Sheffield’s Lunar Chinese New Year Festival returned to the city centre this past weekend for a spectacular celebration of the Year of the Snake. Organised by Cultural Inclusive CIC with support from Sheffield BID and Sheffield City Council and blessed with no rain and clear skies on Sunday, the event saw thousands of people gather in the Peace Gardens, Fargate, and surrounding areas to witness breathtaking performances, enjoy authentic food, and take part in one of the city’s fastest-growing traditions. The festival will conclude with a charity fundraising banquet at China Red on Weds 5th Feb and a Spectacular Show at The Octagon on Mon 10th Feb. Tickets for the Octagon show can be found here.
One of the weekend’s standout moments was the breathtaking acrobatic Lion Dance performance at the top of Fargate. Making their UK debut, the world champion lion dancers from Foshan, China, produced a gravity-defying display, leaping between high poles in beautifully crafted lion costumes. This performance was a huge draw for the public and took place 4 times over the weekend.
The event saw a packed schedule at the stage of the Peace Gardens, showcasing a rich blend of global cultures. The internationally renowned Chengdu Acrobatic Troupe wowed audiences with their mesmerising face-changing and diabolo acts, while Sheffield’s own Wanlin Dance Academy presented stunning interpretations of classical Chinese dance. The festival also featured a dazzling cultural fashion show and Roma Flamenco performances, both organised by Terezia Rostas as part of the Welcoming Cultures Caravan Showcase. Bollywood dancers from the Sunrit Culture Group brought high-energy choreography, while the Sheffield Chinese Christian Church Gospel Choir added to the occasion with powerful musical performances, bringing an uplifting energy to the celebrations.
A special highlight of this year’s festival was the involvement of Sheffield’s schools in the celebrations. Nearly 600 students from 15 schools across the city took part in a collaborative music project, coming together to sing Gongxi Gongxi, a traditional Lunar New Year song. A video featuring performances from these schools, alongside Concordia Voices, captured the spirit of unity and cultural exchange. This initiative is part of a wider series of collaborative workshops and partnerships between Sheffield Music Hub, Cultural Inclusive CIC, the participating schools, and the Welcoming Cultures Caravan Showcase.
The festival, now in its second year as a large-scale outdoor event, was made possible through the support of Sheffield BID and Sheffield City Council. Reflecting on the success of the event, festival founder and Cultural Inclusive CIC chairman Jerry Cheung said:
“This festival has once again proved that Sheffield is a city that welcomes and embraces all cultures. To see so many thousands of people coming together to celebrate the Lunar Chinese New Year is truly special. A huge thank you goes to Sheffield BID for their vital support, Sheffield City Council for their backing, and of course, the people of Sheffield, who have once again made this festival an incredible success.”
While the weekend celebrations have wrapped up, the Lunar New Year programme continues. On Wednesday 5th February, the Charity Fundraiser Banquet at China Red will raise funds for local causes, and on Monday 10th February, the Spectacular Show at The Octagon Centre will round off the festival with a dazzling evening of music, dance, and storytelling. Profits from the gala will go to Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, ensuring the festival’s impact extends beyond the celebrations. Sheffield-based Chinese photographer Yu Wang is also presenting a captivating photography exhibition, offering a visual narrative of Chinese cultural heritage and identity in Sheffield.
As Sheffield’s Lunar Chinese New Year Festival grows year by year, it’s clear that this event has become a much-loved fixture in the city’s cultural calendar—one that will only continue to flourish in the years to come.
