Market City welcomes the Year of the Horse with Lunar
New Year festivities
Media Release
SYDNEY – 5 FEBRUARY, 2026
More than 60,000 Sydneysiders are expected to descend on Market City this Lunar New Year, as the heart of Sydney’s Chinatown transforms into a vibrant celebration of culture, colour and community across the weekend of Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February.
Running until 1 March, Market City’s Lunar New Year program will offer something for everyone – from calligraphy and kids’ lion dancing workshops to roaming performances and a feast of authentic Asian cuisine across the precinct.
Taking centre stage this year, is a 5.5metre-tall golden horse installation located in Level 1 Centre Court, joined by two three-metre-tall horse installations on Level Three 1909 Dining Precinct – perfect for photo moments throughout the celebrations.
A major highlight of the weekend will be a rare performance by Sydney high pole lion dancer group, Jin Wu Koon, performing gravity-defying acrobatics high above the crowd High pole lion dancing is an extreme acrobatic form of the traditional lion dance where performers leap across metal poles up to three metres above the ground – all to the thunder of drums, crashing cymbals and roaring crowds.
“It’s a full-sensory experience – the sound, the colour, the energy in the crowd. It’s truly spectacular,” said Ray Khoury, Centre Manager of Market City. “If you’ve never seen high pole lion dancing before, this is the moment to experience it at Market City in Haymarket.”
Last year, 30,000 to 40,000 people passed through Market City daily to celebrate Lunar New Year, enjoying high pole lion dances and community performances. This year, Sydney Lunar Streets on 14 February will light up Haymarket – with lion dances, DJs, street food, markets, and striking installations like the fire horse on Dixon Street and lanterns on Hay Street – making Sydney’s original Chinatown the heart of Year of the Horse celebrations.
Jin Wu Koon will perform three times over the weekend:
● Saturday 14 February: 2pm & 6pm
● Sunday 15 February: 2pm
Each performance will feature generous crowd giveaways, including plush horses, thousands of lucky coins, and gold foil stickers. Additionally, between 12 and 17 February, 5,000 red envelopes filled with retail vouchers and a gold chocolate coin will be distributed throughout the shopping centre.
The celebrations extend beyond the weekend, with Paddy’s Markets Haymarket and Hay St Market hosting roaming lion dance performances:
● Thursday 19 February: 12pm-2pm
● Friday 20 February: 3pm-5pm
● Saturday 21 February: 3pm to 5pm
● Sunday 22 February: 3pm-5pm
Food also plays a meaningful role in Lunar New Year celebrations, symbolising luck, wealth and good fortune for the year ahead. Visitors can enjoy traditional dishes across Market City’s ten authentic Asian eateries, particularly in the popular 1909 Dining Precinct on Level Three.
“Dumplings are shaped like ancient gold ingots and symbolise wealth, spring rolls resemble gold bars, and sticky rice cake – or Nian Gao – means ‘higher year’ and symbolises progress and a better year ahead,” says Robin Bing, owner of Fu Ji Seafood Restaurant in the 1909 Dining Precinct.
The Lunar New Year officially begins on 17 February, welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse, a symbol of prosperity, success, and rapid change.
Market City Lunar New Year celebrations:
● Giant Year of the Horse Installations: Until 28 February. Level 1 Centre Court and Level 3 1909 Dining
Precinct
● High Pole Lion Dance Acrobatics by Jin Wu Koon: 14 February 2pm & 6pm, 15 February 2pm. Level 1,
Centre Court
● Kids Lion Dance Workshops: 7 & 22 February, 2pm, 3pm & 5pm. Level 1, Centre Court
● Store Blessings with Jin Wu Koon Lion Dance Troupes: 15 February 4.30pm – 6pm. Across all three
levels
● Lucky coins, plush horses and retail vouchers giveaways available during shows and from 13–17
February
● Personalised Calligraphy Station:31 January – 13 February & 16-18 February. Fees apply
● Authentic Asian Dining: Feast at the 1909 Dining Precinct, Level 3, open daily 11am – 10pm
For full event details, visit: https://www.marketcity.com.au/celebrate-lunar-new-year-at-market-city/
