About the event

Named one of the top ten Parades in the world by the International Festivals & Events Association, the San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade is one of the few remaining night illuminated Parades in North America and the biggest parade celebrating the Lunar New Year outside of Asia. Started in the 1860's by the Chinese in San Francisco as a means to educate the community about their culture, the Chinese New Year Festival & Parade have grown to be the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. Since 1958, the parade has been under the direction of the SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce. For more information about the parade, please visit:

Dates

Mar 07, 2026 · 5:00 PM - Mar 07, 2026 · 9:00 PM(GMT-07:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)

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Location

California, United States

SF Downtown / Union Square / Chinatown, San Francisco, California 94108, United States

Directions

Parking instructions

We recommend booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero, the nation’s leading parking reservations app. To reserve your parking spot, visit the Chinese New Year Festival & Parade SpotHero Parking Page and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up. For more info about transportation to the Parade, please visit:

Health & safety

The health and safety of our parade participants, volunteers, attendees, and staff members are our top priorities. To ensure a safe environment during your participation at our event, we ask that anyone who is feeling unwell or experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 to please stay home and watch it via livestream on KGO/ABC7, KTSF/Channel 26 or on the streaming platform Hulu. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and healthy environment for all participants.

Tickets

Price: $45.00-75.00 + Applicable Fees and Taxes

2026 SF Chinese New Year Parade - Section E3 Bleachers + Gift Bag

$80.03

Includes Base Price:$75.00, Processing fees: $5.03

NON-REFUNDABLE

Non-Refundable Ticket

This ticket is non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-transferable after purchase. The delivery of the service is completed upon receiving this ticket by email.

Section E3 on Geary St. between Stockton and Powell

Mar 07, 2026 5:00 pm - Mar 07, 2026 9:00 pm PDT

March 07th, 2026 at 3:00 pm PDT

Complimentary Gift Bag

E3 Ticket holders are entitled to one (1) gift bag per ticket to be redeemed upon check-in, while supplies last.

The San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 5:15 PM, stepping off at Second St and Market Street in San Francisco. Tickets must be purchased to sit in the bleacher sections. Children: Children 2 and under do not need to purchase a ticket but must sit on a parent's or guardian's lap. Wheelchair and Accessible Seating Locations: All bleacher sections will have accessible seating. We ask that all ticket holders avoid sitting in the first row of the bleachers as the space is meant to be provided for people with accessible seating needs. All attendees sitting in the bleacher section area, including accessible seating, will be required to purchase a ticket. This purchase is for one (1) Section E3 Ticket. E3 Ticket holders are entitled to one (1) gift bag per ticket to be redeemed upon check-in, while supplies last. Must be present to redeem. The Parade will go on Rain or Stars and there are NO REFUNDS.

2026 SF Chinese New Year Parade - Section B Bleachers

$48.15

Includes Base Price:$45.00, Processing fees: $3.15

NON-REFUNDABLE

Non-Refundable Ticket

This ticket is non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-transferable after purchase. The delivery of the service is completed upon receiving this ticket by email.

Section B on Kearny St between California & Sacramento

Mar 07, 2026 5:00 pm - Mar 07, 2026 9:00 pm PDT

March 07th, 2026 at 3:00 pm PDT

The San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 5:15 PM, stepping off at Second St and Market Street in San Francisco. Tickets must be purchased to sit in the bleacher sections. Children: Children 2 and under do not need to purchase a ticket but must sit on a parent's or guardian's lap. Wheelchair and Accessible Seating Locations: All bleacher sections will have accessible seating. We ask that all ticket holders avoid sitting in the first row of the bleachers as the space is meant to be provided for people with accessible seating needs. All attendees sitting in the bleacher section area, including accessible seating, will be required to purchase a ticket. This purchase is for one (1) Section B Ticket. The Parade will go on Rain or Stars and there are NO REFUNDS.

2026 SF Chinese New Year Parade - Section C Bleachers

$48.15

Includes Base Price:$45.00, Processing fees: $3.15

NON-REFUNDABLE

Non-Refundable Ticket

This ticket is non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-transferable after purchase. The delivery of the service is completed upon receiving this ticket by email.

Section C on Post between Grant & Kearny

Mar 07, 2026 5:00 pm - Mar 07, 2026 9:00 pm PDT

March 07th, 2026 at 3:00 pm PDT

The San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 5:15 PM, stepping off at Second St and Market Street in San Francisco. Tickets must be purchased to sit in the bleacher sections. Children: Children 2 and under do not need to purchase a ticket but must sit on a parent's or guardian's lap. Wheelchair and Accessible Seating Locations: All bleacher sections will have accessible seating. We ask that all ticket holders avoid sitting in the first row of the bleachers as the space is meant to be provided for people with accessible seating needs. All attendees sitting in the bleacher section area, including accessible seating, will be required to purchase a ticket. This purchase is for one (1) Section C Ticket. The Parade will go on Rain or Stars and there are NO REFUNDS.

