Lunar Laneway at Whitehart kicks off 17 February with a week-long celebration of modern Asian culture all in on Melbourne laneway.
Lunar New Year is a gargantuan celebration. In 2026, the Year of the Horse gallops in; symbolising energy, wisdom and bright futures. Lunar Laneway arrives to usher in the new year with a distinctly modern Asian flavour, blending pulsating beats and immersive experiences with some of Melbourne’s favourite chefs.
Curated by Naliita Tohch of Third Culture Club, the program celebrates the sounds of the Asian diaspora, from Tokyo to Bangkok, Seoul to Manila and beyond. Expect performances, projections, lion dances and a stack of collaborations, all designed to bring communities together in celebration.
Lunar Laneway at Whitehart – Melbourne
- Tuesday 17 February to Sunday 22 February, 12pm til late
- Whitehart, Whitehart Lane, Melbourne
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Food sits at the absolute essence of Asian culture, so Lunar Laneway couldn’t ring in the new year without hosting a few pop-ups with talented chef friends. These Trot & Taste takeovers are ticketed and strictly limited.
Serai x Lagoon Dining brings together Chef Ross Magnaye from Serai and Chef Keat Lee from Lagoon Dining for a one-off Malaysian x Filipino street food feast. Expect a relaxed Sunday lunch featuring selat lumpia, pancit canton sanga and raw beef with sambal vinaigrette.
Pop-up king Steve Chan brings Sleepy’s to the lane for a specialised dinner, with highlights including shepherd’s purse dumplings, cumin lamb skewers and Hong Kong-style curry fishballs.
Bar specials include Asian-inspired cocktails and beers, plus one very special auspicious collaboration between Kariton Sorbetes and Whitehart. There’s also a red packet giveaway with lucky dip prizes from Serai, Moondrop and more.
Programming runs from Tuesday to Sunday with different vibes each night. UNTAMED: Horse Nights kicks things off on Tuesday with DJs Kamome, Akane, Esther and Tanjai. Wednesday sees a house takeover from Third Culture Club featuring DJs KIMO, NALIITA & DINAH, and CANDICE.
Inner Sanctuary takes over Thursday with DJs JNETT, Jimmy James, Colette and Chris Ng. Friday brings Mansa & Friends plus a lion dance performance. Saturday’s Fortune & Fads is a queer night hosted by Tong 桐 with a drag performance by Gloss the Queen, DJs Hanju, LXY and Freddy Frank, plus the Kariton Sorbetes ice cream cart pop-up.
Sunday wraps everything up with Sala Sunday — featuring the Kariton Sorbetes ice cream cart pop-up, Whitehart Lane Market, live music and DJs, the Trot & Taste Serai x Lagoon Dining lunch, Moondrop bar takeover, karaoke by Askal, and the Trot & Taste Sleepy’s dinner.
Lunar Laneway runs for six days from 17-22 February at Whitehart, bringing warm, groove-driven celebration to Melbourne’s laneways for the Year of the Horse.
For more information, head here.
