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Westwood Today
By the People, for the People
Panda Express Celebrates Lunar New Year with Virtual Festivities
The fast-casual chain partners with Lofi Girl, Fortnite, and Spotify for its Year of the Horse celebration.
Published on Feb. 17, 2026
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Panda Express is going all-in on virtual celebrations for Lunar New Year 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse. The Rosemead-based chain is offering a digital scratcher game, a new animated short film starring Lofi Girl, a Fortnite Creative experience, and a dedicated Spotify playlist to mark the occasion.
Why it matters
Lunar New Year is a major holiday for Panda Express, one of the largest Asian-American restaurant brands in the U.S. By embracing digital and gaming platforms, the chain is finding innovative ways to engage customers and celebrate the traditions of the holiday.
The details
Panda Express' Lunar New Year promotions include a digital scratcher game with prizes up to $888, a new animated short film 'Wishes' featuring the Lofi Girl character, a Fortnite Creative experience called 'Drive City' that showcases the New Year's celebration, and a dedicated Spotify playlist. The chain is also hosting a Lofi-themed event at one of its Los Angeles locations.
- Lunar New Year, the Year of the Fire Horse, begins on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
The players
Panda Express
A major American fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in American Chinese cuisine, headquartered in Rosemead, California.
Lofi Girl
A brand character for the popular French YouTube music channel Lofi Girl, which features lo-fi hip hop music.
Fortnite
A popular online video game developed by Epic Games, known for its battle royale mode.
Spotify
A major music streaming service that allows users to access millions of songs, podcasts, and other audio content.
The takeaway
Panda Express is embracing digital platforms and pop culture partnerships to bring the traditions of Lunar New Year to a new generation of customers, demonstrating the brand's ability to evolve and stay relevant in a rapidly changing consumer landscape.
