South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa is preparing to welcome the Year of the Horse with one of the most elaborate retail Lunar New Year programs in the United States, combining large scale art installations, luxury shopping promotions, family friendly activities and culinary collaborations across the destination.

Running from February 12 to March 1, 2026, the celebration turns the landmark shopping center into a seasonal cultural hub for Southern California residents and international visitors who want to mark the Lunar New Year in a setting that blends tradition and high fashion.

Lunar New Year 2026 celebration at South Coast Plaza's Jewel Court.

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Year Of The Horse Exhibit Takes Over Jewel Court

The centerpiece of South Coast Plaza’s 2026 Lunar New Year festivities is a new Year of the Horse exhibit in Jewel Court, the circular atrium at the heart of the center. Opening to the public at noon on February 12, the installation is designed as a dramatic sculptural tribute to the Horse, which in the Chinese zodiac is associated with energy, independence and forward momentum. It also incorporates the Fire element that defines the 2026 Fire Horse year, layering warm tones and dynamic forms into the design.

According to South Coast Plaza’s event information, the Jewel Court display uses abundant gold accents and saturated red, two colors deeply tied to prosperity and protection in Lunar New Year custom. Visitors can expect a richly detailed environment that invites photos from multiple angles and acts as a visual anchor for the broader campaign, much as previous years’ Ox, Rabbit and Dragon centerpieces have done. The installation is being presented as a free, open access experience during regular shopping center hours, making it a focal point not only for shoppers but for local families and cultural groups who treat the display as a seasonal tradition.

Jewel Court’s central role in the celebration also reflects the way South Coast Plaza has woven Lunar New Year into its identity over more than a decade. Past iterations have featured rotating sculptures, LED walls and symbolic motifs placed high above the concourse. For the Year of the Horse, planners are building on that track record with a design that emphasizes motion, auspicious symbolism and the fiery temperament associated with this specific zodiac year.

Immersive Shopping Promotions For The New Year

While the Year of the Horse exhibit provides the visual backdrop, South Coast Plaza is also using the festive period to roll out a slate of shopping driven promotions tailored to Lunar New Year guests. Among the most prominent is an exclusive gift with purchase, featuring a LIULI Crystal Art wine glass set and matching ice bucket available to shoppers who meet a qualifying minimum spend starting February 12. The limited edition premium gift continues the center’s longstanding relationship with the Taiwanese founded crystal art house, which has created custom zodiac pieces for previous years.

In addition to the crystal set, South Coast Plaza is promoting a broad range of Year of the Horse themed merchandise and capsule collections across its luxury and contemporary boutiques. While individual brands manage their own campaigns, the center coordinates messaging and decor so that visitors see Horse motifs, red and gold accents and Lunar New Year packaging in windows and visual merchandising throughout the property. Select boutiques are also distributing custom designed red envelopes, an element that has become a sought after collectible for many visitors.

The commercial focus is further amplified by an enter to win contest that offers luxury prizes, including an $800 shopping spree valid at South Coast Plaza retailers. Guests can submit entries during the promotional window for the chance to win gift cards and products from participating boutiques and restaurants. The contest format mirrors similar offerings from prior zodiac years and is positioned as an added incentive for visitors making multi store itineraries around the center.

Beyond high end retail, organizers have built a program of accessible family activities designed to introduce younger visitors to Lunar New Year traditions. At Carousel Court, another major hub within the complex, children’s lantern crafts will be available on weekends from noon to 5 p.m., while supplies last. The activity centers on exclusive Year of the Horse paper lantern kits that children can assemble and decorate on site or take home.

The lantern experience is aligned with cultural customs that see families illuminating homes and public spaces as a symbol of hope and good fortune. By adapting that tradition into a hands on craft, South Coast Plaza gives parents and caregivers a way to turn a shopping visit into an educational outing. Staff members and facilitators are on hand to interpret the symbolic meaning of the colors and motifs included in the kits, making the activity a bridge between play and cultural learning.

These family offerings are part of a larger effort to position the Costa Mesa center as a gathering place during Lunar New Year rather than simply a shopping stop. In previous years, that approach has included cultural performances and community group collaborations. For 2026, planners are emphasizing visual installations and creative participation, making the space comfortable for multigenerational groups who may spend several hours moving between the exhibit, crafts tables and restaurants.

Culinary Experiences And Cultural Partnerships

Food is central to Lunar New Year observances across Asia and the diaspora, and South Coast Plaza’s restaurant collection is again being woven into the seasonal programming. Dining specials tied to the Year of the Horse are being promoted across a variety of concepts, from upscale tasting menus to casual family style options. Many participating establishments are expected to highlight traditional ingredients associated with luck and longevity, while also offering festive packaging for take out orders.

Special menus and limited time dishes allow chefs to interpret holiday themes in their own culinary language. Past Lunar New Year programs at the center have included multi course banquets, seafood focused menus symbolizing abundance and dessert assortments in auspicious red and gold. For 2026, marketing materials point to an emphasis on celebratory presentations that lend themselves to group dining and shared photos, reflecting the increasingly social media driven way many guests document their visits.

