Chinese New Year - Parade at the Arch of Peace
The grand Lunar New Year celebration in Milan
About Chinese New Year
The Lunar New Year celebration in Milan
Chinese New Year is one of the most heartfelt celebrations for Milan's large Chinese community in Lombardy, and one of the city's most beloved intercultural festivals. The celebrations are concentrated in the historic Chinatown on via Paolo Sarpi and culminate in the grand parade at the Arch of Peace, in Piazza Sempione.
Lion Dance and Traditions
The heart of the festival is the parade, which traditionally opens with the lion dance, a symbol of good luck capable of warding off evil spirits. Traditional costumes, dance and music groups, and martial arts performances parade by, while markets in via Sarpi offer typical products and gastronomic specialties.
2026: The Year of the Fire Horse
The 2026 New Year celebrates the Year of the Fire Horse, which combines the characteristics of the Horse—independence and exploration—with those of Fire—passion and creativity. A year of dynamism and conscious action, according to Chinese astrological tradition.
A Celebration for the Whole City
The event is free and attracts a vast audience, well beyond the Chinese community. The parade, with access controlled for safety reasons, transforms Piazza Sempione and the Sempione-Sarpi district into a large festive space, testifying to the multicultural dimension of contemporary Milan.
Chinese New Year — edition 2026
For 2026, the grand parade for Milan's Chinese New Year is scheduled for Sunday, March 1st, at the Arch of Peace, in Piazza Sempione, starting at 2:00 PM. The date has been postponed to March to avoid conflicting with the Winter Olympics, which involved the city until February 22nd.
This edition celebrates the Year of the Fire Horse. The free festival includes a lion dance, costume parades, dances, music, and martial arts, as well as markets for typical products in Chinatown on via Paolo Sarpi. For safety reasons, access to the square is controlled.
Programme Chinese New Year 2026
Sunday, March 1, 2026 — Arch of Peace (from 2:00 PM)
- Opening with the lion dance
- Parades in traditional costumes
- Typical dances and music
- Martial arts performances
Related Events
- Markets for typical products on via Paolo Sarpi (Chinatown)
- February 28 — Workshops for children (6-11 years old) at the Museum of Peoples and Cultures
- Celebrations conclude on March 3rd with the Lantern Festival
Free admission; the square is divided into zones with controlled access. Recommended entrances from Corso Sempione and Via Pagano.
Highlights Chinese New Year 2026
Prices Chinese New Year 2026
Practical information — Chinese New Year
When
Main parade Sunday, March 1, 2026, from 2:00 PM. Celebrations extend from February 17 (Lunar New Year) to March 3 (Lantern Festival).
Where
Arch of Peace, Piazza Sempione, Milan, and Chinatown on via Paolo Sarpi. Reachable by metro M5 (Monumentale/Domodossola) and ATM public transport; recommended entrances from Corso Sempione and Via Pagano.
Admission
Free admission, with controlled access to the square for safety reasons.
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Where does it take place — Chinese New Year
Arco della Pace - Piazza Sempione
Piazza Sempione, 20154 Milano