Eileen Gu named grand marshal of San Francisco Lunar New Year Parade

Olympian Eileen Gu will serve as grand marshal of San Francisco's 2026 Lunar New Year Parade, organizers said; the parade is scheduled for March 7 and is part of a series of Chinatown events running February through March.

Eileen Gu will serve as grand marshal of San Francisco's 2026 Lunar New Year Parade, organizers announced. The parade will honor the Year of the Horse. The San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce and parade organizers released highlights of the festival. Lunar New Year's Day falls on February 17 and the parade is scheduled for March 7. Event details: - Eileen Gu is a San Francisco native and a freestyle skier for the Chinese Olympic Team who won two gold medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics and is slated to compete in the 2026 Games. - Organizers said last year's celebration drew over one million visitors and described the parade as the largest celebration of its kind outside Asia. - Lunar New Year's Day is Feb 17; the main parade is set for March 7. - Related events listed by organizers include the Flower Market Fair (Feb 14–15), Choy Sun Doy Day (Feb 17), Basketball Jamboree (Feb 28), Miss Chinatown USA (March 6), and a Community Street Fair (March 7–8). - Organizers said the festivities aim to foster "Chi" — positive energy — and support prosperity for local small businesses. Summary: The announcement highlights a series of cultural events in San Francisco's Chinatown and downtown corridor across February and March, with the parade as a focal point on March 7. The festival is presented by the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce and organizers as a celebration of community contributions and local businesses.