DC Chinatown Celebrates the Year of the HorseSunday, February 22, 2026, at 2:00 pm Route Start: 6th & I Street, NW / Route End: 6th & H Street, NW

The Annual Lunar New Year Parade has been hosted by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of Washington, DC (CCBA) for over 60 years. We are excited to continue our partnership with the Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA) to share this parade with the public and celebrate the Year of the Horse. We are also honored to have DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and her team join us in the festivities. The horse is the seventh animal in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle, which is part of the Chinese calendar. Individuals born in Horse years are considered warm-hearted, adventurous, energetic, independent, hardworking, enthusiastic, and confident, but also impatient and impulsive. 

The CCBA will host a vibrant, community-focused parade featuring diverse cultural groups and performances. Participants will include lion and dragon dance troupes, high school marching bands, kung fu schools, beauty pageant representatives, and members of the U.S. military. The parade will conclude with a firecracker display in the middle of H Street. This event typically draws 20,000 to 40,000 attendees and tourists. 

The CCBA works closely with the government and local organizations to deliver services and educational programs. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for community members, promote understanding of Chinese culture, and strengthen connections between Chinatown and our many friends and organizations in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) areas. 

We recommend taking the METRO to Gallery Place/Chinatown to ensure convenient access and avoid transportation and parking hassles.