We are so frogcited to celebrate the Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure from Jan. 23 to Feb. 22, 2026! The festival gallops into the new year, celebrating the Year of the Horse. With appearances from Horace Horsecollar (in Chinese-inspired attire), Red Panda, Mulan and Mushu, and of course, Mickey and Minnie, the celebration includes a Lunar New Year procession, complete with more beloved characters, firecrackers, dancers and a dragon. Plus, enjoy Asian-inspired dishes at the Festival Marketplaces and select restaurants throughout Disneyland Resort. The 2026 Lunar New Year Disneyland menus are out!
FAQs
- When is Lunar New Year at Disneyland? Lunar New Year takes place at Disney California Adventure Park from Jan. 23 to Feb. 22, 2026.
- What is Lunar New Year at Disneyland? Lunar New Year is a celebration to welcome in the new year, with festivities honoring the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese cultures.
- What's new in 2026 for Lunar New Year at Disneyland? Horace Horsecollar is hosting the Year of the Horse! Ask for new PhotoPass photographer Magic Shots on Buena Vista Street. There are some new foods and beverages to try (along with some returning favorites), and you can meet Red Panda at Pixar Pier!
- Is Lunar New Year at Disneyland included with admission? Yes! This event is included with your ticket to Disneyland (not a separately ticketed event). If you are getting a Base ticket, be sure to select Disney California Adventure Park as your theme park reservation for the day if you'd like to attend! This is one of several winter and spring events that fall during the California Resident Park Hopper ticket offer (as low as $80 per day through Undercover Tourist)!
Overview of Lunar New Year at Disneyland
Lunar New Year celebrates the traditional turning of the lunisolar calendar, which is observed by many different Asian cultures, including China, Vietnam, Korea and more. Over the past few years, Disney has seen this festival explode (it's a fireworks thing) in popularity since it began. Lunar New Year at Disneyland Resort runs from Jan. 23 to Feb. 22, 2026. Pick up a celebration guide to see all the hoppenings and menu items with photos!
The number of days for the festival has expanded in recent years, and we have been toadally excited about the new food and entertainment. You can taste traditional food, beverages and sweet treats from Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and other Asian cultures at Festival Marketplaces and other dining locations. While you nibble your treats, you can enjoy music and shows.
Entertainment at Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure
You will generally find festive Lunar New Year entertainment throughout the day and well into the evening. While all of the entertainment is frogciting, our favorite spectacle is Mulan's Lunar New Year Procession. In 2025, this took place on select days at 12:45 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Hop back for 2026 times as the event approaches. The procession takes over the entire parade route from Hollywood Land to Paradise Gardens Park. The procession travels in that same direction for all showtimes.
The float is adorned with golden tasseled firecrackers and red and gold lanterns. Catch it again in the evening, if you can, because they glow! The ceremony also features a dragon dance, as well as Chip 'n' Dale and lotus flower and fan dancers. The dragon looks particularly cool at night.
Check the entertainment schedule for the procession, which takes place several times in the afternoon and early evening. The procession starts in Hollywood Land for each showing this year.
On the Paradise Garden Bandstand, listen to traditional music. Take a seat in the afternoon to enjoy your festival food in this area, while you watch and listen to the musicians play various traditional instruments, such as the Chinese dulcimer (yangqin), lute (pipa) and fiddle (erhu).
“Hurry Home – Lunar New Year Celebration” returns in 2026 for Lunar New Year at Disneyland. This six-minute World of Color pre-show begins at 9 p.m. PT, before the first World of Color showtime of the night.
Featuring Mulan and Mushu, this story of family and friendship is told through the use of water fountains, lights, projections and music. The show follows a little lantern on its quest to return home and reunite with loved ones for the annual celebration of good luck and fortune.
Characters at Lunar New Year at Disneyland
Mickey and Minnie return in their outfits with representations of traditional Korean attire in 2026! There are three collectible Sip and Savor passes that showcase Disney characters in Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese outfits.
We have big news! You can meet Red Panda at Pixar Pier in 2026! Previously, you could only see Red Panda in the Better Together Parade. But now you can get your besties together and go in for a hug.
You can meet Mulan, Mushu, Mickey and Minnie all dressed in their Lunar New Year’s best, at Paradise Gardens Park. Hop into line in the morning when it first opens for the shortest character wait times. Characters usually come out between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
You can meet characters Goofy and Horace Horsecollar (in his Chinese-inspired ensemble) near the water wheel between Grizzly River Run and The Little Mermaid.
Lunar New Year Crafts and Activities
If you're looking for a quick break between tasting all the savory food and visiting your favorite characters, you can participate in free crafts during Lunar New Year at Disneyland. Experience Chinese calligraphy with local artisans.
Be sure to write down your wishes and tie them to the Lucky Wishing Wall (in Paradise Gardens Park) in hopes of a prosperous New Year!
Disneyland Lunar New Year Merchandise
We love seeing the exclusive Lunar New Year Disneyland merchandise available during this time of year. The bags, ears, clothing, red envelopes and more can help you fully celebrate the Year of the Dragon. You can purchase some souvenir Mickey Mouse red envelopes to bring home to your family, filled with wishes for good fortune and happiness in the coming year. There are ears, spirit jerseys, pins, plushes and all kinds of goodies to help you celebrate Lunar New Year Disney-style.
