Mid-autumn festival: Mooncakes, lanterns and a sky full of celebrations

People view lanterns made by community residents during a lantern festival to celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival on September 19, 2026 in Beijing, China.

25 September 2026

Glowing lanterns, delicious food and a bright full moon are lighting up celebrations in China and around the world.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is an important celebration in Chinese culture. It brings families and friends together to celebrate the harvest, which is when crops are gathered from fields.

People display colourful lanterns and share round mooncakes, which represent families staying close and united.

In 2026, the festival takes place on Friday 25 September.

Explore our gallery to see some of the celebrations.

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A child plays with bubbles in front of a toy stall selling items ahead of the mid-autumn festival in Hanoi's old quarter in Vietnam
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The International Lantern Festival takes place in Victoria Park to celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in Hong Kong
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Giant pandas Ying Ying and De De, and Jia Jia enjoy a special Mid-Autumn Festival meal consisting of mooncakes and fruits at Hong Kong Ocean Park
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Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns of bunnies lighting up the night at Taipa Central Park in Macao, a special administrative region of China
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People shop for fruit at a market in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province of China. The market sees a surge of sales as the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches
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A local bakery displays landmark-themed mooncakes featuring designs of Harbin Railway Station, a ferris wheel and a giant snowman in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province of China
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Drones form patterns in the sky during a Mid-Autumn Festival-themed performance in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province of China. The event is held at the Binjiang Happy Stage on the south bank of the Yangtze River
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People pose for photographs beside lit-up float displays as they celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hanoi in Vietnam
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Folk artists perform a fish lantern parade in Chengkan ancient village in Huangshan, Anhui Province of China

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