The 2026 Guangzhou Spring Festival Lantern Festival is confirmed to illuminate the city from January 30 to March 8, 2026, primarily at Yuexiu Park.
Organized by Yuexiu Park in collaboration with seven other major parks, this festival aims to authentically represent Guangzhou's Lingnan culture, openness, and vitality. It draws inspiration from the city's millennium-old tapestry of mountains, rivers, urban life, maritime heritage, and its legacy as a historic commercial capital.
Breaking from tradition, the event is driven by a dual core of "intangible cultural heritage lantern crafts and digital technology." It promises an immersive cultural journey through three innovative dimensions: immersive environments, progressive viewing, and diverse consumption, reviving the glory of Guangzhou as a hub of the Maritime Silk Road.
Top highlights to anticipate
1. Millennial heritage in light: A breathtaking 100-meter digital scroll will visually recount Guangzhou's 1,000-year history, showcasing its ancient urban landscape and prosperous maritime trade scenes.
2. XR immersive dome theater: A debut XR sensory dome theater will transform into a "boat under the dome," using 4K MR technology to present Cantonese culture in an innovative way, setting a new benchmark for urban festival experiences.
3. Interactive maritime spectacle: A 100-meter "Sails Upon Waves" installation alongside a floating flower market will recreate the bustling historic port. A replica lantern set of the ship Götheborg and costumed NPCs will bring the ancient Maritime Silk Road to life.
4. Lingnan culture immersion trail: Integrating physical lanterns, virtual projections, and live performances, this trail will guide visitors through key cultural epochs, from the Nanyue Kingdom to the prosperous trading era.
5. Day & night carnival mode: Daytime offers tactile cultural experiences, while nights feature upgraded immersive light narratives, ensuring continuous cultural engagement.
6. China-style anime gathering: A hotspot for young enthusiasts, featuring top IP lantern sets, cosplay parades, and hands-on intangible cultural heritage craft workshops.
7. Mythical dreamland: Abstract light sculptures of creatures from Shan Hai Jing (Classic of Mountains and Seas) will be hidden within Yuexiu Hill's landscape, offering a treasure-hunt adventure.
8. Ancient-trendy cultural market: A market blending cultural depth, immersive experiences, and commerce, offering cultural creative products, crafts, and food in an authentically styled environment.
9. Cinematic audiovisual feast: An immersive light show combining advanced projection and movie-quality sound will allow visitors to become part of a 360-degree sensory spectacle.
10. Seven-park collaboration: The coordinated efforts of eight parks will amplify festive vitality through diverse performances and activities across the city.
The 2026 Guangzhou Spring Festival Lantern Festival is positioned not merely as a display but as a profound cultural experience, inviting the world to explore Guangzhou's rich heritage through a spectacular fusion of tradition and cutting-edge technology.
Author | Jiang Chang
Photo | Yuexiu Park
Editor | Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
