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The Lunar New Year officially ushered in the Year of the Horse on February 17, and San Francisco has numerous ongoing celebrations to honor the holiday. One of the most popular events is the annual parade, which is scheduled for March 7, 2026.
This year, the SF Chinese New Year Parade’s Grand Marshal is the Olympic gold medalist Eileen Gu. Just a few weeks after a triumphant return from the winter Olympics, Gu will lead the beloved celebration in San Francisco. Gu is Chinese-American and a San Francisco native. The 22-year old is also the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history and recently won gold in the women’s halfpipe and silver in big air and slopestyle. Aside from her successful skiing career, the Olympian is also a student at Stanford University in the South Bay.
Photo by @aspectphotographysf. Courtesy of @chineseparade via Instagram.
The Chinese New Year Parade is free to attend, and will start on 2nd and Market Street starting at 5:15 pm on Saturday. The parade is a major cultural celebration in San Francisco, and it actually dates back to 1851. It is the biggest Lunar New Year parade outside of Asia, and is known for its many elaborate floats and costumes.
While the parade is free to attend, you can purchase tickets for bleachers if you want to sit while watching the parade and still have a great view. Tickets for the bleachers range from $45 to $75, and organizers encourage ticket holders to arrive at 4 pm. Otherwise, you can watch the parade for free anywhere along the route, and it will last approximately 2.5 hours.
The parade is approximately 1.3 miles long, starting at 2nd and Market Street. There will be a few designated crossing points along the route for pedestrians.
The parade is just one of many celebrations for the new year, including the return of the Sunset Night Market this weekend. The popular night market will celebrate the Lunar New Year with local food vendors, music, performances, and more.
You can learn more about the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco here.