby DragonGender and Sexuality Resource CenterFeb 6Feb 13
Illinois DragonOffice of the Vice Chancellor for Access, Civil Rights, and CommunityFeb 6Feb 18
Sapphire DragonSiebel Center for DesignFeb 9Feb 16
Ruby DragonIllinois Street Residence HallFeb 11Feb 12
Amber DragonUrbana Free Library (210 West Green Street)Feb 13Feb 16
Mini DragonThe Career CenterFeb 16Feb 20
Amber DragonIllini Union Courtyard CafeFeb 16Feb 27
Sapphire DragonMcKinley Health CenterFeb 16Feb 20
Ruby DragonKrannert Center for the Performing ArtsFeb 19Feb 23
Baby DragonOrchard DownsFeb 20Feb 23
Illinois DragonLincoln HallFeb 24Feb 25
Baby DragonIllini Union BookstoreFeb 24Mar 2

Lunar New Year Celebration Dinner at ISR

A festive evening of food, culture, and community

Graphic flyer for a Lunar New Year Dinner Celebration showing a red horse illustration for the 2026 Year of the Horse, with event details for Wednesday, February 11, including dinner at ISR Dining Center from 4:30–8 p.m. and Lunar New Year activities and performances from 5–6:30 p.m.

The Asian American Cultural Center partners with University Housing & Dining and International Education to present the annual Lunar New Year Dinner Celebration at Illinois Street Residence Hall.

This annual event features traditional Lunar New Year foods and desserts, cultural performances, and opportunities for student groups to share their traditions and engage with attendees about the holiday. Free craft activities and special performances will be available during the celebration, creating an interactive and welcoming experience for all.

Students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcome to attend.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Dinner: 4:30–8:00 PM (ISR Dining Center admission required)
Activities, Crafts, and Performances: 5:00–6:30 PM (Free)
Location: Illinois Street Residence Hall (ISR), Main Street Lobby
1010 W. Illinois St., Urbana, IL 61801
 

Menu

A red and gold graphic titled “Lunar New Year 2026 Celebration Dinner” displaying the event menu for Wednesday, February 11 at the ISR Dining Center, with sections for Bubble Tea Bar, Soup, Dim Sum, Entrées, Vegetables, Fruit, Sauces, and Desserts, including items such as miso soup, potstickers, jasmine rice, braised bok choy, green tea ice cream, and coconut mango rice, with the Student Affairs logo at the bottom.

Activities

Resource Booths

Red Envelope illustrated icon with stylized border

Red Envelopes

Red envelopes are gifts presented at social and family gatherings such as weddings or on holidays such as Lunar New Year. Inside you may find gifts of money or lucky coins. They are given out by elders to children or by married couples to single adults. The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck and is supposed to ward off evil spirits. The packet is called hongbao in Mandarin, lei see in Cantonese, and li xi in Vietnamese, and sae bae don in Korean, although for Koreans the envelopes may not necessarily be red in color. This custom or ones similar to it, have been adopted by many countries including Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. Regardless of location, it is usually presented with a wish for a happy new year full of good health, longevity, and prosperity!

Paper Lantern Activity illustrated icon with stylized border

Paper Lantern Activity

To make the paper lantern, you will need a red envelope, a pair of scissors, and either tape, glue or staples/stapler.

  • Step 1: Cut off the top of enclosure on the red envelope and set aside.
  • Step 2: Fold the red envelope in half length wise so the design is facing outside and crease it in.
  • Step 3: With the opening facing away from you, take the scissors and cut slits in the red envelope stopping at half a cm or one cm from the top.
  • Step 4: Continue cutting slits throughout the length of the red envelope.
  • Step 5: Bring one end of the red envelope to the other and connect it together using tape, glue, or stapes. This will give it the lantern shape.
  • Step 6: For the handle, take the top of the enclosure you cut off in step 1 and fold it in half and curve it to shape it into a handle. Then tape, glue, or staple it to the top of the paper lantern.

Watch the video on how to make a paper lantern using your red envelope.