Chinese New Year 2026 is approaching, and with it, an explosion of activities for you to celebrate in Chinatown. This year, marked as the year 4724 in the Chinese calendar, is destined to be memorable, as it marks the beginning of the Year of the Fire Horse. Get ready for dragon dancing and delicious Chinese cuisine because the celebrations in Buenos Aires for Chinese New Year already have a date: February 8-14. Below is the detailed schedule.
When is Chinese New Year 2026 celebrated in Buenos Aires?
Photo by Kerin Gedge on Unsplash
The celebrations for Chinese New Year 2026 in Buenos Aires already have a set date and will last for two weekends: The celebrations for Chinese New Year 2026 in Buenos Aires will take place on the weekend of February 8 and the following weekend, February 14.
Two key weekends to celebrate Chinese New Year in the city
The main celebrations will take place over two consecutive weekends. On Sunday, February 8, the celebration will be held in Plaza Parques Nacionales, while on the second weekend, the 2026 Chinese New Year celebration in Buenos Aires will be held on Saturday, February 14, in Buenos Aires’ Chinatown.
The schedule of activities for the 2026 Chinese New Year celebration in February extends to the weekend of Saturday, February 21, and Sunday, February 22, in La Plata.
On both dates , you will enjoy the classic Dragon and Lion dances, the centerpiece of the Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse.
The program also includes food and craft stalls, traditional costume parades, tango shows, martial arts exhibitions, and traditional Chinese dances.
Martial arts, traditional dances, and Dragon Boat Race in CABA
The Argentine Wushu Club is part of both celebrations, with Chinese martial arts exhibitions so you can witness the oldest and most representative traditions of Eastern culture. Add to this exhibitions of traditional dances, music, and shows that transform everything into a true outdoor festival.
The agenda continues on Sunday, February 15, in Puerto Madero, where the Argentine Dragon Boat Association organizes the traditional dragon boat races. If you’ve never seen them, dragon boat races are a unique spectacle that combines sport, tradition, and teamwork, with the river as the main stage.
The 2026 Chinese New Year Route paints Buenos Aires’ most important monuments red
As part of this Chinese route, emblematic monuments of the city of Buenos Aires are illuminated with the colors red and gold, symbols of prosperity, fortune, and good wishes in Chinese culture.
The monuments in Buenos Aires that will be lit up in red for Chinese New Year in CABA this February are:
👉Obelisk
👉Puente de la Mujer
👉Monument to the Spanish
👉Chinatown Arch.
👉Monumental Tower
👉Usina del Arte
👉Lezama Palace
And as if that weren’t enough, the schedule of activities for the 2026 Chinese New Year celebration in February extends to the weekend of Saturday, February 21, and Sunday, February 22, in La Plata.
Special activities at the National Museum of Oriental Art
The National Museum of Oriental Art (MNAO) inside Galerías Pacífico is also participating in the Chinese New Year activities with a special program: Chinese Storytelling Afternoon is an activity for the whole family that includes live narration of a Chinese children’s story, reading and drawing activities, and a selection of illustrated books to explore, all on February 20.
Photo by Pascal Bernardon on Unsplash
Schedule of activities for Chinese New Year 2026 in Buenos Aires
The Chinese New Year celebrations in Buenos Aires extend from Avenida Juramento to the intersections with Mendoza, Olazábal, Blanco Encalada, and Monroe.
Along this route, you will find Chinese food stalls, themed shops, and stages where you can watch traditional Chinese dance performances.
Schedule of activities for Chinese New Year 2026 in Buenos Aires this February
📅 Sunday, February 8
Chinese New Year celebration in Plaza Parques Nacionales (CABA) with dragon and lion dances, food and craft stalls, traditional clothing parades, cultural shows, martial arts exhibitions, and traditional Chinese dances.
📅 Saturday, February 14
Main celebrations in Buenos Aires’ Chinatown, with the Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse, traditional dances, food, cultural fairs, tango, martial arts, and live shows.
📅 Sunday, February 15
Dragon boat races in Puerto Madero, organized by the Argentine Dragon Boat Association, a sporting and cultural activity on the banks of the river.
📅 Thursday, February 20
“Chinese Storytelling Afternoon” at the National Museum of Oriental Art (MNAO), with live storytelling, reading and drawing activities for children, and a selection of illustrated books to enjoy with the family.
📅 Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22
Chinese New Year celebrations in La Plata, with cultural activities and events open to the public.
📅 Throughout February (dates to be confirmed)
Chinese New Year Route with celebrations in Buenos Aires’ Chinatown, cultural activities in Salta and Jujuy, and the lighting of emblematic Buenos Aires monuments in red and gold.
Don’t miss any of the 2026 Chinese New Year celebrations taking place in Buenos Aires on those weekends in February.