Students and colleagues at the University of Westminster came together to celebrate Lunar New Year through an evening of performances, workshops and shared cultural experiences. The celebration formed part of the World in Westminster series and reflected the University’s commitment to student-led cultural initiatives that bring communities together.
The event, hosted on 18 February at the University’s Regents Campus, saw student volunteers play a central role in delivering the festivities, supporting with stage coordination, hosting, photography and creative design, demonstrating the strength of peer leadership within Westminster’s international community.
The evening, which celebrated the Year of the Horse, opened with traditional Chinese music, setting a reflective and festive tone. Performances in Fyvie Hall blended heritage with contemporary expression, including a guzheng performance titled Drunken Beijing, a pipa solo which blended the Yi ethnic dance melody with Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, showcasing a fusion of Chinese and Western musical traditions. There was also a Wei Jin-inspired Hanfu fashion show, which transformed the space into a living gallery of classical Chinese aesthetics.
The calligraphy and lantern-making workshops invited participants to actively engage with Lunar New Year traditions, transforming the celebration into an interactive cultural exchange. Participants at the calligraphy workshop explored traditional brush techniques and understood the symbolism of New Year blessings.
The celebration was made possible through the collective support of the University of Westminster, where equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives continue to create opportunities for students and colleagues to lead meaningful cultural moments and strengthen community connections across the University.
Professor Dibyesh Anand, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement and Employability at the University, said: “As a global university, we are immensely proud of our diverse community of students and colleagues and make use of every opportunity to celebrate together. We celebrated Lunar New Year in the most vibrant and colourful manner possible as part of our World in Westminster series. We are hopeful that the celebration provided a feeling of home away from home to many of our international students and colleagues from cultures where Lunar New Year is significant as well as an opportunity for those from other cultures to know about the occasion. I wish everyone Xin nian kuai le/Sun nin fai lok/Happy New Year!”
Edgar Chi Wang Lee, International Student Engagement Officer at the University, added: “This year’s celebration felt especially meaningful as it showed what can happen when students and colleagues come together to create something as one community. It has been a great honour to work alongside the Chinese Food and Culture Society. Their passion, professionalism and commitment shaped a celebration that truly reflected the spirit of our students. Moments like this remind us that Westminster is not only a place of study but a place where people can find a home away from home. I hope this celebration sparks even wider collaboration across the University, where student-led ideas continue to grow and where culture, learning and belonging come together.”
President of the Chinese Food and Culture Society Jia Bei added: “As an international student myself, I understand how meaningful it is to see your culture recognised in a new country. But more importantly, this event is not only for Chinese students - it is for everyone. It is about building belonging through understanding and shared experience. We established this society last October, and I hope it can serve as a bridge for Chinese students to feel more connected to the University, while also creating opportunities for intercultural exchange.”
Yifei Xie, a Global Media MA student, said: “It was my great honour to present the beauty of traditional Chinese attire and classical grace at the University’s 2026 Chinese New Year Gala through a Wei-Jin style Hanfu fashion show accompanied by a fan performance. The event brought a strong sense of festivity and belonging to us far away from home and enabled students from various backgrounds to appreciate the charm of Chinese culture up close. I am grateful to the University for building such a warm and inclusive platform for international students. May this cross-cultural beauty and blessing stay with us in the new year.”
This event directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, 10: Reduced Inequalities and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Find out more about upcoming equality, diversity and inclusion events at the University of Westminster.
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