Food novelties are always popular at Disneyland. Here's what was available for Lunar New Year 2025 (2026 items coming soon):
- Lunar New Year Stainless Steel Tumbler: Available at Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, Cappuccino Cart, Chiller at Paradise Gardens Park, Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream, Corn Dog Castle, select outdoor vending carts, Paradise Garden Grill, Smokejumpers Grill and Studio Catering Co. It's also at the Coffee House at Disneyland Hotel and the Great Hall Cart at the Grand Californian Hotel.
- Lunar New Year Mickey-Shaped, Light-Up Straw Clip: Available starting Jan. 23 at Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, Chiller at Paradise Gardens Park, churros at Hollywood Land, Clarabelle's, Corn Dog Castle, Outdoor Vending Carts, Paradise Garden Grill and Smokejumpers Grill.
Magic Key holders can collect a free button under the Silly Symphony Swings from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. You'll find a festive Lunar New Year photo backdrop there as well.
There are several vendor carts with Lunar New Year treats and merchandise as well.
Lunar New Year Festival Food
One of our favorite parts of Lunar New Year at Disney California Adventure Park is trying delicious foods. Several restaurants in the park offer Asian-inspired menu items during the event, and six Festival Marketplaces offer Asian dishes with a Disney flair.
Items can be purchased individually, or you can purchase a Sip and Savor Pass, which comes with six digital coupons to be exchanged for select food and nonalcoholic beverage items.
The Disneyland 2026 Lunar New Year menus are out now! Returning favorites include the Garlic Noodles, Quesabirria Eggrolls and Strawberry Milk Tea Macaron. For a full list of 2026 Lunar New Year food and beverages (offerings change each year), hop over to our Food Menus post.
Some of the new items include Japchae Noodles and Five-Spice Popcorn Chicken.
If you like chocolate mousse and popping candy as much as we do, get the Chocolate Firecracker from Lucky 8 Lantern.
Don't froget to hop by the candy stores for hand-made treats! You can get a Lunar New Year marshmallow wand (no apple this year). BTW, Valentine treats are there too!
We created a downloadable version of the festival menus that you can use! We used them on opening day and found they helped to easily locate the different foods offered for the festival and to order many foods at once.
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A Sip and Savor Pass is $49/$46 for Magic Key holders in 2026, tax included. It is good for six tastings at the festival booths and for a few items at other food locations.
The 2026 Sip and Savor Pass can be used Jan. 23 through Feb. 22, 2026, and can be purchased at Elias & Co., Julius Katz & Sons, and Seaside Souvenirs as well as the marketplaces. Tax is included in the Sip and Savor price. But tax is added to the food prices when you buy items individually. So the Sip and Savor pass brings the food items to $8.16 post tax ($7.66 for Magic Key) each.
The Sip and Savor Pass no longer has removable tabs. Instead, the cashier scans the code on the back, and you will type in the 4-digit pin under it. When you get your receipt, it will indicate how many tastes/digital coupons you have left at the bottom.
One of my favorite ways to save time is to find the food booth with the shortest line and order several of your food booth items at once. Then you can take your receipt to each of the other booths to collect your food items. We love skipping lines! Just don't lose your receipt! You'll find plenty of seating where you can enjoy your treats in the Paradise Gardens Park festival area.
Another way to save on food is to get discount Disney gift cards. When you purchase discount Disneyland tickets through Undercover Tourist, you get FREE $20 Dining Dollars promo codes. You can apply them to the purchase of Disney gift cards at 15% off. Use those e-gift cards to purchase food, merchandise and Sip and Savor passes. If you are a California resident, check out the hoppin' deal on California Resident Park Hopper tickets for as low $80 per day. You can visit any three days between now and May 21, 2026 (even weekends and holidays)!
In addition to the Sip and Savor Pass, there may be Lunar New Year festival-themed Disney gift cards. Simply load them (as low as $15) and wear them on your wrist for quick and easy scanning for festival favorites. You can use it to purchase a Sip and Savor Pass.
Lunar New Year PhotoPass Magic Shots
Take pictures on Buena Vista Street and ask your PhotoPass photographer for Lunar New Year Magic Shots! There is a sign as well. If you have Lightning Lane Multi Pass, then all your PhotoPass downloads are included for the day. Get the lowest possible price on Lightning Lane Multi Pass when you purchase Disneyland Lightning Lane tickets through Undercover Tourist.
Whether you usually celebrate Lunar New Year in your home, or you want to learn more about this holiday, you will love experiencing Lunar New Year at Disneyland. The frog family and I have learned a lot about the celebration over the past few years, and we always enjoy taking part in the festivities. The tadpoles love it too!
Hoppy Lunar New Year! We wish you health, peace and prosperity this year!
Have you celebrated Lunar New Year at Disneyland? Let us know in the comments if you've joined in on this festive celebration, and what your favorite activities were. Start the new year off with the most bang for your buck with hoppin' deals on discount Disneyland Resort tickets. Use your Dining Dollars promo codes to save 15% on Disney gift cards so you can apply them to food and merchandise at Disneyland Resort.
Related: Complete Guide to Disneyland Events
Related: The Full List of Lunar New Year Food Menus at Disneyland Resort
Keep hopping!
