Students and staff gathered on Streatham Campus today to mark Lunar New Year at the University of Exeter.
The Spring Festival event took place on Forum Street between 12pm and 2pm, celebrating the start of the lunar calendar and the Year of the Fire Horse.
According to the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse.
Red decorations lined the walkway, and student societies from across East and Southeast Asia hosted cultural stalls and performances.
The university has students from more than 140 nationalities.
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Sue O’Hara, one of the organisers, said the festival holds particular significance for many students.
“Spring Festival is a very important time in the year for many of our students. It is a time of renewal, a time of family, a time of celebration,” she said.
“Today what we are doing is bringing everyone together so they can show us what Spring Festival means to them, whether that's Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year, or any other New Year celebrations."
“The vision behind this year's event was about community and celebration.”
She said this year’s programme involved a wider range of societies than in previous years.
“This year's celebration is a bit different as it has a real breadth of students and societies that are here joining the celebrations."
"We've got Indonesia, Singapore, Burmese, K-pop, Filipino — the breadth of societies is fantastic,” she said.
“I think it's really important for the University of Exeter and other UK universities to celebrate these big cultural festivals."
"We have over 140 nationalities of students studying with us, so that means that we are a worldwide community.”
Live performances were held throughout the afternoon, including K-pop dance routines, musical performances and a traditional Tinikling dance by members of the Filipino Society.
Cultural stalls offered activities including Chinese calligraphy, knotwork crafts, paper cutting and writing New Year wishes. The Chinese Community Wellbeing Service attended, alongside societies including the Filipino Society, Mahjong Society, Singapore Society, Vietnamese Society, Indonesian Society and Burmese Society.
Nay Yi Yi Wint, from the Burmese Society, said: “Today we are joining in to celebrate the diversity we have on the campus.”
For some students, the event also provided an opportunity to mark the occasion away from home.
Win Let Let Thaw, also from the Burmese Society, said: “Spring Festival means a lot to me as I am half-Chinese and my family celebrate every year but because I am away from home, I haven't been able to celebrate with them in four years.
“So, having the Spring Festival at the University of Exeter feels like a home away from home.”
A pop-up food stall operated from late morning, selling vegetable spring rolls, gyoza, hot and sour soup and prawn crackers.
Attendees were encouraged to wear red, traditionally associated with good fortune during Lunar New Year.
Sophie Meadows, another organiser, said: “Spring Festival is really important to us at the University of Exeter, it allows all of our Asian societies to celebrate while also allowing them to educate other students.”
The celebrations are due to conclude this evening with a fireworks display at 6.45pm behind the XFI Building.
Temporary pedestrian restrictions are in place around East Park, Rennes Drive and the XFI area between 6.30pm and 7pm.
