Everything you need to know about 2024 Lunar New Year

A variety of events are running across the roughly two-week-long festival, from street markets to dragon boat festivals and concerts.

Here’s what you need to know about the Lunar New Year, and where you can celebrate it.

What is the Lunar New Year?

Also known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival, the Lunar New Year is the roughly fortnight-long festival held to celebrate the start of the Chinese lunisolar calendar for another year.

It’s observed in China and much of eastern Asia, including Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia, and celebrations are held all across the world.

When is the Lunar New Year in 2024?

Unlike the Western or Gregorian New Year, which always falls on January 1, the date of the Lunar New Year changes each year to correspond with the first new moon of the lunar calendar.

In 2024, that falls on Saturday, February 10.

The celebrations last far beyond one day, though, starting with new year’s eve on February 9 and running through to the Lantern Festival, which falls on the first full moon of the lunar year on February 24.

What Lunar New Year celebrations are on in Australia?

Events are planned across Australia for Lunar New Year celebrations, varying from city to city. You can check in with your local council to see what’s happening near you, but here are some of the festivities in the major cities.

Other suburbs across the city, such as Cabramatta, Chatswood and Campsie have their own festivities planned too.

One of the main festivities in Adelaide is the Lunar New Year Street Party, held in Chinatown on February 17.