Gong xi fa cai! Happy new year!
The Lunar or Chinese New Year is a festival that celebrates the beginning of the new year and the coming of spring in the Chinese lunar calendar. This year, Lunar New Year is on February 17, 2026, when the Year of the Horse will officially begin!
My family was first introduced to Lunar New Year while living in New York City. We attended a few events around the city and learned a little bit about this holiday. We got the full experience once we moved to Singapore, where it is the major holiday of the year. I was immediately caught up in the dances, parades, traditions, and foods, and my kids and I became obsessed with the lion dance. The loud drums, the acrobatics, and the humor of the dance delighted me and continues to enchant me to this day. It is a truly thrilling event to behold.
In the Knoxville area, there are several Lunar New Year events to attend:
Knoxville Lunar New Year Events
Japanese New Year Festival
February 8, 2026, 2:30-3:30pm, East Tennessee Historical Center, 601 Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
The Asian Culture Center of Tennessee, who hosts the annual Knoxville Asian Festival, is hosting a Japanese new year celebration in downtown Knoxville. The festivities will start on the Market Square stage at 2:30pm with a performance by a Taiko drummer from Berea College. There will be a mochi tsuki demonstration, rice ball pounding, which will showcase how mochi is made and its cultural significance in Japan.
The rest of the activities will be held indoors at the East Tennessee Historical Center on Gay Street. Attendees will enjoy more musical performances on the Japanese banjo, more taiko drums, calligraphy, and Japanese Toys.
There will be a fresh mochi and matcha green tea tasting for purchase. Tickets for the tasting are $5 for each tasting. Tickets for the tasting can be purchased here. The rest of the event is free to the public. The Asian Culture Center of Tennessee welcomes all to come and start the new year on a high note.
The event was originally going to be held on January 25, but due to the potential storms that day was moved to February 8.
Setsubun no Hi
February 8, 2026, 1:30-3:30pm, East Tennessee Historical Center, 601 Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
The Asian Culture Center of Knoxville is celebrating Setsubun no Hi. Setsubun no Hi is a seasonal festival in Japan. Its purpose is to cleanse your home or self of “evil” spirits and bring in good fortune for the spring. Attendees will get to participate in the tradition of bean tossing to ward the back luck out of Knoxville. Participants will also have the opportunity to make a Japanese craft and try futomaki, a thick style sushi roll. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased here or at the East Tennessee Historical Center. Kids 12 and under are free.
East Tennessee Chinese New Year Festival
February 21, 6:30-8:30pm, Cox Auditorium, Alumni Memorial Building, University of Tennessee, 1408 Middle Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996
The Knoxville Chinese Culture is hosting their annual Chinese New Year Festival. They bring together various local Chinese groups to showcase their talents and professional special guests from around the world to celebrate the Chinese New Year. This year, their special guest will be Yao Lu, from Atlanta. She is a performing artist who founded the Asian fusion music group Magic Eastern Ensemble. Other performances are the traditional lion dance, Chinese dancing, martial arts, singing, and more. The event is bilingual to enable the audience a greater understanding and significance of this wonderful celebration of Chinese culture to the broader East Tennessee region. Come enjoy this family friendly variety show!
Buy tickets in advance online here to reserve your seat. Tickets range in price from $10-14.
Gong xi fa cai, friends!
*All photos have been provided by the Asian Culture Center of Tennessee, and Chinese Culture Center.
