Lunar New Year 2026: Year of the Horse
Schedule
Sat Feb 21 2026 at 10:00 am to 05:00 pm
UTC-05:00Location
Peabody Essex Museum | Salem, MA
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Saturday, February 21, 2026 from 10 am—5 pmIn-person event
Location: Main Atrium
10 am–1 pm: Advanced ticketholder access only. $10 (plus general admission). Museum galleries will not be open until after the morning performance concludes.
1 pm: Yin Yu Tang timed tickets reservations available. Limited, same-day Yin Yu Tang tour tickets are available on a first-come, first served basis.
Buy Tickets Here: pem.org/events/lunar-new-year-2026-year-of-the-horse?date=2026-02-21&time=10:00
This program features loud drumming and cymbals. The museum may be crowded and seating will be limited. Visitors with sensory sensitivities are encouraged to utilize our KultureCity resources or pick up a sensory kit at the Visitor Resource Center.
Welcome the Year of the Horse with a vibrant festival heralding new beginnings and the coming of spring! Enjoy a scavenger hunt, art making and tours of Yin Yu Tang.
Lunar New Year is celebrated in many Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. While some traditions are shared across countries, others are unique to one region, community or national cultural identity. Our programming this year focuses on Chinese cultural traditions.
Please note that museum galleries will not open until after the morning performance concludes.
Dance Performance | Gund Kwok: Asian Women’s Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe
10:30–11:30 am | Main Atrium (Ground Level) | Limited tickets available
Zodiac Quest and art making will be available to morning ticketholders beginning at 11:30 am.
1–5 pm | Museum open for general admission
Drop-In Art Making: Decorating Red Envelopes
1–4 pm | Groups Hub (Ground Level)
Decorate your own red envelope, a symbol of luck and prosperity in Chinese culture. Suitable for all ages.
Zodiac Quest
1–5 pm | Ground Level, Level 2 and Level 3
Explore all three levels of the museum on the hunt for dragons and snakes! Claim your prize in the Garden Atrium. Suitable for all ages.
Meet & Greet | Gund Kwok: Asian Women’s Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe
2–3 pm | Main Atrium the Garden Atrium (Ground Level)
Get an up-close look at the stunning lion and dragon dance costumes and meet members of Gund Kwok, the first all-Asian women’s Lion and Dragon Dance troupe in the U.S. Please note that this is a meet and greet, not a performance.
Find the lion and dragon dancers in the Garden Atrium (Ground Level) and the Main Atrium (Ground Level). Visit the Information desk to pick up a map or for help finding these locations.
Self-Guided Tours | Yin Yu Tang: A Chinese Home
1:15–4:15 pm; Every 30 minutes (Ground level)
Reservations required. Limited same-day tickets available at the Information desk beginning at 1 pm.
Yin Yu Tang — translated as “Hall of Plentiful Shelter” — was home to the Huang family for nearly two hundred years. For over 20 years, Yin Yu Tang has been a gateway into understanding the art and culture of generations of families living and working in rural Southeastern China.
Yin Yu Tang is currently undergoing work to preserve its roof tiles and masonry walls. During your visit, scaffolding may be present and work may be actively underway. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
This program is part of Salem 400+ celebrations.
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Where is it happening?
Peabody Essex Museum, 150 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970-3701, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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