Austin Chinese Culture Festival 2026

The Austin Chinese Culture Festival returns to the AISD Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 26, from 12 PM to 7 PM. It's a free community celebration that opens with a lion dance and runs through the afternoon with live Chinese music, dance, opera, and martial arts, alongside multicultural performances. Between the stages, there are interactive art and cultural exhibits, community booths, and family-friendly games.

This year's festival coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional celebration of family, harvest, and mooncakes. That adds a specific seasonal layer to the day, and you'll find authentic Chinese and Asian foods on hand to go with it. The festival is open to all ages, so it works as a family outing as much as a solo afternoon.

It's one of several seasonal celebrations of Chinese and Asian cultures the city puts on throughout the year, alongside Lunar New Year and the Diwali Festival of Lights. If you've been to those, this sits in the same family—a broad look at the culture rather than a single performance. The lion dance kicks things off, and from there the music, dance, opera, and martial arts run through the afternoon, with the exhibits and food available throughout.

Admission is free, and all ages are welcome. It runs from 12 PM to 7 PM at the AISD Performing Arts Center, 1500 Barbara Jordan Blvd, Austin, TX 78723.