The Togather Chinatown Arts Festival kicks off Lunar New Year
By Gabriel Manabo on February 8, 2026
The third annual Togather Chinatown Arts Festival took place Feb. 7-8 at Pacific Mall in the heart of Chinatown to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year with a free, family-friendly indoor event.
With lion dances, live performances, food and an art market featuring local artists, the two-day event aims to bring families and the community closer together during Lunar New Year while serving as a bridge between Chinatown and the broader arts community in the city.
“The name ‘Togather’ is a Mandarin saying, loosely translated from ‘不见不散,’ which means ‘don’t leave until we meet.’ It reflects the theme of these markets — multiculturalism rooted in a specific place, centred on meeting, friendship and accountability,” said Emily Chu, lead organizer and artist with the festival.
The festival offers an alternate perspective of Chinatown as a vibrant meeting place filled with community care and collaboration.
“The amount of activity and engagement happening in Chinatown shows this is a vibrant place once again. The vibrancy we saw four or five years ago is here, and festivals like this continue to showcase why Chinatown is such an incredible place to visit,” said Andrew Knack, mayor of Edmonton.
The past two festivals welcomed more than 2,100 guests each.