Firecrackers, lion dances and the smell of food stalls are how plenty of families ring in Tết (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), and Tết in Seattle brings all of it under one roof in Seattle. The free, family-oriented festival fills the Seattle Center Armory and Fisher Pavilion over a weekend. The 2027 dates haven’t been announced yet; in 2026 it ran Saturday and Sunday, February 14 and 15.
What to expect
- Six lion dances, firecrackers and interactive dance workshops.
- An Áo Dài (traditional Vietnamese long tunic) fashion show and a kids’ Tết zone.
- Food vendors, a food passport, eating contests and a Bánh Tết (cylindrical sticky rice cake) wrapping competition.
- Headline performances by Vietnamese singers.
- A free health fair with screenings and vaccines.
Think you can wrap a rice cake faster than a grandmother who has done it for decades? The wrapping competition is your chance to find out.
Good to know
- Last held: Saturday and Sunday, February 14 and 15, 2026, marking 30 years.
- Admission: free.
- Where: Seattle Center Armory and Fisher Pavilion, Seattle.
- Organizer: Tết in Seattle, formed in 1996 by four Vietnamese organizations. The festival is part of the annual Seattle Center Festál series.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Tết in Seattle in 2027?
The 2027 dates haven’t been set publicly yet. The most recent festival ran Saturday and Sunday, February 14 and 15, 2026, at Seattle Center.
Is Tết in Seattle free?
Yes. Tết in Seattle is a free, family-oriented festival, and the health fair with screenings and vaccines is free as well.
What happens at Tết in Seattle?
Over two days you can catch lion dances and firecrackers, an Áo Dài fashion show, Vietnamese singers, food vendors with a food passport and eating contests, and a kids’ Tết zone.
Source: Tết in Seattle celebrates 30 years at Seattle Center (Center Spotlight), Lunar New Year celebrations return across Puget Sound (NW Asian Weekly)
How to Get Here
The organizer hasn't published transit details yet. Tap Transit directions for live routes and times to Seattle Center Armory and Fisher Pavilion.
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
Seattle Center Armory and Fisher Pavilion, Seattle, WA
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