30 photos show how people are celebrating the 2025 Lunar New Year around the world

People stroll through colorful lantern installations at the 54th Chengdu International Panda Lantern Festival in Chengdu, Sichuan Province of China.

Every year, the sighting of the first new moon in January marks the beginning of Lunar New Year.Wednesday marks the first day of the celebrations.From fireworks to dragon dances, here’s how people worldwide are welcoming the Year of the Snake.

Every year in late January, streets transform into a sea of red — lights, lanterns, and even little kids dressed in festive hues signal the start of Lunar New Year celebrations.

A traditional lunar calendar helps predict the start of the new year, with celebrations continuing into February.

The holiday follows a 12-year cycle based on Chinese zodiac signs, with each year linked to a different animal. This year welcomes the Year of the Snake, the sixth sign in the zodiac.

Around the world, cities celebrate Lunar New Year in unique ways, blending cultural traditions with contemporary festivities. Some families gather for feasts, exchanging gifts in red envelopes and enjoying symbolic foods like gold ingot dumplings and sweet rice balls, while others take to the streets to enjoy a parade of performances.

Yet, no matter where it’s celebrated, one thing remains constant: a vibrant shade of red.

Here’s how countries around the world kicked off Lunar New Year celebrations this year.

At a Chinese zoo, an excited tufted capuchin clutched a red envelope filled with festive treats.
A tufted capuchin at the Chongqing Zoo in China received a special red envelope containing delicious food to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
In Solo City, Indonesia, a devotee lit incense sticks at the Tien Kok Sie temple.
A devotee in Indonesia at the Tien Kok Sie temple in Solo City, Indonesia.
In La Paz, Bolivia, children performed a coordinated martial arts sequence as part of a Lunar New Year celebration event.
Children performing martial arts during a Lunar New Year celebration in La Paz, Bolivia.
In St. Petersburg, Russia, people celebrated by lighting sparklers near the Dvortsovy Drawbridge.
The Dvortsovy Drawbridge was illuminated red during the Lunar New Year celebrations in St. Petersburg, Russia.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, people on a bus were seen holding a dragon puppet during the Lunar New Year celebrations.
People hold a dragon puppet in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In New York City, people gathered to watch dancers in lion costumes perform at a midnight Lunar New Year celebration in Chinatown.
Lion dancers at a Lunar New Year celebration in New York City.

In Guangzhou, China, crowds gathered to watch the lantern fair at Yuexiu Park.
A lantern fair at Yuexiu Park in Guangzhou, China.
In Manila, Philippines, a performer breathed fire during Lunar New Year celebrations in Binondo district.
Lunar New Year celebrations in Binondo district in Manila, Philippines.
In Kathmandu, Nepal, people gathered in the Thamel tourist district to watch folk artists perform a dragon dance.
Folk artists in Kathmandu, Nepal.
In Yangon, Myanmar, Chinese artists performed in a parade in Chinatown.
A parade of artists at Chinatown in Yangon, Myanmar.
In Kolkata, India, the Chinese community celebrated by taking to the streets, beating drums, and performing a dragon dance.
Lunar New Year celebrations in Kolkata, India.
In London’s Chinatown, some people strolled through the streets, taking in the festive decorations, while others were seen eating together.
Families eating food in Chinatown in London.
In Taipei, a couple shopped for traditional decor before the festivities began.
Traditional Lunar New Year decorations at a market in Taipei, Taiwan.
In Yokohama, Japan, people gathered and snapped photos during a lion dance performance at Mazu Miao Temple.
A lion dance at Mazu Miao Temple in Yokohama, Japan.
In Phnom Prasith, Cambodia, people prayed and burned incense for blessings.
People pray in Phnom Praseth outside Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a worker set up lantern decorations for the Lunar New Year celebrations.
Lantern decorations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
In Bangkok, lion dancers leaped onto poles during a performance on Khao San Road, a popular tourist spot.
Lion dancers at Khao San Road in Bangkok.
In Baiguo Village, China, a lady made red Ciba — a traditional rice cake dyed with red food coloring— before the Chinese Spring Festival.
A lady making red ciba, a traditional glutinous rice cake in Tongren, Guizhou Province of China.
In Melbourne, Australia, a lion and dragon dance was performed outside the Rod Laver Arena on day 14 of the 2025 Australian Open.
A lion and dragon dance performance outside the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia.
In Bangkok, a family photographed panda sculptures installed at a shopping mall to celebrate the Lunar New Year and mark the 50th anniversary of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations.
Panda sculptures at a shopping mall in Bangkok.
In Toronto, people gathered to watch the fireworks outside the Toronto City Hall.
Fireworks outside Toronto City Hall.
In South Tangerang, Indonesia, young figure skaters performed at a shopping mall.
Figure skaters at a shopping mall in South Tangerang, Indonesia.
In Hanoi, Vietnam, a woman and her granddaughter shopped at the Tet market.
The Tet market in Hanoi, Vietnam.
In Singapore, devotees visited the Leong Nam temple on the eve of the Lunar New Year to pray and welcome the god of wealth.
People at the Leong Nam temple in Singapore.
In Wuhu, China, families gathered to enjoy a hearty meal at the Nian Ye Fan, or reunion dinner, at a restaurant on the eve of the Lunar New Year.
A reunion dinner on the eve of Lunar New Year in Wuhu, China.
In Hong Kong, worshippers and actor Lana Wong Wai Lin, center, held toy snakes and burned incense at the Wong Tai Sin Temple to welcome the new Year of the Snake.
Famous Hong Kong actor Lana Wong Wai Lin at the Wong Tai Sin Temple.
In Havana, people welcomed the Lunar New Year by hosting a traditional dragon dance at a restaurant in Chinatown.
A Chinese dragon dance at a restaurant in Havana.
In Yuncheng, China, streets glowed with colorful lanterns as visitors strolled past them at Zhongxing National Mining Park in Shanxi Province.
Zhongxing National Mining Park in Yuncheng, China.

In Moscow, a trio of Chinese face-changing entertainers performed Bian Lian, a dramatic dance form in which performers change multiple masks.
Bian Lian performers in Moscow.
In Beijing, a woman wrote her wishes for the new year on a red cloth roll outside the Dongyue Temple.
A woman writes her wishes at the Dongyue Temple in Beijing.
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