Galloping into the Year of the Horse, Lunar New Year 2026 travel is gathering speed.

According to Trip.com Group, bookings on its platforms have risen by double digits compared with the Lunar New Year period last year, as travellers lean into longer holidays and more ambitious festive travel.

Long-haul travel, packaged routes and premium choices are also redefining this year's Lunar New Year journeys.

Extended public holidays across Asia-Pacific markets are reshaping Lunar New Year travel behaviour, enabling longer stays and more layered itineraries.

In China, one of the largest traveller source markets, the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday spans nine days and can extend beyond 15 days by taking five days of annual leave. In Vietnam, combining public holidays with weekends allows travellers up to nine days off. Similar dynamics are seen in South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines, where taking two to three days of leave can extend breaks to nine days.

Trip.com Group data show long-haul bookings have surged by more than 50 per cent, pointing to travellers taking longer trips and venturing further afield during the festive period.

Australia is attracting the most travellers from China, recording an increase of more than 100 per cent year-on-year, with popular sights including the Sydney Opera House and outback landscapes.

As travel patterns evolve across destinations, choices around comfort and quality are also shifting. Besides travelling for longer, people are also travelling better — more are favouring premium ways to travel.
First-class flight bookings have risen 83 per cent year-on-year, while business-class travel has risen 38 per cent.

The trend is further mirrored in accommodation, where five-star hotel demand has climbed 59 per cent.

Lunar New Year boosts NSW visitor economy

Lunar New Year is expected to drive continued momentum in the NSW visitor economy following international expenditure reaching a record $14 billion in the year ending September 2025. The nation-leading result included Chinese visitor expenditure a record $5 billion—up 43.9 per cent year on year.

Total visitor expenditure in NSW reaching $59.4 billion during the period, up 7.3 per cent year-on-year. The result exceeded the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 phase one goal of $59 billion more than 12 months ahead of target.

Destination NSW held a pre-Lunar New Year celebration at the new Sydney Fish Market on 10 February with key travel agents and tour operators who represent and service the China, Hong Kong, Tawain, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia visitor markets.

The event included a tour of the venue and an opportunity to sample the seafood that makes NSW such an unforgettable dining destination.

The new Sydney Fish Market is set to be a major drawcard during Lunar New Year, hosting lion dances, Sydney Seafood School experiences, behind-the-scenes tours and family-friendly activities from 17 – 21 February 2026.