Austin’s family calendar gets its first true cultural highlight of the year with Lunar New Year celebrations across multiple Austin Public Library branches. With events running from mid‑January through late February, families have an unusually long window to participate in hands‑on crafts, traditional performances, and authentic cultural experiences celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse, with details continuing to roll out on the official APL events calendar.

Below is everything parents need to know—including dates, branches, activities, and key insider intel gathered from current public information and verified local event coverage.

ESSENTIAL EVENT DETAILS

• Lunar New Year begins Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (confirmed by APL and broader Smithsonian‑backed Lunar New Year background resources).
• APL branches are hosting celebrations from January 18 through late February, with ongoing updates on the Austin Public Library events portal.
• Events include lion & dragon dances, diabolo (Chinese yo‑yo) shows, cultural craft stations, dance parties, and more, many of which are called out in local roundups like CultureMap Austin’s Lunar New Year celebrations guide.

CONFIRMED BRANCH EVENTS

• Cepeda Branch: Diabolo Chinese Yo‑Yo performance, highlighted in CultureMap’s coverage of Austin Lunar New Year events.

• Southeast & Twin Oaks Branches: Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team, with appearances confirmed across the general APL events calendar and recent CultureMap listings.

• Milwood Branch: Kids Create paper snake craft, part of the branch’s family‑friendly creative programming like the Kids Create: Lunar New Year beaded bracelets/paper snake session.

• Yarborough Branch: Family Lunar New Year dance party, also mentioned in local Lunar New Year event roundups.

• Spicewood Springs Branch: Lunar New Year Celebration with Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2:00–3:30 PM, as listed on APL’s Spicewood Springs Lunar New Year event page.

• Terrazas Branch: Color, Music and Motion Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, Jan. 22, 10:30 AM–2 PM—one of the few extended, multi‑activity blocks, reflected in APL’s similar multi‑hour youth celebration listings and guides like ATXtoday’s Lunar New Year overview.

• Howson Branch: The Crafty Adult: Lunar New Year, part of Howson’s adult‑focused maker programming, which you can browse via the Howson Branch events calendar.

Note: Additional branch programming is expected but not yet fully published across APL’s event pages. Keep an eye on both the Austin Public Library events calendar and the broader City of Austin events portal as new celebrations are added.

INSIDER INTELLIGENCE (What Locals Should Know)

• Performances featuring the Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team fill up early—arrive 20–30 minutes before start time, especially at popular branches like Spicewood Springs and Southeast, which are already flagged in local Lunar New Year guides.

• Terrazas’ January 22 event is one of the only all‑morning, multi‑activity celebrations, ideal for younger kids who need flexible timing; this aligns with the branch’s history of extended family programs noted in citywide event roundups.

• Craft‑heavy branches (Milwood and Howson) tend to release limited supplies per session, so early arrival matters—especially for special‑edition projects like the Milwood Kids Create Lunar New Year craft session.

• Parking varies dramatically by branch; Southeast, Spicewood Springs, and Milwood have the most stress‑free lots. Cepeda and Terrazas may require street parking or a short walk, similar to other dense‑neighborhood destinations covered in our guide to Austin’s hidden parks and nature escapes.

• Some branches occasionally require free RSVP for craft events—check the official Austin Public Library listing before going to avoid disappointment.

RECOMMENDED INTERNAL READS FOR PARENTS

If you’re building out a full season of kid‑friendly and culture‑forward outings, these guides pair well with APL’s Lunar New Year circuit:

• Inside Zilker Holiday Tree 2025: Austin’s Last Big Family Tradition of the Season – A deep dive into Austin’s classic end‑of‑year family gathering spot.

• Inside Austin’s Hidden Parks of 2025: The Insider Guide to the City’s Secret Nature Escapes – Perfect for low‑cost outdoor time before or after library events.

• Inside Oddwood Brewing’s Pet-Friendly Trivia Night: The Insider Guide to Austin’s Most Laid‑Back Weekly Social Scene – A relaxed option for parents looking for an easy weeknight outing.

• Inside Shen Yun Austin 2026: The Insider Guide to the Long Center’s Biggest Cultural Event of the Weekend – Another marquee cultural event if you’re leaning into a full Lunar New Year–themed weekend.

For families wanting to go beyond the library and explore community‑wide festivities, you can also look at broader cultural events like the Chinese Society of Austin’s Lunar New Year celebration, which often complement APL’s free programming.

Austin Public Library’s 2026 Lunar New Year celebrations offer one of the most accessible, educational, and free cultural experiences families can enjoy this season. With events spread across the city for more than a month, parents have more flexibility than ever to pick the branch—and the activity—that best fits their schedule, then round out the experience with other city traditions from holiday light rituals to major performing arts highlights like Shen Yun.