Feb 2 - Mar 2
2026 Photo Contest
Welcome to the 7th Annual #TheLanternCity Photo Contest!
In some Asian cultures, there is a tradition of “visiting spring”, where people step outside to visit friends and relatives in a ritual to welcome spring’s arrival.
This February, we invite you to visit our 36 lanterns and use your creativity to show us The Lantern City through your eyes! Whether you’re a professional photographer, a photography lover, or a proud Vancourite, we welcome you to share how you see the city where diversity shines.
The best photo from each of the three categories will
- Win a Crispers Gift Basket + $150 LunarFest Granville Island Gift Voucher.
- Be featured on The Lantern City website.
Submission Deadline: Mar 2.
Winners announced on Mar 13.
* Exhibition dates vary by location.
Sponsored by
In partnership with
Sponsored by
In partnership with
CONTEST CATEGORIES
→ Lantern in Focus
This category highlights the lantern installation itself. Submissions should focus on the composition, lighting, and overall visual impact of the lanterns.
Entries for this category will be evaluated by a panel of judges from Busy Creatives.
→ Moments Under the Lanterns
Captures a creative expression of your favourite family or friends moment during Lunar New Year, photographed in front of the lantern display.
How to submit:
Post your photo on Instagram and tag us at @thelanterncity and @crisperscanada, and include the hashtag #thelanterncity
→ Feeling Hot
Show us something hot under the lanterns! This can include (but is not limited to) eating chilli, drinking hot chocolate, doing hot yoga, or dressing up “hot”.
How to submit:
Post your photo on Instagram and tag us at @thelanterncity and @crisperscanada, and include the hashtag #thelanterncity
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
- Visit the lantern display and take a photo inspired by one of the contest categories.
- Choose the category you’d like to enter. You may submit photos to multiple categories, as long as you follow the correct guidelines for each.
- Submit your photo based on the category:
- Lantern in Focus: Submit your photo through this link
- Moments Under the Lanterns and Feeling Hot: Post your photo on Instagram, tag us at @thelanterncity and @crisperscanada, and include the hashtag #thelanterncity
- Keep your instagram post available until winners are announced. Ensure your DMs are open—we will only contact you through the official @thelanterncity IG.
- Winners will be announced on Instagram and contacted on March 13.
RULES
Original Work Only
- All submitted photos must be original works taken by the participant.
- AI-generated images are not permitted.
Eligibility
- Photos must be taken at our The Lantern City lantern display locations.
- Entries must be submitted between February 2 and March 2 to be eligible.
- One photo = one entry. Limit to 3 entries per person.
Rights & Permissions
- Submissions must be submitted by the photographer or with the photographer’s permission. The prize is awarded to the photographer.
- Participants must own the rights to the submitted photo and obtain consent from any individuals appearing in the image.
- By entering a submission, you agree that you as a participant retains the right to your submitted photos, but The Lantern City / ACSEA reserves the right to use the submitted photos on all platforms for advertising and promotional purposes, with credit.
Category Requirements
- Submissions must clearly align with the selected contest category.
- Entries that do not meet category requirements may not be considered.
Winner Announcement
- Lantern in Focus winners will be contacted via email, and Moments Under the Lanterns and Feeling Hot winners will receive Instagram DM from our official account @thelanterncity.
- If a winner does not respond within three (3) business days, the prize will be forfeited and a new winner may be selected.
For any questions, please contact info@thelanterncity.ca
PRIZES
Each category will have three winners:
- First place: Crispers Gift Basket + $150 LunarFest Granville Island Gift Voucher
- Second place: $100 LunarFest Granville Island Gift Voucher
- Third place: $50 LunarFest Granville Island Gift Voucher
The Lantern City is grateful to be held on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). We acknowledge our privilege to be gathered on this land, and commit to work with and be respectful to the Indigenous peoples whose arts and stories inspire us to bring communities together.
