There's a free Chinese New Year festival with a massive market in Calgary

It’s the Year of the Horse, and it’s time to get excited about it! The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre is inviting the city to come celebrate the Chinese New Year on Feb. 14, 15, 21, and 22, 2026, with free admission and a ton of festivities.

The festival will take place at the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre, located at 197 1st St. SW., from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The centre describes itself as “a community centre dedicated to serving the Chinese community of Calgary and the surrounding area. In carrying out its mandate, it also dedicates itself to undertaking educational and cultural programs to enrich the lives of all Calgarians.”

It’s a family-friendly event, with a lineup of activities suited for all ages, including:

Lion and dragon dances

Martial arts performances

Music

Chinese opera performances

A specialty market with local vendors

Free popcorn

Photo booths

Featured delicacies and treats

Prize draws

So, what does the Year of the Horse mean? It signifies those born in 2026, 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, and 1954 (so far). The horse is known to be “confident, agreeable, and responsible, although they also tend to dislike being reined in by others. They’re fit and intelligent, adoring physical and mental exertion; they’re decisive but also easily swayed and impatient,” as stated by the Chinese New Year website.

The weather may be less than favourable, but I promise getting out of the house for some free fun on the weekends will do you some good.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year Festival

When: Feb. 14, 15, 21 and 22, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre – 197 1st St. SW.
Cost: Free admission

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Taylor Lucas

Associate Editor – Taylor is a Toronto-based journalist with a passion for storytelling. Whether chasing a story, writing, or editing, she brings a creative spin to the media world and has a blast doing it. Taylor brings years of journalism experience in sports, local/national news, and entertainment. In her spare time, you can typically find Taylor trying out a new restaurant or cocktail bar, cooking, golfing or binge-watching true crime documentaries.

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