Wondering where to start as you dive into this year’s fresh festivities? Here’s your comprehensive guide to the 2026 Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park, with information on activities, live entertainment, schedules, food booths, and more.
The 2026 Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park celebration is back for a brand-new year! During this annual event, Guests can join Disneyland Resort in celebrating Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese traditions. This year, the Lunar New Year festivities run from January 23 through February 22, 2026. We’ve broken down everything you can expect to do, see, and eat at the festival in our comprehensive guide to the 2026 Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park.
What is the Lunar New Year festival? It’s the first big event of the year at Disneyland Resort, and it takes place exclusively in California Adventure Park. The Lunar New Year celebration is a multicultural event designed to bring auspicious wishes for health, luck, and prosperity throughout the year ahead. Each year, the theme of the celebration changes slightly to ring in a brand-new year – it’s based on the Chinese zodiac calendar, and for 2026, we’re welcoming the Year of the Horse. The Year of the Horse is traditionally associated with strength, energy, independence, and good fortune.
Scroll down to find everything you need to know about ringing in the 2026 Lunar New Year.
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Planning Tip: Check the Disneyland app the morning of your visit for the latest park hours, entertainment showtimes, and marketplace menus—festival schedules can shift by day. If you’re planning to sample multiple booths, consider the Sip and Savor Pass: it can be shared among your group and used across multiple visits during the festival for easy budgeting. |
2026 Lunar New Year at California Adventure Park
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- Frequently Asked Questions
- 2026 Lunar New Year Food Booths
- Activities at the 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration
- 2026 Lunar New Year Merch
Frequently Asked Questions
Photo by Danny Shuster
When is Lunar New Year at California Adventure Park?
The 2026 Lunar New Year celebration kicks off on January 23, 2026 and ends on February 22, 2026.
How long does the Lunar New Year celebration run for?
It lasts for just over four weeks, giving you a month to experience this multicultural festival.
What are the park hours for California Adventure Park’s Lunar New Year celebration?
During the festival, Disney California Adventure Park is open:
- From 8 AM to 9 PM on Monday through Thursday
- From 8 AM to 10 PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Hours are subject to change, so Guests should always confirm day-of schedules in the Disneyland app.
How much is the Lunar New Year festival at Disney California Adventure?
All Disney California Adventure Park festivals, including the 2026 Lunar New Year celebration, are included with the cost of admission to the park.
- If you’re an Annual Passholder, attending the 2026 Lunar New Year celebration costs nothing.
- If you’re purchasing a ticket, a standard single-day ticket to just one park starts at $83.
However, there are other Lunar New Year festival costs to factor in before you head to the park. For example, one of the main draws of the festival is the Lunar New Year Marketplace, which is a collection of food booths where you can purchase a variety of Asian-inspired food, snacks, and drinks. These vary in cost; the cheapest items are typically in the $2 to $3 range. However, the fanciest cocktails may hit $13 to $15.
Photo Courtesy of Disney
During the festival, you can purchase a Sip and Savor Pass for a set price. This special pass gives you a pass with a scannable bar code that can be used at the Lunar New Year Marketplace food booths, and it’s wonderfully helpful for anyone who wants to stick to a budget. The Sip and Savor Pass can be shared among multiple Guests or used across multiple visits during the festival.
If you’re interested in participating in the Lunar New Year festival activities, great news: many are free! Events like Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession and special Disney character appearances don’t cost a single cent.
And of course, there’s plenty of special festival merch to go around. If you’ve gotta have the 2026 Lunar New Year merch, be ready to spend a pretty penny.
What’s free at the DCA Lunar New Year celebration?
Photo Courtesy of Disney
If you’re hoping to experience the Lunar New Year festivities on a budget, you’ll want to skip the food booths and merch stops. However, one of the most exciting aspects of the celebration is the slew of live performances you can catch throughout the day – and each one of these performances is completely free! You can expect the following live entertainment to be free once you’re inside Disney California Adventure for the festival:
- Meet and Greet Disney Characters, a staple of the festival. You’ll have the chance to snap a photo and visit with rarely-spotted characters like Mulan, Mushu, and Mickey and Minnie in special cultural attire. And don’t forget about the chance to meet Panda Mei from Disney/Pixar’s Turning Red, appearing in her full red panda form for the first time.
- Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession, a captivating procession that travels from Pixar Pier to Hollywood Land with Mulan, Mushu, Disney characters, and some exciting entertainers.
- Live performances at the Paradise Garden Bandstand, which take place throughout the day.
- Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration is a special spin on World of Color that dazzles at night.
- Lucky Wishing Wall, where Guests of all ages can add their hopes and dreams for 2026
In addition to these activities and events, you’ll also have the chance to participate in free events sprinkled across California Adventure Park daily. These freebies include kid-friendly crafts and activities, special character meet and greet spots at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, and explore festive decor.
2026 Lunar New Year Food Booths
One of the big draws of the annual Lunar New Year festival is the food booths (or, as it’s officially known, the Lunar New Year Marketplace).
Photo by Danny Shuster
Disney has confirmed six Lunar New Year marketplaces for 2026. Here’s the full list of 2026 Lunar New Year at California Adventure Park food booths:
- Bamboo Blessings
- Wrapped in Love
- Lucky 8 Lantern
- Prosperity Bao & Bun
- Red Dragon Spice Traders
- Longevity Noodle Co.
In addition to these food booths, you’ll be able to try dishes from a variety of cultures throughout Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Resort. Whether you’re popping by a quick-service spot for lunch or wandering through the Grand Californian Hotel, there’s a whole array of treats to taste and beverages to sip.
Activities and Entertainment at the 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration
Photo by @justofftheharbor
In addition to eating your way around California Adventure Park, the Lunar New Year festival offers so much to do, from photo ops to shopping experiences to arts and crafts to actual learning opportunities. It’s your chance to immerse yourself in new cultures and explore the traditions of Lunar New Year, both for the Chinese zodiac and the Vietnamese zodiac.
Here’s a full list of things to do at the 2026 Lunar New Year celebration:
- Lucky Wishes Wall
- Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession
- Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration
- Special Disney Character Appearances (Including Panda Mei)
- Crafts for the Whole Family
2026 Lunar New Year Merch
Photo by @justoffharbor
If you love special edition festival merch, you won’t want to miss out on the 2026 Lunar New Year collection! The festival brings a slew of adorable plush toys, spirit jerseys, and accessories (yes, including backpacks and Ear Headbands!), all of which change annually to celebrate the Chinese zodiac calendar. This year, which is the Year of the Horse, you can expect to see popular Disney horses included in the themed merchandise.
Thanks to Disney for hosting us during the opening day of the Lunar New Year Celebration.
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