Olympian Eileen Gu Leads San Francisco's Chinese New Year Parade

The annual celebration featured drums, dancing, and floats honoring the city's Chinese American community.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

San Francisco's annual Chinese New Year parade celebrated the Year of the Fire Horse on Saturday evening, with Olympic champion Eileen Gu serving as the grand marshal. The procession featured traditional Chinese cultural performances and drew thousands of revelers to cheer on the hometown hero.

Why it matters

The Chinese New Year parade is the oldest celebration of its kind outside of Asia and one of the largest in the United States, showcasing the vibrancy and cultural heritage of San Francisco's Chinese American community. Gu's participation as grand marshal highlighted her status as a local icon who represents the city's multicultural identity.

The details

The parade included drums, dancing, and floats celebrating Chinese culture. Children marched wearing inflatable horses, while lion dancers and martial artists waved to the crowd. Civic leaders and performers paraded from downtown to Chinatown through popping firecrackers. Gu appeared partway through the parade in a red dress, sitting in a red convertible adorned with flowers, a symbol of good fortune and prosperity for the Chinese holiday.

  • The parade took place on Saturday evening, March 8, 2026.
  • The parade celebrated the Year of the Fire Horse.

The players

Eileen Gu

An Olympic champion and hometown hero who served as the grand marshal of the parade.

Vanessa Chan

A resident of neighboring South San Francisco who described Gu as representing 'cultural infusion' and 'positivity.'

Megan Chin

A South San Francisco resident who said Gu was unfairly attacked for celebrating her Chinese heritage.

Calvin Lui

A parade attendee who brought his young son and said he loved Gu's representation of both her San Francisco roots and Chinese heritage.

William Gee

The parade organizer who said Gu was picked for the role before her success at the 2025 Milan-Cortino Winter Games.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“She's really wonderful. … She's funny, sunny, and she represents positivity.”

— Vanessa Chan

“When you're multicultural and you want to celebrate both heritages, it's great to be happy for someone if they want to celebrate their other heritage as well. I am proud of her.”

— Megan Chin

“That's her identity, both countries — so she gets the best of both worlds.”

— Calvin Lui

The takeaway

Eileen Gu's participation as grand marshal of San Francisco's Chinese New Year parade highlighted her status as a local icon who represents the city's multicultural identity and the vibrancy of its Chinese American community. The parade's long history and massive crowds underscored the importance of celebrating cultural heritage and diversity in the city.