Hurstville came alive on Saturday 21 February 2026. More than 45,000 locals and visitors braved the heat to welcome the Year of the Horse at Georges River Council's Lunar New Year celebration.
Council proudly presents one of Sydney Metro's largest Lunar New Year celebrations. This year marked the 23rd year the event was held in the local area.
Special guests joined Georges River Council Deputy Mayor, Sam Stratikopoulos for the festival's official opening and the traditional eye-dotting ceremony.
Visitors enjoyed a vibrant program of performances, including dragon and lion dancing, stage shows, and roving acts. A crowd favourite was the God of Wealth red envelope giveaways, spreading luck and prosperity to all. A popular new addition to the festival was the Little Lanterns zone, dedicated to children, featuring a K-Pop dance party, intergenerational line dancing, and paper weaving workshop.
Festival attendees were also treated to hands-on cooking demonstrations by Asian Inspiration's chef Heather Jeong, who showcased a delicious selection of the finest Asian dishes.
Local artist Bryan Mew was selected by Council and event sponsor SBS to create the 2026 Lunar New Year mural, Kumquat Blessings & The Fire Horse. For the second consecutive year, the Lunar New Year mural was created at Westfield Hurstville before being officially unveiled at the festival and soon to be installed at its permanent year‑round location in Interchange Park, Hurstville.
Georges River Council Mayor Elise Borg said, "Our Lunar New Year Festival continues to be a highlight for our community".
"It was fantastic that so many people celebrate together, enjoy the festivities, and welcome the Year of the Horse."
Funding for this project has been provided by the NSW Government in association with Georges River Council.
Georges River Council 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.
We also extend our gratitude to our event sponsors, SBS, Optus, and VJB Group for helping make this event possible.
