Chinese New Year is always a colourful cultural highlight, bringing brightness to the dark winter days here in the UK. This is especially true for a city like Manchester, whose Chinatown buzzes all year round but becomes a hive of activity and celebration come New Year.

Welcoming the Year of the Rabbit, 2023 marked the return of the legendary Dragon Parade to Manchester City Centre alongside all of the usual Chinatown celebrations. Vibrant and cheerful, thousands of red lanterns decorate the city’s trees while the dragon snakes its way through the streets accompanied by dancers, Chinese Opera performers, zodiac animals and ancient army characters.

There were dazzling explosions of colour everywhere you looked – acrobatics, singing, poetry reading and dancing happening throughout the day, as well as free family events in Central Library and Manchester Art Gallery.

As and when the standout events programmed for Chinese New Year 2024 are unveiled, you’ll find them here.

The celebration also presents a great opportunity to stop for a bite to eat in one of the city’s best Chinese restaurants (find our top picks of those below). Our call is to get down to Chinatown early, take a seat, order some delicious food and soak in the festivities as Manchester rings in the Lunar New Year.