Global Taste in Shanghai, a year-round celebration of international cuisine, has rolled out its Spring Festival Special, adding a festive highlight to the city's culinary calendar. The program was inaugurated on Feb 6 at The Bund City Hall Plaza in Huangpu district, with a three-day Global Chinese New Year Fair.

Structured around the Chinese New Year holiday, the Spring Festival Special unfolds in two stages, offering curated culinary experiences throughout Shanghai.

Stage 1: Global Flavors Reunion Banquet (Feb 14-23)

International restaurants across major shopping malls and popular dining streets will introduce special menus for reunion dinners and romantic celebrations.

Stage 2: Global Taste Carnival (Feb 24 – March 3)

This stage blends food with cultural and sports activities, creating a lively carnival atmosphere in well-known scenic and shopping areas.

At the launch event, Meituan released a Chinese New Year dining guide focusing on Spanish cuisine, highlighting 1,194 international restaurants with user ratings of 4.0 stars or above.

The 2026 Global Taste Selection Guide for Chinese New Year was also unveiled, recommending more than 1,050 set menus from over 512 restaurants.

Other platforms, including Bailian, Jinjiang International, and Douyin, joined the initiative with  exclusive Spring Festival promotions, expanding dining choices and discounts for consumers.

Five guest chefs and restaurateurs were invited to share recommended festive dishes from their home countries.

• The executive chef of Brownstone presented traditional Spanish seafood paella.
• The owner of Ragu Spuntino introduced a meat-filled egg cone, an ingenious take on Italian street food.
• The general manager of Swiss Butchery recommended Zurich-style veal, a traditional Swiss winter dish.
• The head chef of Sultan highlighted the mixed grill platter, a classic Turkish barbecue feast offering a variety of flavors in a single serving.
• The head chef of Borsh & Kompot recommended herring cake, a must-have New Year's dish from Russia.

Source: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce