Named one of the world’s top ten parades, the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco is the largest celebration of its kind outside of Asia. It was started in the 1860s and takes place the weekend of the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair (March 7-8, 2026).
Typically, nearly 100 groups will participate in the parade, and many of the floats and specialty groups will be featuring the theme of this year’s Chinese zodiac sign, the year of the horse.
2026 Chinese New Year Parade Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 5:15 – 8 pm – rain or shine Chinatown, San Francisco FREE standing room (bleacher seats start at $48 for 2026)
Parade is approximately 1.3 miles in length and lasts about 2 1/2 hours.
Nowhere in the country will you see a Lunar New Year parade with more gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions, exploding firecrackers, and of course the newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and her court.
A crowd favorite will be the new and spectacular 288-foot Golden Dragon (“Gum Lung”). It takes a team of over 180 men and women from the martial arts group White Crane to carry this dragon throughout the streets of San Francisco.
Fireworks for 2026? We’re not sure yet. A small fireworks show occurred after the parade, set off from Union Square in 2025 & 2025. We expect it for 2026, but it hasn’t been announced yet as of 1/28/26.
In 2025, there was also a Drone Light Show. The full schedule for 2026 has not yet been announced as of 1/28/26.
