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2026 CNY Parade Application

Name: 2026 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade
Start: 2026-03-07T17:00-07:00
End: 2026-03-07T21:00-07:00
Location: SF Downtown / Union Square / Chinatown, San Francisco, California 94108, United States

Deadline: Oct 31, 2025 11:59 pm (GMT-07:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)

2026 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade

Date: Mar 07, 2026 5:00 pm - Mar 07, 2026 9:00 pm (PDT)

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

$350.00

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: https://chineseparade.com/history/

San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Contact Organizer

San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Contact Organizer

About the application

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

Terms & Conditions

The Parade invites a wide range of groups to participate, with the goal of educating, inspiring, and entertaining audiences through the vibrant pageantry of Chinese culture and tradition. To preserve the spirit of the event, all floats and specialty units are asked to reflect a Chinese cultural theme. We are honored to celebrate alongside representatives from diverse Asian communities in this year’s festivities.

If you wish to be considered for participation in the 2026 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, you must submit an application online. Paper applications are no longer accepted.

The deadline to submit the application is by October 31, 2025. Letters of acceptance or denial will be sent by the end of November. Only applicants who are accepted will be invited to participate in the parade.

For more information, please visit our website at chineseparade.com. You may also contact the Parade Office at info@chineseparade.com.

Related files

PARADE ROUTE MAP.pdf

Prices

Application Fee

$350.00

Non-refundable application fee

Questions on the application

User information

First name
Last name
Email

Additional information

Select your category
Is your organization a part of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)?
Unit Name
Address
Unit Representative's Full Name
Job Title
Phone Number
Email Address
Social Media Information
Has your unit participated in the Chinese New Year Parade before?
Number of Participants
Total in Unit (including parents, chaperones, other walkers, etc.)
If yes, please explain purpose of having a vehicle.
Will you have a vehicle as part of your contingent? Approval is required to have a vehicle in the parade.
How old is your school/club/organization or in what year was it established?
How many times has your unit participated in the Chinese New Year Parade?
Provide a brief history of your unit/organization. What is your mission?
What do you plan to do in the Chinese New Year Parade? Does your unit have a theme?
Please describe your uniform, costume, instruments, dances/movement and props*.
If your unit is playing music, please provide the following: Name of the song(s); name of the singer(s) or group; will this song(s) be played during your performance in the TV Zone? Is there any significance to your song selection?
Describe what your unit formation looks like in overhead view.
Would you like to be in the Section A (non-televised section) of the Parade lineup?
Does your unit plan on using firecrackers/pyrotechnics?
Photograph of your group
Will you need to be added to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce's Liability Insurance for $100?
Agreements & Acknowledgements*

2026 CNY Parade Application

2026 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade

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