Year of the Horse

Chinese New Year 2026 begins on 17 February. London hosts major Lunar New Year events on 21–22 February across Chinatown, Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square, marking the Year of the Horse.

Chinese New Year 2026: when the Year of the Horse begins, what Lunar New Year means and how it is marked in London

Draco Malfoy has gone viral in China after a linguistic twist in the Mandarin version of his name turned the Harry Potter character into an unofficial Chinese New Year symbol for the Year of the Horse.

Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter becomes Chinese New Year mascot in China after name wordplay