Asia welcomes Year of the Horse

By AP, AFP   February 16, 2026 | 01:44 am PT
Countries across Asia and beyond are marking the upcoming Lunar New Year with vibrant street performances and elaborate horse-themed decorations inspired by the year’s zodiac animal.
Asia welcomes Year of the Horse

Visitors walk past an illuminated horse lantern display ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations at an amusement park on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Feb. 14, three days before the Year of the Horse begins.

Photo by AP

Asia welcomes Year of the Horse

Fire performers carry a dragon during a molten iron fireworks performance known as "fire dragon steel flowers" ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations at an amusement park on the outskirts of Beijing, China, Feb. 14.

Photo by AP

Asia welcomes Year of the Horse

Several actors dress as the God of Fortune and bring fortune to visitors in front of a lantern installation during the Qinhuai Lantern Festival at Fuzimiao, Confucius Temple, in Nanjing, China, on Feb. 15.

Photo by NurPhoto via AFP

Asia welcomes Year of the Horse

A giant flying horse illuminates at Laomendong in Nanjing, China, on Feb. 15.

Authorities in China predict people will make around 9.5 billion trips over this year's 40-day Lunar New Year period. That figure would be a record high, up from 9.02 billion journeys last year.

Photo by NurPhoto via AFP

Asia welcomes Year of the Horse

Performers on the Hong Kong Jockey Club float dance at a media preview for the upcoming Lunar New Year parade in Hong Kong on Feb. 13.

Photo by AFP

Asia welcomes Year of the Horse

South Korean divers wearing traditional hanbok dresses hold a placard reading "Happy New Year!" during an underwater show to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year at the COEX aquarium in Seoul on Feb. 10.

Photo by AFP

Asia welcomes Year of the Horse

People pose for photos in front of illuminated installations during a light festival at a park of the Lotte World Tower in Seoul on Feb. 12.

Photo by AFP

Asia welcomes Year of the Horse

Visitors take selfies in front of the ''Harmoni Imlek Nusantara'' installation during the Jakarta Lunar New Year Festival 2026 ahead of the Lunar New Year 2577 (Kongzili calendar) in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Feb. 15.

Photo by NurPhoto via AFP

Asia welcomes Year of the Horse

People buy decoration items such as flowers and lanterns as part of the Lunar New Year preparation at Glodok Market, a famous destination for New Year shoppers, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Feb. 15.

Vendors sell Chinese New Year memorabilia such as lanterns, lights accessories, clothes, and flowers. Chinese New Year is the most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is widely celebrated across Asia.

Photo by Anadolu via AFP

Asia welcomes Year of the Horse

Local Chinese attend a celebration of the Lunar New Year of the Horse at Thuwunna stadium Saturday, Feb. 14, in Yangon, Myanmar.

Photo by AP

Asia welcomes Year of the Horse

Students from the Confucius Institute take part in a traditional dance performance during celebrations marking the Lunar New Year in Nairobi, Kenya, on Feb. 8.

Photo by AFP

Asia welcomes Year of the Horse

The Dragon Dance takes place in the streets of Mexico City's Zocalo, where the Chinese community and passersby participate in the celebrations for the Chinese New Year of the Fire Horse, on Feb. 7.

Photo by NurPhoto via AFP

 
 
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