Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival 2020

Melbournians will rejoice as the Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival welcomes in the Lunar New Year in 2020. For 16 days from January 24th to February 9th, the city will erupt with colour and excitement as some of Melbourne's most treasured landmarks host spectacular events. The Immigration Museum, Queen Victoria Market, Queensbridge Square, and the Docklands are just some of the iconic locations where the festivities will take place.

The celebrations will officially open at Queensbridge Square on January 24th to celebrate the Year of the Rat with dazzling performances, exquisite clothing from an array of ancient dynasties, traditional Chinese cuisine, along with a fantastic light show performance and a slew of Chinese cultural activities available for all ages.

The Dragon Boat Regatta at Victoria Harbour Promenade Docklands is a must-see spectacle at this year's festival, where members of the public can form teams to race authentic dragon boats. The public races will be followed by a competitive Dragon Boat Regatta run by Dragon Boat Victoria, attracting teams from Mildura to Mallacoota and everywhere in between.

Queensbridge Square will burst with excitement, parading traditional cultural performances, family activities and workshops, food stores and more on Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th of January. Additional activities include Lion dances, a special dinner for international students, family days at various sites across the city, Chinese costume shows, stilt walking displays and opera performances.

The Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival acknowledges the support of its principal partner, City of Melbourne, Major Partner, The Victorian Multicultural Commission, as well as the support of Museums Victoria, Queen Victoria Market, The State of Victoria and the Federation of Chinese Associations.