The culinary narrative also extends beyond the mall itself through South Coast Plaza’s proximity to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. On February 21, the Pacific Symphony will host its annual Lunar New Year Celebration, beginning with a gourmet dinner in Jewel Court before guests proceed to the concert hall for a performance that includes artists representing Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese traditions. The dinner component situates the Horse centerpiece at the heart of a high profile cultural event, reinforcing the link between the retail environment and the region’s broader arts scene.

Regional Context: A West Coast Hub For Lunar New Year

South Coast Plaza’s 2026 program arrives as Lunar New Year observances continue to expand across California, which recognizes the holiday as a state observance and is home to the country’s largest Asian American population. Retail centers from San Francisco to the Los Angeles suburbs now schedule parades, lion dances and family workshops around the mid February date that marks the start of the Fire Horse year. In that context, Costa Mesa’s flagship mall has worked to distinguish itself with scale and continuity.

For more than a decade, the center has invested in elaborate zodiac themed installations, large gift with purchase campaigns and bilingual marketing that targets both local residents and international visitors, particularly from East Asia. Executives describe the Lunar New Year period as one of the most important seasons on the calendar, rivaling the winter holidays in terms of foot traffic and cross category sales. By positioning its Year of the Horse exhibit as a destination in its own right, the center aims to capture visitors who might otherwise split their time among various Orange County venues.

The mall’s location near John Wayne Airport and coastal resorts further enhances its role as a gateway for travelers seeking Lunar New Year experiences in Southern California without venturing into crowded street festivals. Shuttle services, concierge support and multilingual staff make it an appealing first stop for overseas guests arriving in the region for family reunions or holiday vacations. As 2026 tourism patterns continue to normalize, South Coast Plaza’s Lunar New Year offerings are expected to benefit from renewed international travel flows.

Planning Your Visit To The Year Of The Horse Exhibit

The Year of the Horse celebration runs from February 12 through March 1, 2026, aligning with the traditional 15 day Lunar New Year period. South Coast Plaza’s regular operating hours apply, which generally span from morning to evening, giving visitors flexibility to schedule a stop before or after other commitments. The Jewel Court exhibit is free to access and can be viewed without participating in any shopping promotions.

Guests interested in the LIULI gift with purchase or the enter to win contest should be prepared to track same day receipts and confirm qualifying amounts and categories with concierge staff. Because many of the promotional items are limited in quantity, early in the season visits tend to offer the best availability. Limited edition red envelopes at select boutiques also typically run out before the end of the promotion period, particularly those from high profile luxury houses.

Families planning to take part in children’s lantern crafts at Carousel Court may want to target weekend afternoons when the activity tables are scheduled to operate. As kits are offered while supplies last, arriving earlier in the day is likely to improve the chances of participation. Parking is available in multiple structures surrounding the center, and visitors can choose entrances closest to Jewel Court or Carousel Court depending on their priorities.

FAQ

Q1. When does South Coast Plaza’s Year of the Horse celebration take place?
The Lunar New Year program is scheduled from February 12 to March 1, 2026, with the Year of the Horse centerpiece and related promotions active throughout that period.

Q2. Where is the main Year of the Horse exhibit located inside the center?
The primary installation is in Jewel Court, a central atrium within South Coast Plaza that serves as the focal point for seasonal displays and special events.

Q3. Is there a fee to see the Year of the Horse exhibit?
No, admission to the Jewel Court centerpiece is free, and visitors can view and photograph the display during standard shopping center hours.

Q4. What time does the Jewel Court exhibit open on the first day?
The Year of the Horse centerpiece is scheduled to open to the public at noon on Thursday, February 12, 2026.

Q5. How do shoppers qualify for the LIULI Crystal Art gift with purchase?
Guests must meet a specified minimum in same day purchases from participating South Coast Plaza boutiques and restaurants starting February 12, after which they can redeem receipts for the limited edition LIULI Crystal Art wine glass set and ice bucket while supplies last.

Q6. Are there activities specifically for children and families?
Yes, children’s lantern crafts featuring exclusive Year of the Horse paper lantern kits are planned at Carousel Court on weekends from noon to 5 p.m., as long as supplies last.

Q7. Will there be special Lunar New Year menus at the restaurants?
Several South Coast Plaza restaurants are expected to offer dining specials and themed menus tied to the Year of the Horse, with dishes and presentations inspired by traditional Lunar New Year foods.

Q8. Can visitors obtain traditional red envelopes during the celebration?
Select boutiques at South Coast Plaza are preparing limited edition Year of the Horse red envelopes for customers, often tied to purchases or in store events, though availability and designs vary by brand.

Q9. Is public transportation or nearby cultural programming available for visitors?
South Coast Plaza is served by regional transit and is located adjacent to major cultural venues such as the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, which will host complementary Lunar New Year programming during the same period.

Q10. Do travelers need to make reservations to participate in the Lunar New Year activities?
Most on site experiences, including viewing the exhibit and joining children’s crafts, do not require reservations, but guests planning fine dining meals or attending the Pacific Symphony’s Lunar New Year Celebration should secure restaurant bookings and concert tickets in advance.