This week marks the beginning of Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. It’s the most important holiday of the year in Chinese culture, and is also celebrated in many other countries across South Asia.
As the name suggests, the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon rather than the sun, and so the start of the new year changes each time.
Each year is associated with one of the animals of the Chinese zodiac, as well as one of the elements. 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse, a combination that only occurs every sixty years.
Celebrations for the New Year last about 15 days, culminating in the famous Lantern Festival.
Thankfully, there’s a lot on at King’s to mark the occasion. Plus, we’re lucky to be in London, which hosts the biggest Chinese Lunar New Year celebration outside of Asia in our very own Chinatown.
We'd like to wish a Happy Chinese Lunar New Year to everyone at King's who celebrates.
Join ABACUS for New Year celebrations
Renowned for celebrating and uniting Asian cultures, ABACUS – the Association of British and Chinese University Students – was founded in 2005 with a mission to bring together students from diverse Asian backgrounds, including Chinese, Malaysian, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, and British-born Chinese.
Keep up to date with their activities, including what they're doing for New Year, on their Instagram.
How to celebrate at King’s
The King’s Language Centre is running a vibrant array of events across this week to mark the occasion.
Chinese & Korean Games
Tuesday 17 February, 11:00–13:00 at Strand Campus
Step into a world of fun and culture. Learn to play Ddakji (flipping colorful paper tiles), Gonggi (a pebble game made famous by Squid Game), Tuho (throw arrows into a pot), Jianzi (traditional Chinese sport) and Wuziqi (strategy board game).
Register here.
Korean Taster
Tuesday 17 February, 14:00–15:00
Join for an exciting Korean taster where you'll explore the language, culture, and traditions of Korea. Perfect for beginners and anyone curious about this fascinating country.
Register here.
Chinese Fan Dance Workshop
Tuesday 17 February, 18:00–19:00, in King’s Building at Strand Campus
Learn simple dance movements using traditional silk fans, move with the music, and enjoy dancing together. No experience needed.
Register here.
Chinese and Korean Arts and Crafts
Wednesday 18 February, 13:00–16:00 in Language Resources Centre at Strand Campus
Design cards with calligraphy, explore Chinese paper cutting, and fold a Korean traditional costume using paper.
Register here.
Korean Circle Dance (Ganggansullae)
Wednesday 18 February, 18:00–19:30, in MacAdam Building at Strand Campus
Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Korean traditional circle dance in this engaging workshop. Join to learn Korean circle dancing (Ganggansullae), a lively and communal activity that brings people together through rhythm and movement.
Register here.
Mandarin Taster
Thursday 19 February, 14:00–15:00 and Friday 20 February, 09:00–10:00
This beginner-level taster session introduces the basics of Mandarin, including simple self-introductions, basic pronunciation, and the fundamentals of Chinese characters through fun and interactive activities.
Register here for Thursday.
Register here for Friday.
Lunar New Year Celebration
Thursday 19 February, 16:30–18:00, in Strand Building at Strand Campus
Enjoy lively singing and dancing, test your knowledge with fun quizzes about China and Korea, and soak in the sounds of traditional music.
Register here.
Where to celebrate in London
The Chinese New Year festival in central London will take place on 22 February. You can see a parade from 10am from Trafalgar Square to Chinatown with more celebrations around central until the evening.
There are also many more ways to mark the occasion across London, including in Covent Garden, Spitalfields Market and in the Docklands Museum
Find out about everything going on in the capital on the Visit London website.