The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival Returns, June 5

2026 Highlights

This Year’s Theme: Year of the Horse

The 2026 Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival is making noise for the Year of the Horse by symbolizing the energy, passion, freedom and transformation still fueling the city following February’s Lunar New Year celebrations.

Each one-of-a-kind, glowing lantern explores and celebrates the marquee events happening in support of America’s 250th birthday, as well as the global excitement stirred up by FIFA World Cup 26 and the MLB All-Star Game.

Additionally, the nine-week festival pays tribute to Franklin Square’s 20th birthday celebration, which kicked off on April 18, 2026. Look for surprise activations, including a daily scavenger hunt and free carousel rides, plus official merchandise for sale in the Cocktail Garden, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Historic Philadelphia, Inc.

  — Photo by J. Fusco for Tianyu

The Lanterns & Fountain Show

The massive, handcrafted lanterns are truly the stars of the show at the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival. This year’s celebration promises even more never-before-seen giant lantern displays than ever before: 1,100 individual creations in nearly 40 displays.

The light sculptures — steel frames wrapped in vibrant, hand-painted silk and illuminated by 15,000 twinkling LED lights — transport festivalgoers to magical worlds filled with radiant wildlife, sea animals, mythical creatures and jaw-dropping flora.

Alongside never-before-seen lanterns, the festival’s legendary 164-foot-long (the length of three school buses!) green dragon returns. Fun fact: It takes a 10-person work crew to install the dragon’s head, with the lantern’s overall weight coming in at a whopping 6,000 pounds!

  — Rendering courtesy Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival

Look out for nearly 40 soul-stirring illuminated displays, from historic events, like Happy Birthday, America and Philly Summer Soccer, to exotic wildlife, like Southeast Asia: A Radiant Rainforest and Red-Crusted Turacos, plus an 85-foot-long Tunnel of Champions designed to celebrate the global spirit of sports.

Arts & Culture Performances

This year, the Fountain Show at Franklin Square, splashing down in the 188-year-old Rendell Family Fountain, features a jaw-dropping show of choreographed lights and water as fountain jets dance rhythmically in tune with timed music.

  — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

Classic Philly music scores and current pop hits set a show-stopping scene, including Gonna Fly Now by Bill Conti and Motownphilly by Boyz II Men, in addition to an exclusive performance of Little Apple by Chopstick Brothers.

New for 2026: The Fountain Show comes alive with a new musical treat as Elton John’s smash hit Philadelphia Freedom blares from the park’s speakers in perfect choreographed bliss.

Also, out-of-the-box live cultural events happen every night. Sprinkled in with the magical fountain shows, these 30-minute performances are free with general admission. This year’s lineup includes the following can’t-miss shows:

• Face-Changing: Showcasing a 300-year-old Chinese art called Bianlian, performers change masks in the blink of an eye.
• Table-Foot Juggling: Grateful acrobats spin, toss and balance on a tiny table while keeping multiple balls in constant motion.
• Hat and Sticks Juggling: Another acrobatic endeavor, performers toss colorful hats and sticks high into the air — catching them with incredible speed.
• Head Balancing: Known as Dingji in Chinese folk acrobatics, this extraordinary show of concentration has performers balance large porcelain jars on their heads.
• Spacewalk: Artists mimic walking in space by creating the illusion of weightlessness on earth through gliding and spinning, highlighted by handstands.

  — Photo by J. Fusco for Tianyu

Food & Drink

Food vendors serving up both traditional Asian fare and classic American cuisine are on deck during the event.

Dining options range from the experiential to traditional as festivalgoers can choose their own adventure, including authentic Asian street foods, Asian fusion dumplings and classic American cookout fare from various food trucks and restaurants in the park:

• Sang Kee: Serving spicy Korean chicken buns, steamed pork dumplings, dan dan noodles and fried shrimp wontons, along with whole pineapple smoothies near the Magnolia Tunnel. Sang Kee’s mobile cart patrols the festival on weekends.
• Oishii: Fill up on chicken satay, beef bao and Korean meatballs, plus funnel cake and fried ice cream, at this beloved Chinatown eatery located on Butterfly Corridor.
• Humpty’s Dumplings: This suburban food truck brings Asian fusion dumplings, stuffed with buffalo chicken, cheesesteak and street corn, to the Cocktail Garden.
• SquareBurger: A perennial park favorite, SquareBurger draws lines for classic burgers, hot dogs, waffle fries and thick milkshakes — including the Semiquincentennial-themed Red, White and Blue Shake — from its space next to Rendell Family Fountain.

One highlight: a dumpling-making workshop with Sang Kee where chefs relay the history of dumplings and teach you how to make those delicate doughy treats. (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, at 7:15 p.m. and 9 p.m.)

For the 21-plus crowd, the Cocktail Garden pours an array of refreshing alcoholic beverages and canned cocktails, like Koi Krush, a hard pineapple-mango seltzer.

New for 2026: Chickie’s & Pete’s brings Chickie’s Tenders and Crabfries. Not far away, a cotton candy art stand churns out spun-sugar confections in the forms of pandas and Pikachus.

  — Photo by J. Fusco for Tianyu

Events, Activities & Shopping

Franklin Square favorites Philly Mini Golf and the Parx Liberty Carousel are also open during the Chinese Lantern Festival. Tickets for rounds of golf and rides around the carousel are available for purchase at a discounted rate, online or at the entrance.

Additionally, the festival brings families together for a slew of fun free daytime activities:

• Tai Chi in the Square: Participate in free tai chi classes with the Franklin Square Tai Chi Group on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
• Storytime in the Square: Join Ms. Chen from the Free Library of Philadelphia for free storytime and crafts near the Pavilion — every other Wednesday, June 10 through August 5, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Franklin Square Fountain Show: The dazzling choreographed lights and water show happens daily at the 188-year-old Rendell Family Fountain — every 30 minutes, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. until closing.

Also: On Saturday, July 25, 2026, Benjamin Franklin shows up with birthday cupcakes while the Parx Liberty Carousel offers buy-one-get-one tickets for National Carousel Day.

The festival also features a variety of vendors selling Chinese folk art — the perfect memento for your visit. Don’t forget: Check out the free daily Lantern Scavenger Hunt.

  — Photo by J. Fusco for Tianyu

Admission & Tickets

During the daytime, admission to Franklin Square is free to the public, as always, and festival lanterns are freely viewable (with a free scavenger hunt). At 5 p.m. daily, Franklin Square is cleared of guests and the park closes in preparation for the festival.

The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival begins at 6 p.m. sharp (accessible only from 7th Street), and tickets are required.

  — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

While tickets are often available for purchase at the festival entrance, sales may end when the park is at capacity — so advance tickets are strongly recommended.

Monday through Thursday: General admission tickets can be used anytime from festival opening to closing to the tune of $28 for adults, $16 for children (ages 3 to 12), and $25 for seniors and active military (with ID).

Fridays and Saturdays: To manage park capacity, timed tickets are required. They run $32 for adults, $16 for children (ages 3 to 12), and $29 for seniors and active military (with ID).

The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival Pass gets you unlimited entry to the event, anytime during its run for the second straight year. The unlimited pass costs $90 for adults (with ID) and $50 for children (ages 3 to 12).

  — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

Kids 2 years and under (accompanied by an adult) can enter the festival and join in on attractions free of charge any day.

Folks looking to experience everything Franklin Square Park has to offer can pick up discounted tickets to the Parx Liberty Carousel, Philly Mini-Golf or both.

For more information on the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival and to purchase tickets, click the button below.