The 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Lantern Carnival will officially open in Nansha, Guangzhou, on February 10, 2026, and run for a total of 90 days until May 10, the organizers announced recently.
This grand cultural event, covering a 53.8-hectare exhibition area, promises an immersive extravaganza featuring five thematic zones, hundreds of large-scale lantern installations, thousands of performances, and tens of thousands of exquisite lanterns. It will be integrated with traditional activities like Spring Flower Markets and intangible cultural heritage celebrations, showcasing a vibrant Lingnan-style Chinese New Year atmosphere.
The festival aims to deliver a multi-dimensional upgraded experience by extensively incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as VR interaction, digital projection mapping, and artificial intelligence. One highlight, the ecological symphony zone, will blend holographic projections with mist effects to create a surreal ecological wonderland. Enhanced by these technologies, scheduled drone fleet performances and a brand-new light show at the ancient Tianhou Palace complex will offer visitors a futuristic and immersive sensory journey.
The event bridges diverse sectors, notably deepening collaboration with the premier Chinese IP "Honor of Kings". Themed character parades and surprise interactive sessions will bring popular game heroes to life. Furthermore, the festival is introducing international cultural exchanges, including events like the "China-Kazakhstan Music Festival," turning Nansha's night sky into a stage for cultural dialogue.
Beyond the visual spectacle, the festival serves as a gateway to explore Nansha. Key visitor-friendly initiatives include:
Accommodation: Partnering with hotels and boutique bed and breakfasts to offer special lantern festival discounts, late check-out, and shuttle services.
Dining & shopping: Collaborating with over 120 food and beverage, retail, and tourism merchants to provide discounts with ticket stubs and distribute consumer dining vouchers.
Accessibility & support: A multi-department on-site command center will ensure safety, with medical points, police service stations, and volunteer posts established throughout the venue. Enhanced shuttle buses and dedicated battery-cars will provide seamless connections to the Nansha Passenger Port Station on Metro Line 4. The festival maintains inclusive pricing with discounts or free admission for seniors, students, and military veterans.
Integrated tourism: A special "Cruise + Lantern Festival" transport subsidy program (from January 1 to May 31, 2026) offers up to 100 yuan in subsidies for visitors combining a lantern festival trip with a cruise from Nansha port, promoting integrated land-and-sea tourism.
Visitor Information
Dates & hours: February 10 - May 10, 2026. Daily operation: 16:00 - 22:30 (subject to official announcements).
Entrances/ticketing: Coastal Park West Gate and Nansha Tianhou Palace Scenic Area.
Transportion
Metro: Take Line 4 to Nanheng Station or Nansha Passenger Port Station.
Bus: Routes Nansha K8, 4, 24, 3, etc.
Driving: Multiple official and external parking lots are available near the entrances.
Taxi/ride-hailing: Designated drop-off points will be arranged.
Official Channels: For the latest information on ticketing, program schedules, and detailed travel guides, follow the official accounts "大湾区灯会" on WeChat, Douyin, and Xiaohongshu, or "广州南沙发布".
Author | Jiang Chang
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Wei Shen, James Campion, Shen He
