Get your tickets: Yuyuan Lantern Festival opens on Jan 26

english.shanghai.gov.cn| January 16, 2026

Yuyuan Garden Malls is adorned with festive decorations..jpg — Yuyuan Garden Malls is adorned with festive decorations. [Photo/Yuyuan Garden Malls]

The 2026 Yuyuan Lantern Festival will begin on Jan 26, bringing 36 nights of radiant spectacle and festive cheer. For the first time, this year's event expands to six distinct lantern zones, blending traditional craftsmanship with digital light art and interactive installations to create an immersive Chinese New Year experience.

1. Event information

When: Jan 26 to March 3

Where:

Yuyuan Garden folk art lantern zone (ticketed)
BFC fashion & trend lantern zone (free)
Gucheng Park lantern zone (free)
Middle Fangbang Road lantern zone (free)
Fuyou Road lantern zone (free)
The Bund lantern zone (free)

Map of the six lantern zones._副本.png — Map of the six lantern zones. [Photo/Yuyuan Garden Malls]

Highlights of the Yuyuan Garden folk art lantern zone

Horse-themed lantern art: Celebrating the Year of the Horse, this zone showcases traditional lantern craftsmanship enhanced with modern digital projections.
Giant interactive revolving lantern: This six-sided installation presents shifting festive scenes, inviting visitors to engage with a seamless fusion of classic technique and new technology.
Immersive themed displays: From dancing horses on Ninghui Road to celestial and mythological scenes on the Jiuqu Bridge, each area unfolds a distinct visual narrative.
Cultural collaborations: Custom lantern installations created in partnership with Luoyang Museum in Henan province's Luoyang city, Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House, and well-known brands blend heritage and contemporary creativity.

The 2026 Yuyuan Lantern Festival features horse-themed light installations..jpg — Horse-themed light installations at BFC fashion & trend lantern zone. [Photo/Yuyuan Garden Malls]

A series of couplets, created in collaboration with Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House, stands in harmony with the radiant lanterns all around..jpg — A series of couplets, created in collaboration with Shanghai Lexicographical Publishing House, stands in harmony with the surrounding radiant lanterns. [Photo/Yuyuan Garden Malls]

2. Ticket guide

Tickets will be available from Jan 19 to March 3. The festival will be closed on Chinese New Year's Eve (Feb 16), with no lights and no ticket sales available on that day.

Ticket price: Adult tickets are priced at 80 yuan ($11.47), while child tickets are priced at 50 yuan.

Ticket purchase: Available through "豫园商城 (Yuyuan Garden Malls)" WeChat service account and other major ticketing platforms

Ticket entry:

(1) Peak days: Fridays to Sundays, Chinese New Year holiday (Feb 17-23), and Lantern Festival (March 3)

Entry: 2 pm to 10 pm

(2) Regular days: All other dates

Entry: 4 pm to 10 pm

Source: Yuyuan Garden Malls