Hundreds of Long Beach residents gathered on Saturday, April 11, to celebration Cambodian New Year.
Khmer traditions, music, dance and cuisine were celebrated during the event at the Khemara Buddhikarama Temple, 2100 W Willow St. While Cambodian New Year took place officially on Sunday, April 13, the Long Beach community typically hosts several new year events to accommodate the large population of Cambodians in the city.
Sherry Te, 22, (center in white, eyes closed), and her mother Kelly Te, (left, in white holding a cellphone) pray during the food blessing at the Cambodian New Year celebration Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Khemara Buddhikarama Temple in Long Beach. This is the Year of the Horse and events will continue from April 11-16. The exact day of the Cambodian New Year is April 13 but events are held on multiple days to accommodate the large Cambodian community in Long Beach. (Photo by Juanito Holandez Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Food is shared with the community after being blessed by the monks at the Cambodian New Year celebration Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Khemara Buddhikarama Temple in Long Beach. This is the Year of the Horse and events will continue from April 11-16. The exact day of the Cambodian New Year is April 13 but events are held on multiple days to accommodate the large Cambodian community in Long Beach. (Photo by Juanito Holandez Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Attendees dance to traditional music during the Cambodian New Year celebration Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Khemara Buddhikarama Temple in Long Beach. This is the Year of the Horse and events will continue from April 11-16. The exact day of the Cambodian New Year is April 13 but events are held on multiple days to accommodate the large Cambodian community in Long Beach. (Photo by Juanito Holandez Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Attendees visit the new temple (still under construction) during the Cambodian New Year celebration Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Khemara Buddhikarama Temple in Long Beach. This is the Year of the Horse and events will continue from April 11-16. The exact day of the Cambodian New Year is April 13 but events are held on multiple days to accommodate the large Cambodian community in Long Beach. (Photo by Juanito Holandez Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Verena Ke, 22, center wearing a traditional dress, dance with friends at the Cambodian New Year celebration Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Khemara Buddhikarama Temple in Long Beach. This is the Year of the Horse and events will continue from April 11-16. The exact day of the Cambodian New Year is April 13 but events are held on multiple days to accommodate the large Cambodian community in Long Beach. (Photo by Juanito Holandez Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Attendees visit the new temple (still under construction) during the Cambodian New Year celebration Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Khemara Buddhikarama Temple in Long Beach. This is the Year of the Horse and events will continue from April 11-16. The exact day of the Cambodian New Year is April 13 but events are held on multiple days to accommodate the large Cambodian community in Long Beach. (Photo by Juanito Holandez Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Loretta Hing, 30, left, and her mother Sylvia Sar (in white) pray during the Cambodian New Year celebration Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Khemara Buddhikarama Temple in Long Beach. This is the Year of the Horse and events will continue from April 11-16. The exact day of the Cambodian New Year is April 13 but events are held on multiple days to accommodate the large Cambodian community in Long Beach. (Photo by Juanito Holandez Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Head monk Som Saroun, far left, and other monks officiate the blessing of food offerings at the Cambodian New Year celebration Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Khemara Buddhikarama Temple in Long Beach. This is the Year of the Horse and events will continue from April 11-16. The exact day of the Cambodian New Year is April 13 but events are held on multiple days to accommodate the large Cambodian community in Long Beach. (Photo by Juanito Holandez Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Left to right, Cassius Khou, 9, his sister Phoenix Khou, 11, center and their grandfather Billy Khou pray together during the Cambodian New Year celebration Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Khemara Buddhikarama Temple in Long Beach. This is the Year of the Horse and events will continue from April 11-16. The exact day of the Cambodian New Year is April 13 but events are held on multiple days to accommodate the large Cambodian community in Long Beach. (Photo by Juanito Holandez Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Bou Pha, center, center wears a traditional dress at the Cambodian New Year celebration Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Khemara Buddhikarama Temple in Long Beach. This is the Year of the Horse and events will continue from April 11-16. The exact day of the Cambodian New Year is April 13 but events are held on multiple days to accommodate the large Cambodian community in Long Beach. (Photo by Juanito Holandez Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Visitors check the temple grounds which includes a statue of the Buddha and a billboard welcoming the new head monk Som Saroun, right, during the Cambodian New Year celebration Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Khemara Buddhikarama Temple in Long Beach. This is the Year of the Horse and events will continue from April 11-16. The exact day of the Cambodian New Year is April 13 but events are held on multiple days to accommodate the large Cambodian community in Long Beach. (Photo by Juanito Holandez Jr., Contributing Photographer)
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Sherry Te, 22, (center in white, eyes closed), and her mother Kelly Te, (left, in white holding a cellphone) pray during the food blessing at the Cambodian New Year celebration Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the Khemara Buddhikarama Temple in Long Beach. This is the Year of the Horse and events will continue from April 11-16. The exact day of the Cambodian New Year is April 13 but events are held on multiple days to accommodate the large Cambodian community in Long Beach. (Photo by Juanito Holandez Jr., Contributing Photographer)
Long Beach is home to one of the largest populations of Cambodians outside of the Southeast Asian country itself, and each year, the city also celebrates Cambodian culture, heritage and history during the Cambodia Town Parade and Culture Festival, which took place on April 4 this year.