Hurstville will come alive with colour, music and culture as 50,000 people are expected to celebrate the Year of the Horse at Georges River Council's annual Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday 21 February 2026.
Now in its 23rd year, the Festival is one of the region's most popular cultural events. Every year, it unites residents, families, and visitors from all over Sydney. They come to celebrate the traditions, stories, and heritage of the Georges River community.
Forest Road and Hurstville Plaza will be transformed into a lively festival space from morning until night. Visitors can enjoy a vibrant opening ceremony and watch the thrilling Lion Dance. There will also be many food stalls, market vendors, and roaming performers all day.
Enjoy live stage entertainment at Hurstville Plaza! Watch performances that highlight the talent, diversity, and energy of our local community.
Two weeks before the festival from Saturday 7 February, major sponsor, Westfield Hurstville, will host an in-centre painting of the Lunar mural for 2026. Bryan Mew, the winning artist from Georges River Council's Year of the Horse Zodiac Mural Competition, will paint Kumquat Blessings & The Fire Horse live to give customers the chance to watch the artwork take shape. The finished mural will be displayed at the festival.
Georges River Council Mayor Elise Borg said everyone is invited to join the celebration, experience the sights, sounds and flavours of Lunar New Year in Hurstville.
"The Year of the Horse reminds us that progress comes from courage, hard work, and a shared commitment to moving forward together."
"Lunar New Year is a powerful expression of unity, tradition and hope. It is a time to reconnect with our cultural roots while looking ahead to a year of prosperity and renewal."
"This celebration is a wonderful opportunity for our community and visitors to come together, experience Lunar New Year traditions first-hand, and learn more about the rich cultural practices that make Georges River such a vibrant and welcoming place."
Funding for this project has been provided by the NSW Government in association with Georges River Council.
We would like to thank our Major Sponsors, Westfield Hurstville, NRMA Small Business Insurance, Chemist Warehouse Hurstville, Asian Inspirations, and Club Central Hurstville. Their support plays a vital role in bringing this event to life for our community.
Major Sponsor NRMA Small Business Insurance said, "At NRMA Small Business we are proud to help more than 72,000 small businesses protect what matters. We celebrate the spirit and ambition of small businesses across Australia including within vibrant neighbourhoods like Hurstville, where local entrepreneurs, creative cafes, boutique retailers, and service-based businesses are an essential part of community life."
Alison Muir, Centre Manager of Major Sponsor Westfield Hurstville said, "Westfield Hurstville is proud to support the Georges River Council 23rd Annual Lunar New Year Festival, celebrating the rich culture of our area with our community.
"This year, we're delighted to bring the festival in-centre from 7 February, hosting artist Bryan Mew as he live-paints his winning 2026 Lunar New Year mural, Kumquat Blessings & The Fire Horse.
"We look forward to sharing this experience with our customers and joining everyone on 21 February to welcome the Year of the Horse."
We also extend our gratitude to our Event Sponsors, SBS, Optus, and VJB Group for helping make this event possible.
Event Details
When: Saturday 21 February 2026.
Event times: 11.00am - 9.00pm.
Official Proceedings: from 12.30pm.
Where: Hurstville Plaza and Forest Road, Hurstville.
Cost: Free.
To learn more, visit Council's Lunar New Year Event webpage.