2026 SF Chinese New Year Parade - Section A1 Bleachers (Covered)

$69.40

Includes Base Price:$65.00, Processing fees: $4.40

NON-REFUNDABLE

Non-Refundable Ticket

This ticket is non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-transferable after purchase. The delivery of the service is completed upon receiving this ticket by email.

Section A1 on Kearny St. between Washington & Jackson

Mar 07, 2026 5:00 pm - Mar 07, 2026 9:00 pm PDT

March 07th, 2026 at 3:00 pm PDT

The San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, celebrating the Year of the Horse will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 5:15 PM, stepping off at Second St and Market Street in San Francisco. Tickets must be purchased to sit in the bleacher sections. Children: Children 2 and under do not need to purchase a ticket but must sit on a parent's or guardian's lap. Wheelchair and Accessible Seating Locations: All bleacher sections will have accessible seating. We ask that all ticket holders avoid sitting in the first row of the bleachers as the space is meant to be provided for people with accessible seating needs. All attendees sitting in the bleacher section area, including accessible seating, will be required to purchase a ticket. This purchase is for one (1) Section A1 Ticket. Section A1 Bleacher are covered with a canopy. The Parade will go on Rain or Stars and there are NO REFUNDS.

Other applications

Interested in applying:

1 active application

2026 CNY Parade Application

Deadline: Oct 31, 2025

Apply now

Over 100 units will take part in the Chinese New Year Parade—a San Francisco tradition dating back to just after the Gold Rush. Year after year, the Parade continues to captivate hundreds of thousands of spectators, whether they line the streets or stream it on television.

The 2026 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade (Year of the Horse) will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2026. Nowhere else in the world will you find a Lunar New Year parade filled with such intricate floats, dazzling costumes, thunderous firecrackers, and roaring lion dances. You’ll also see our newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and her court, and of course, the show-stopping 288-foot Golden Dragon (“Gum Lung”), brought to life by more than 180 martial artists from the White Crane team.

We’re seeking colorful, creative, and entertaining groups to join our spectacular celebration. Don’t miss your chance—applications are due by Friday, October 31, 2025.

Rain or shine, the Chinese New Year Parade is sure to warm your heart and electrify your senses.

GUIDELINES

2026 SF Chinese New Year Festival and Parade - Year of the Horse

When: Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm PST
Where: San Francisco Downtown/Union Square/Chinatown

Applications are due by October 31, 2025, 11:59pm PST.

NOTE: All applicants must submit a $350 non-refundable application fee via ACH, debit/credit card or check.
Additional $350 late fee will be added for applications submitted after the due date (total $700).

For Payments by ACH or Debit/Credit Card:

Payment will be due at the time of application submission, and a processing fee will be applied.

For Payments by Check:

Enter code CNYPCHECK at checkout. Applications will only be reviewed once payment has been received. Payment must be received by October 31, 2025.

Please make check payable to "SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce" and mail it to:

SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Re: 2026 Parade Application Fee

730 Sacramento St.

San Francisco, CA 94108

NOTICE: This is NOT an automatic invitation to participate in the 2026 SF Chinese New Year Parade. This is an application to request participation and to provide the Parade Office with details about your group’s proposed involvement. All applications will be reviewed by the Parade Committee prior to approval. If your application is approved, you will receive an official invitation. Please note that the participation in the Parade is BY INVITATION ONLY.

Identifying Your Category:

Bands: Includes all school/college marching bands, drill teams, drum & bell or drum & bugle corps.
Schools: All schools, public or private, from elementary to high school, alternative, charter or language immersion.
Community Organizations: Nonprofit groups that provide services benefiting or enriching the community.
Employee Resource Groups (ERG): Employee-led networks supported by a company or organization.
Lion Dance Groups: Groups that provide dragon and/or lion dancing performances.
Specialty Groups: Groups that present another form of art or entertainment that does not fit in any of the other categories listed above.

DO NOT submit this application if you fit into one of the categories below:

Service Providers: Private, Government-owned entities or city departments, please contact sponsorship@chineseparade.com
Corporate Sponsors: For information about our sponsorship packages, please contact sponsorship@chineseparade.com

Notification of invitations or declinations will be sent to applicants no later than Friday, November 21, 2025.

We strongly encourage applicants to submit photos with their application to support the reviewing process.

For more information or updates about the Chinese New Year Festival & Parade, please visit our website at chineseparade.com or contact the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce at (415) 982-3000. Inquiries about the Chinese New Year Parade may be emailed to info@chineseparade.com.

Visit Us: chineseparade.com

Like Us: facebook.com/chineseparade
Tag Us: instagram.com/chineseparade

Hosted by San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Joined Eventeny in August 2023

4 events

San Francisco, California, United States

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2026 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade

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