Olympic gold medalist Ailing “Eileen” Gu has been named grand marshal of the 2026 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade.
The March 7 event is organized by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
“We are very lucky to have Eileen Gu joining us,” parade director Tony Lau said. “She’s not only a big star but also has strong Bay Area community ties, and she has attended the parade before.”
“When I’m in the U.S., I’m American, but when I’m in China, I’m Chinese,” Gu said in a 2022 New York Times article (opens in new tab) ahead of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, where she won two gold medals and one silver medal.
“I do corks in an icy, 22-foot, U-shaped snow structure,” she said. “That’s not political. It’s pushing the human limit, and it’s connecting people.”
Organizers will preview floats and entertainment for the parade next week. | Source: Magali Gauthier for The Standard
The parade will cap off a busy winter for Gu, who will compete at the Olympics next month in Italy. She did not respond to a request for comment.
In recent years, organizers have chosen Hollywood celebrities, including actors Awkwafina, Daniel Wu, and Joan Chen, to lead the parade. Chinatown community leader and former parade director Harlan Wong will serve as honorary marshal this year.
Lunar New Year’s Day falls on Feb. 17. The organizers will preview floats, entertainment, and a full slate of Lunar New Year events spanning more than a month. Among them are the Flower Market Fair, set for Feb. 14-15; Choy Sun Doy Day, Feb. 17; a basketball jamboree, Feb. 28; the Miss Chinatown USA pageant, March 6; and the Community Street Fair, March 7-8.