Sheffield was decorated with 1000 red lanterns across the city centre this weekend, as a two-day celebration of culture and inclusivity took place.
Lunar New year is celebrated by over two billion people across the world and starts with the second new moon after the winter solstice. 2026 marks the year of the horse, symbolising energy, independence, and forward momentum. Whilst the official Lunar New year was on the February 17, celebrations speak 15 days, ending on the evening of the 3rd of March.
Large crowds of people gathered in Sheffield city centre to celebrate the new year on the February 21 and 22, with celebrations including cultural fashion shows, dance, and choir performances.
The World Champion Acrobatic Lion Dance perform in the town square, gathering large crowds.
In a motivating speech by Baroness Annette von Kohorn, International ambassador of Chengdu Fashion Industry Association, she references Sheffield’s “Long standing commitment to being a ‘City of Sanctuary”, a place where ‘diverse cultures intersect’, and recounted the importance of a diverse city, in which over 120 different languages are spoken every day.
The festival included a variety of food stands from all over Asia, including Malaysian, Chinese and Korean food being served throughout the festival, including foods such as Curry’s, Gyozas and Korean BBQ.
The opening dance included a stunning performance called the Muqam Musing (木卡姆随想) by Wanlin Academy of Dance and Performing Arts at the Peace Gardens, which were heavily decorated with 1000 red lanterns and a variety of Chinese statues.
Following the opening Dance, other events took place in the Pease gardens such as the Sheffield’s Music Services choir performances of songs such as Gong Xi, Find Your Light and This Is Me. Other performances included Acrobatic performances by Guizhou Acrobatics Team, where ballet dancers stood on the shoulders of acrobats, impressing children and adults alike.
Many different cultures took to the stage during the International Culture Costume Show, displaying traditional clothing and decorations such as Romania (pictured above)
Many other Celebrations of the Lunar new year took place over the 15 day period, such as the switching on of the lights art the Children’s Hospital on Monday, and at Meadowhall on Friday, where people gathered for more traditional performances and activity workshops, where people can learn skills such as Chinese calligraphy.
The celebration was run and sponsored by Cultural Inclusive C.I.C, a company dedicated to connecting communities and cultures.
