Lunar New Year is upon us, and the celebrations in Brisbane are in full swing. This year, Lunar New Year takes place on Wednesday, January 29, and there’s a slew of cool things to do around Brisbane to celebrate the Year of the Snake, from traditional lion dances, colourful festivals and more.
BrisAsia Festival
The 2025 edition of BrisAsia Festival is packed with events and experiences, uniting artists and creatives for ten days from January 29 until February 9. You can expect to find everything from Lunar New Year celebrations to street parties, authentic eats, live performances, dance parties, workshops, comedy, and more across multiple Brisbane locations. Find the full program here.
Southside by Night
The celebrations will be kicking off with entertainment for everyone from car lovers to live music fans at Southside By Night on Friday, January 31. Expect to see incredible street, luxury and performance cars, hip-hop and DJ performances by local artists and, of course, street food.
Lush on Fish Lane
This contemporary Asian Street Festival that blends cuisine, culture and creativity. As a symbol of transformation and renewal, the snake is ideal to represent the art and innovation that goes into this event. With a program featuring traditional performances, live music & DJs, street theatre, breakdancing and cosplay, plus food from local favourites like Hello Please, Chu the Phat and Bird’s Nest, we can’t wait to slither our way through the festival on Febuary 1.
Lunar New Year in the Gardens
Celebrate the Year of the Snake on Sunday, February 2 with live music and performances that are fun for the whole family! The captivating shows will include traditional lion dancers as well as a martial arts display by the International Wushu Academy, live music from Sitar virtuoso Sudha Manian, renowned Tibetan musician Tenzin Choegyal and tabla master Dheeraj Shrestha, traditional dance, KPOP, Henna face painting and more! All accompanied by the beautiful backdrop of the botanic gardens and flavourful Asian street food.
Sunnybank Lunar New Year
One of Brissy’s biggest Lunar New Year celebrations is coming back from Tuesday, January to Sunday, February 2, with a spectacular lineup of (free!) cultural activities, family-friendly entertainment, and authentic culinary experiences. The following week, on Saturday, February 8, you can dance to live music and eat to your heart’s content at their Lunar New Year Rooftop Party, which will culminate in a stunning fireworks display.
From must-sees such as lion and dragon dances, cultural experiences like a Chinese calligraphy workshop and a silk embroidery workshop, to kid-friendly crafts and even a balloon maze, you’ll be shedding your worries! Don’t miss out on the fun, and check out the full program here.
Brisbane Greeters Tour
Go on a very special guided walk of Fortitude Valley thanks to this fascinating journey through the history of Brisbane’s most expressive precinct. Learn about its rise as a commercial and retail centre in the late 19th century, and, crucially, the contributions made by the Chinese community, as well as the emergence of the Valley as the centre for Brisbane’s gay community.
Most of all, enjoy the celebratory atmosphere of the Year of the Snake with free, live entertainment and cultural markets throughout Chinatown Mall and Fortitude Valley on February 1 and February 2.
Chef’s Kissss: Delicious Dining
Stanley
Riverside dining gem Stanley has launched their Chinese New Year menu, which comes with a delectable selection of Cantonese dishes that can be added to any of the current banquet menus or the traditional a la carte menu.
If you book any day from January 29 to February 2 at 6.30pm or 8.30pm, you’ll be treated to traditional lion dancers from your table!
Brisbane Phoenix
The Brisbane Phoenix will come alive with Lunar New Year celebrations, with roving lion dances at 7.00pm on Wednesday, January 29.
For two weeks, you can taste Brisbane Phoenix‘s Year of the Snake Special Menu, which includes à la carte dishes including steamed trout with ginger and shallot, flaming lobster, black moss dried scallop and oyster, and slow-cooked pork hock with truffle oil.
Super Bowl
If you can get together with five of your friends, be prepared to feast at Superbowl, with a traditional Lunar New Year menu that includes soy and garlic pork, imperial crisp chicken and silken cream cabbage. Plus, of course, lion dancers on February 1 and February 2.
Donna Chang
From January 28 to February 2, Donna Chang will start the Year of the Snake with decadent banquets, live dragon dancers, and festive surprises. With a casual express banquet option that will include prawns with chilli and Sichuan pepper, scallop and prawn wontons, and stir-fried wagyu with king browns and black pepper, you might be tempted to hit it up every single day it’s available!
If you want to save your appetite for the special occasion though, their Lunar New Year Banquet will be just as mouth-watering and will feature lion dancers as well as prizes and other entertainment. For the adults, fun snake-themed cocktails will be on offer, and a tailored kids menu will be available, so there’s good fortune for the whole family.