Celebrate Chinese New Year at The Peninsula Chicago

As Asia’s oldest continually operating hotel brand, The Peninsula Hotels worldwide will celebrate Chinese heritage and ring in the Year of the Horse. The Peninsula Chicago is pleased to present inspiring initiatives and special décor throughout the holiday, along with music, food and activities on the most auspicious date of the year, February 17, 2026. The hotel offers guests a variety of experiences during the Lunar New Year designed to create memories, including the traditional lion dance, and authentic dining delights from Chinese New Year Afternoon Tea, a special holiday menu at Shanghai Terrace and for the second time, a Chinese New Year Sunday Brunch.

Celebrate the Year of the Horse at Shanghai Terrace

At Shanghai Terrace from Wednesday, February 18 through Sunday, February 22, 2026, guests can indulge in a six-course Chinese menu of authentic favorites. The menu features a Shanghai Terrace appetizer trio, followed by golden shrimp appetizer, sweet chili Chilean sea bass, traditional chicken ball, beef tenderloin in spicy oyster sauce and for dessert white chocolate mousse. This menu is priced at US$ 168 per person, excluding tax and gratuity and is offered in addition to the regular á la carte menu. Guests will receive the traditional red packet as a parting gift. Reservations may be made via OpenTable.

Auspicious Traditional Lion Dances to Start a New Year

On Saturday, February 21, 2026, a traditional lion dance will commence at 3:00 pm at The Peninsula Chicago’s front entrance amid a joyful atmosphere, while loud drumbeats and strong cymbal crashes scare away evil spirits. The lion troupe will then make its way down the gallery on the hotel’s main fifth floor lobby, weaving through the tables in The Lobby during Afternoon Tea at approximately 3:15 pm. A child will be invited to “feed” lettuce to the lion, representing good luck for the coming year. On Sunday, February 22, the Lion Dance will take place during the second annual Chinese New Year Day Brunch at 1:00 pm and at 4:00 pm during Chinese Afternoon Tea in The Lobby.

Special Chinese New Year Afternoon Tea 

A special Chinese New Year Afternoon Tea will be served at 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm in The Lobby on Friday and Saturday, February 20 and 21, 2026 and at 3:30 pm on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The menu features distinctively festive flavors including traditional Chinese fare with entertainment provided by a string duo. On Saturday, February 21 attendees will witness the annual Lion Dance in The Lobby at 3:00 pm and at 4:00 pm on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The Chinese New Year Afternoon Tea is available for US$ 150 for adults, including a glass of Champagne; and US$ 85 for children ages five to 12, excluding tax and gratuity. Guests will receive the traditional red packet as a parting gift. Reservations for Chinese New Year Afternoon Tea may be made via TOCK.  

Bring in the Lunar New Year at the Annual Chinese New Year Brunch

Food plays a key role in Chinese culture, and no less so than at Chinese New Year. Last year, The Peninsula Chicago started a new tradition with an annual Chinese New Year Sunday Brunch. The brunch is a curated Chinese menu of buffet items featuring dim sum, Peking duck, a variety of entrées, and a dessert buffet. Shanghai Terrace signature entrée items include Hong Kong beef tenderloin, sweet & sour prawns, kung pao chicken, Shanghai fried noodles, new year fried rice, and jade vegetables. Steamed halibut will be served table-side. Chinese New Year Sunday Brunch will take place on Sunday, February 22, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm and is priced at US$ 188, and US$ 78 for children ages five to 12, plus tax and gratuity. The Lion Dance will take place at 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm in The Lobby. A string duo provides the entertainment.  Reservations may be made via TOCK.

Chinese Calligrapher during New Year Brunch and Afternoon Tea on Sunday, February 22

Lunar New Year Brunch and Afternoon Tea attendees are invited to stop by the Chinese Calligrapher table, located adjacent to The Lobby, to have their name written in Chinese to commemorate the holiday.

Holiday Décor to Bring Fortune and Luck

The Peninsula Chicago will be adorned with red lanterns and festive décor throughout the hotel. The color red represents joy and luck in Chinese culture, and so the hotel’s facade will be illuminated in red, adding to the spirit of the season. The Lobby will be decked with red flowers and tangerine trees, representing good fortune. Guest rooms will also feature festive customs, including a red packet containing a chocolate coin placed in all guest rooms on Monday, February 16, 2026. Traditionally, Chinese customs are to place a red packet with lucky money underneath the pillow on the eve of the New Year to wish for a healthy and prosperous year.

To make reservations or for more information, please call direct at +1 (312) 337 2888, toll-free at +1 (866) 288 8889, visit peninsula.com/chicago or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected].  Some experiences may only be booked via OpenTable or TOCK. Terms and conditions apply.