“Chinese New Year has become a season of shared joy.” —Olalekan A. Babatunde
As the lunar calendar ushered in the Year of the Horse, the world witnessed a spectacular display of Chinese culture as the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, was celebrated with unprecedented enthusiasm across every continent. Far beyond a traditional family reunion and artistic expression, the 2026 festivities have become a global phenomenon, with the distinctive “China Red” illuminating iconic landmarks and the festival’s spirit captivating millions worldwide.
While viewing the spectacular displays of culture and traditions in drama, dance, drawings, food and drink, and others, I got captivated by the energy and enthusiasm with which the Chinese projected their heritage. Music legends like Lionel Richie, John Legend, and Westlife played in Beijing. Chinatowns and cultural centres across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas host parades and exhibitions, drawing diverse audiences into the festivities. The kung-fu robots stole the show, underscoring how technology is shaping everyday life in China. International landmarks are illuminated in red, and global media outlets devote extensive coverage to the celebrations, reflecting the festival’s growing international resonance.
UNESCO’s recognition of related Chinese cultural practices has further elevated global awareness of the festival’s heritage value. Watching international news channels such as CNN, BBC, CGTN, and Al Jazeera, I saw that I could only describe it as a global canvas of Chinese traditions. The Festival captured the world’s imagination as a global cultural phenomenon, with celebrations spanning every continent and nearly 20 countries declaring it a public holiday. As a German man named Stefan was quoted as saying that to truly understand China, one must experience its Spring Festival.
From the bustling streets of Southeast Asia to the grand avenues of Europe and the Americas, the reach of this year’s Spring Festival was truly staggering, and offering diverse audiences a profound insight into the depth and diversity of Chinese musical heritage. One attendee described the experience as a journey that sparked inspiration, while another praised it as a wonderful discovery of Chinese folk music.
It was estimated that approximately one-fifth of the global population participated in Year of the Horse celebrations in various forms. In a testament to the festival’s growing international status, nearly 20 countries have now officially recognised the Lunar New Year as a public holiday, allowing their citizens to partake in the festivities.
In Europe, the city of London hosted what is described as the largest Lunar New Year celebration outside of Asia, with tens of thousands of revellers flocking to the West End for parades and performances. The United Kingdom’s famed “London Eye” was also illuminated in vibrant “China Red,” a symbolic gesture of friendship and cultural unity, replicated on landmarks such as the Calgary Tower in Canada and the “Dream Wheel” in New York. Meanwhile, in the French capital, a Chinese humanoid robot made its debut at a Spring Festival parade, drawing an audience of approximately 100,000 spectators and demonstrating a fusion of tradition and technological innovation.
Across the Atlantic, the celebrations were equally vibrant. In Brazil, the “Happy Chinese New Year” Garden Party in São Paulo, one of the largest and most influential events of its kind in the country, attracted hundreds of thousands of local attendees who immersed themselves in Chinese culture. In Mexico, children participated with joy in Spring Festival activities. In Vienna, local children were captivated by workshops on traditional crafts like paper-cutting and sugar figure blowing. In the United States, cultural events featuring traditional cuisine and intangible cultural heritage were held in New York and Seattle, while in Los Angeles, drumming accompanied the acrobatic leaps of dragon and lion dancers.
The festive spirit permeated every corner of the globe. In Australia, the friendship garden in Sydney hosted a vibrant garden party, featuring performances by Chinese artists and interactive areas for experiencing intangible cultural heritage. There were artistic performances and displays of traditional crafts in Lao, Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal, and across the region.
From the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which was lit up with a spectacular Spring Festival light show for the seventh consecutive year, to the festive marketplaces in Indonesia which released an official Year of the Horse logo, the Chinese New Year has become a season of shared joy.
In Africa, the “Encounters with China” themed activities were successfully held at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo and the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat, Morocco, offering a memorable cultural experience centred on Spring Festival traditions. In Nigeria, the global celebrations that transformed Chinese New Year into an international cultural spectacle were staged over many days, with songs and dance troupes in Abuja’s Chinese Cultural Centre and Lagos. Seminars and exchanges were held to mark the festival that coincided with the 55th anniversary of Nigeria-China relations.
In Kenya, a young man was seen skilfully performing in a dragon dance troupe. Indeed, the Spring Festival also served as a powerful platform for cultural diplomacy and international goodwill.
In short, the essence of the New Year resonates universally, offering another powerful opportunity for connection. The Spring Festival’s core values, like reunion, harmony, and hope, deeply resonated with people from all cultural backgrounds. The festival is already on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and therefore, solidified its status not merely as a Chinese event, but as a cherished treasure for all of humanity.
As the world bid farewell to the old and welcomed the new, the 2026 Spring Festival stood as a brilliant testament to China’s cultural confidence and its soft power on the international stage. It was a vivid demonstration of how ancient traditions can be revitalised to connect with contemporary global audiences, fostering mutual understanding and appreciation among civilisations. With its message of peace, prosperity, and unity, the Chinese New Year has truly become a global festival, building bridges of friendship and fostering a shared sense of human connection.
Beyond the pageantry, the Spring Festival carries a deeper message that resonates universally – hope, renewal, and shared humanity. In a world often divided by conflict and uncertainty, the festival’s emphasis on harmony, generosity, and fresh starts offers a powerful reminder of common values that transcend borders.
As China continues to play an influential role on the global stage, its Spring Festival stands as one of its most compelling cultural ambassadors. Year after year, it dazzles not only with spectacle, but with meaning – inviting the world to pause, celebrate, and look forward together. It is no longer China introducing itself to the international audience but endearing itself to the world.
*Olalekan A. Babatunde, Ph.D., is a fellow at Nigeria’s Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Abuja. He can be reached on Twitter@olaaustinebabs
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