How to spend Chinese New Year 2026 in Johor Bahru 

Chinese New Year in Johor Bahru offers a festive escape just across the Causeway, combining familiar traditions with a laidback Malaysian charm. From lion dances in shopping malls to reunion feasts that stretch late into the night, the city comes alive with colour, sound, and flavour. Whether you are visiting for a day trip or staying over the holidays, here is how to spend Chinese New Year in Johor Bahru in a way that feels both celebratory and unhurried.

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Iconic activities and locations to kickstart the festivities

1. Celebrate at the Chingay Parade

Step into one of Johor Bahru’s most iconic traditions at the Chingay Festival, a spectacular parade rooted in centuries of local culture. Organised by the Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple on Jalan Trus, the festival features elaborately adorned palanquins carrying five revered deities through the streets. This is accompanied by lion and dragon dances, flag bearers, and traditional music. The highlight is the night procession, typically held on the 21st day of the Chinese New Year. It is a culmination of a multi-day event that draws tens of thousands of spectators from across Malaysia and Singapore.

This is a city-wide celebration of faith, community, and unity. Locals and visitors alike gather early along key streets such as Jalan Wong Ah Fook to secure a good vantage point. Expect joyful crowds, lively street energy, and plenty of photo opportunities.

2. Feast on cultural classics

When hunger strikes between celebrations, Johor Bahru delivers some exemplary choices for lavish feasting.

At Canton-i Restaurant @ Johor Bahru City Square, the polished Cantonese menu, from dim sum to whole fish and roast classics, is ideal for a reunion lunch or dinner. The elegant atmosphere helps balance the bustling festival streets outside with a comforting, flavourful experience.

Just down the road, local favourite Restoran Ya Wang in 44 Jalan Segget offers homestyle Chinese dishes that hit the nostalgic spot. Think claypot rice, braised pork belly, and rich soups.

For a more casual yet deeply local flavour, D’Shanghai Dimsum at KSL City Mall offers dim sum favourites which are ideal for breakfast or brunch. Alternatively, Hong Kong Boy Restaurant in Johor Jaya is a beloved hawker-style spot for inexpensive local treats.

3. Explore Chinese New Year Markets and Bazaars

A big part of the Chinese New Year experience in Johor Bahru is shopping for treats, decorations, and goodies to bring luck into the new year. The Johor Jaya bazaar on Jalan Dedap 13 and 14 transforms the area into a carnival. This outdoor market fills with stalls selling everything from bak kwa and pineapple tarts to decorations, fresh fruit, and lucky red envelopes. 

Nearby, Johor Jaya Food Street springs to life in the evenings, where street food and local snacks add a delicious dimension to your shopping spree. Most stalls operate from early morning to late night, around 06:00 to 00:00.

If you’re after a comfortable, air‑conditioned Chinese New Year shopping experience, the Chinese New Year bazaar at Johor Bahru City Square in Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Bandar is an ideal destination. Every January into early February, the mall’s atrium and open spaces are transformed into a lively CNY fair that brings a celebratory buzz to this popular shopping complex. 

Many of these vendors also offer samples so you can taste a variety of treats as you explore. In addition to shopping, the event often features live cultural performances and stage activities suited for families and travellers alike, adding to the lively ambience without ever stepping outside into the heat or humidity.

4. Learn about local culture

When you need a break from the bustling parades and crowded markets, Johor Bahru offers several cultural stops that provide insight into the city’s rich heritage and history. A must-visit is the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum on Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, which delves into the story of Chinese settlement in the region. Open daily except Mondays from 9 am to 5 pm, the museum provides a quiet, reflective atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with the high-energy festivities outside. 

Walking through its carefully curated rooms, visitors encounter memorabilia that illustrate the struggles, triumphs, and community-building efforts of early Chinese immigrants. The museum paints a vivid picture of how Johor Bahru’s Chinese community shaped the city we see today.

In addition to permanent exhibits, the museum occasionally hosts cultural workshops and guided tours, giving visitors a hands-on experience of traditional crafts, calligraphy, or ceremonial practices. 

This combination of visual storytelling and interactive engagement makes it a perfect cultural pit stop, letting you pause, learn, and appreciate the deeper heritage that underpins Johor Bahru’s lively Chinese New Year celebrations.

5. Indulge in CNY desserts

No Chinese New Year celebration is complete without a sweet indulgence, and JB offers a delightful array of seasonal desserts that are as delicious as they are symbolic. Local bakeries and pastry shops, such as Lavender Bakery in Taman Sentosa, feature traditional treats like melon seed cookies, lotus seed cakes, and red bean pastries, each crafted to bring prosperity and luck in the new year.

For a more contemporary twist, Yi Jia Pastry House in Johor Jaya serves fresh pineapple tarts and sweet glutinous rice cakes with modern flavours, perfect for gifting or sharing with family.

Festive desserts are often beautifully packaged with zodiac or auspicious designs, making them ideal to enjoy on the spot or bring home as souvenirs. It’s a delicious way to soak in the season while experiencing Johor Bahru’s beloved Chinese New Year traditions.

6. Hunt for souvenirs and keepsakes

For a true taste of the season, Johor Bahru offers an array of shops and bazaars where visitors can immerse themselves in shopping. The city is filled with colourful stalls and stores offering red envelopes adorned with intricate designs, zodiac figurines representing the year’s animal, and traditional clothing such as cheongsams, traditional jackets, and embroidered accessories. 

Popular spots include Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru, which hosts a well-curated CNY fair with gift hampers, artisanal treats, and decorative items, KOMTAR JBCC, where themed stalls and live performances enhance the shopping experience, and Sunshine City Mall, known for its wide selection of home décor and trinkets. 

Shoppers can also find a wide range of festive décor, from lanterns and paper cuttings to couplets and zodiac figurines. These are perfect for adding a touch of prosperity at home. Whether at boutique stores or mall pop-ups, Johor Bahru offers plenty of options for Chinese New Year shopping.

7. Catch Chinese New Year decorations around town

One of the best ways to soak up the spirit of the Year of the Horse in Johor Bahru is simply to stroll through key districts and shopping centres. They’re usually all dressed up for the season! Johor Bahru City Square typically puts on lively Chinese New Year displays in its atrium and public spaces, complete with lanterns, floral arrangements, and themed décor that make great photo backdrops and help usher in good fortune. The past years have seen centrepieces and interactive elements installed near the main entrance and Level 1 space.

Meanwhile, Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru JB brings its own festive flair with large lantern installations, zodiac motifs, and decorative arches throughout the mall, creating an uplifting atmosphere for both visitors and shoppers. These indoor decorations usually go up from late January through the first weeks of the Chinese New Year period.

Beyond the malls, look out for seasonal lanterns and public light displays across major streets and pedestrian areas. They are often decorated with red lanterns and auspicious motifs in the lead-up to the Chinese New Year.

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Giddy up into the year of the horse

As Johor Bahru’s streets, malls, and temples light up with colour and tradition, it becomes lively to welcome the Year of the Horse. From lion dances and festive markets to celebratory meals and cultural stops, the celebrations blend heritage with modern city life.

Whether you’re enjoying pineapple tarts or snapping photos of lantern-lined streets, JB promises a New Year filled with energy and joy. Embrace the festive spirit and let the Year of the Horse lead you into new adventures and good fortune.