Greater Bay Area Lantern Carnival 2026 will officially light up on February 10, 2026, and continue through May 10 in Nansha. Spanning 90 days from the Spring Festival to early summer, the carnival returns to Guangzhou’s southern coastline with a large-scale cultural celebration.

Nansha Flower Goddess Effect Illustration.

Illustrations of "Joyful Celebration", "Happy Harmony", and the effect of a giant legendary turtle.

Guided by provincial and municipal publicity and cultural tourism authorities and hosted by Guangzhou Nansha, the 2026 Greater Bay Area Lantern Carnival continues the tradition of the previous edition while delivering a comprehensive upgrade in scale and immersion. The event will take place across Nansha Tianhou Palace Scenic Area and Coastal Park, covering 800 mu of exhibition space with five themed zones, hundreds of large lantern installations, thousands of performances, and tens of thousands of decorative lights.

Rendering of the main entrance to the lantern festival.

Compared with the inaugural edition, this year’s carnival introduces advanced technologies such as VR interaction, digital projection, artificial intelligence, holographic lighting, and drone formations, creating a more futuristic and multi-dimensional light-and-shadow experience. Highlights include upgraded ecological-themed zones, large-scale drone shows, and a newly designed architectural lighting display across the Tianhou Palace complex.

Jointly draw renderings of the bay area.

Li Bai's illustration of the effect of gazing at the moon.

Throughout the 90-day exhibition period, visitors can enjoy a constantly refreshed program featuring themed performances, lantern light shows, drone displays, New Year markets, e-sports events, and animation activities. A newly introduced track-based sightseeing train and redesigned touring routes offer a more relaxed and seamless way to explore the carnival.

Schematic diagram of the special light show at Tianhou Temple.

Illustration of the effect of everything reviving.

Illustrated diagram of the light-filled miniature train.

The 2026 Greater Bay Area Lantern Carnival also pioneers a “Day + Night” experience model. By day, visitors can explore the surrounding coastline and cultural attractions; by night, they can immerse themselves in the illuminated lantern world and signature nighttime light shows, completing a full-day cultural journey in Nansha.

Information

Date : 10.Feb–10.May.2026

Opening Hours : 16:00–22:30 (Daily, subject to official updates)

Address : Nansha Tianhou Palace Scenic Area & Coastal Park, Nansha District, Guangzhou, China

Ticket s: Not on sale yet. Follow us for ticket info and the latest updates on the Greater Bay Area Lantern Carnival.

Source references: Guangzhou Municipal Government Information Office, Greater Bay Area Lantern Festival Information Office, etc.