Yuyuan Lantern Festival to open on Jan 26

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

The much-anticipated 2026 Yuyuan Lantern Festival is set to illuminate Shanghai from Jan 26 to March 3, offering 36 nights of vibrant festivities.

This year, the festival expands into six distinct lantern zones, seamlessly blending traditional Chinese craftsmanship with cutting-edge digital light art and interactive installations.

Visitors can explore a variety of zones, including the ticketed Yuyuan Garden folk art lantern zone, and five free zones: BFC fashion & trend, Gucheng Park, Middle Fangbang Road, Fuyou Road, and The Bund.

Each zone promises unique experiences, with highlights such as horse-themed lanterns celebrating the Year of the Horse, a giant interactive revolving lantern, and immersive displays featuring celestial and mythological scenes.

Tickets, available from Jan 19, can be purchased through the Yuyuan Garden Malls WeChat service account and other major platforms.

Map of the six lantern zones. [Photo/Yuyuan Garden Malls]

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 surrounding radiant lanterns. [Photo/Yuyuan Garden Malls]

[Photo/WeChat ID: shhuangpu]