Heritage Square is about to trade its usual weekend vibe for drums, dragons, and plenty of red as Phoenix Chinese Week brings its 36th annual Lunar New Year Festival downtown on Saturday and Sunday, February 14–15, 2026. The two-day celebration, marking the Year of the Horse, will offer live lion and dragon dances, cultural performances,s and hands-on activities aimed squarely at families. Admission is free, and organizers are touting the festival as a chance to graze your way through regional foods while checking out traditional arts. The event is produced by the Phoenix Chinese Week nonprofit in partnership with local organizations.
Dates, Times And Location
The festival runs Saturday, Feb. 14, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Heritage Square in downtown Phoenix. There is no admission fee, and the main site will host two performance stages, a tea garden, and a children's pavilion. According to Phoenix Chinese Week, organizers are putting a spotlight on a smoke- and vape-free experience this year.
What To Expect At The Festival
Visitors can expect nearly nonstop entertainment, from martial arts demonstrations and folk dances to a mahjong booth and a chopstick challenge, alongside food trucks and merchandise vendors. The event page on Downtown Phoenix notes dragon and lion dances on the program, while local TV previews have been highlighting the family-friendly activities. 12News aired a segment earlier this week sizing up the weekend lineup.
Festival Roots And Recent Moves
Phoenix Chinese Week has staged this Lunar New Year festival since 1989 and has shifted venues over the years as downtown programming changes. Coverage of last year's celebration at Steele Indian School Park shows the event pulling in large, multigenerational crowds with similar programming, underscoring its role on the Valley's cultural calendar. As Cronkite News reported, the nonprofit uses the weekend to showcase traditional arts and connect community groups from across the region.
Special Events And Sister City Tie
Organizers are also planning a Chinese New Year banquet on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Great Wall Cuisine to close out Phoenix Chinese Week, with banquet tickets and raffle sales listed on the festival site. Festival materials note that this year’s sister-city connection with Chengdu will show up in special exhibits and cultural exchanges. Per the festival's official information, the tea garden, youth art exhibits and a costume photo booth are slated to return for 2026, and tickets are available online through Phoenix Chinese Week.
Getting There And Practical Tips
Heritage Square sits in the heart of downtown and is a short walk from Valley Metro light rail and several bus lines, with the 3rd St/Washington station among the closest rail stops for riders. Organizers suggest arriving early for children's programming and considering public transit or rideshare, since on-street and garage parking can fill quickly during large events. For transit directions and nearby stops, riders can consult local trip planners such as Moovit.
