The Nouvel An lunaire (French for Lunar New Year) festival in Montréal’s Quartier chinois (Chinatown) fills the streets with lion dancers, drums and blessings handed out shop by shop. It centers on Place Sun-Yat-Sen and rue de la Gauchetière (de la Gauchetière Street). The 2027 dates haven’t been announced yet; in 2026 it ran Saturday and Sunday, February 21 and 22.
What to expect
Each day in 2026 opened with a lion dance procession through Chinatown at 11 a.m., offering blessings along the way. In 2025, the parade added dragon dances and wound through the streets to Sun Yat-sen Park.
- Calligraphy and diabolo (a spinning juggling toy) workshops
- Street magic and a K-pop flash mob (2026)
- A wish tree and kau chim (Cantonese fortune sticks) in Sun Yat-sen Park
Shake the fortune sticks and see what the Year of the Goat has in store for you.
Good to know
- Last held: Saturday and Sunday, February 21 and 22, 2026, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Admission: free
- Location: Place Sun-Yat-Sen and rue de la Gauchetière, Montréal, QC H2Z 1B9
- Organizers: Asie-en-Fête and the Chinatown team behind the Marché de nuit asiatique (Asian night market)
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Montréal Chinatown Lunar New Year Festival in 2027?
Official 2027 dates are not confirmed yet. The festival last ran February 21 and 22, 2026, and is held each year around Lunar New Year.
Is the Montréal Chinatown Lunar New Year Festival free?
Yes. Admission was free in 2026, including the lion dance procession and the activities around Sun Yat-sen Park.
What happens at the Montréal Chinatown Lunar New Year Festival?
Expect a lion dance procession with blessings, calligraphy and diabolo workshops, street magic, a wish tree and kau chim fortune sticks.
Source: Tourisme Montréal – Nouvel An lunaire, Quartier chinois, Tourisme Montréal – Les célébrations du Nouvel An lunaire à Montréal (Feb 2, 2026)
How to Get Here
The organizer hasn't published transit details yet. Tap Transit directions for live routes and times to Place Sun-Yat-Sen and rue de la Gauchetière.
Where to Park
Parking near big Lunar New Year events fills early and some streets close. Arrive early, or take transit if you can.
Map
Place Sun-Yat-Sen and rue de la Gauchetière, Montréal, QC H2Z 1B9
Where to stay near Place Sun-Yat-Sen and rue de la Gauchetière
Coming from out of town? See hotels and rentals close to Place Sun-Yat-Sen and rue de la Gauchetière on one map. Add your dates on the map to see prices.
Hotel map by Stay22. If you book through it, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How we earn money