This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our small business.
Dalian’s event calendar centres on summer, with the International Beer Festival filling Xinghai Square for three weeks and a string of food, fashion, and sporting events running from May to October. Most events are free to enter and happen outdoors, so the mild September to October weather described in the best time to visit Dalian guide is the best time to catch several at once. This calendar sits inside the broader Dalian travel guide.
Dalian Events and Festivals: The Beer Festival
The Dalian International Beer Festival runs for about 20 days from late July into August at Xinghai Square, with more than a dozen brewery tents from China, Germany, and elsewhere, live music, and street food. Entry is free; beer and food are paid by the cup and plate, with a large beer running CNY 30 to 50. Evenings are crowded, and the square sits on Metro Line 1. If you plan to stay nearby, book through the where to stay in Dalian page early, since hotels fill up.
Dalian Events and Festivals: Fashion and Culture
The Dalian International Fashion Festival opens in early September with runway shows, a design expo, and street parades, most centred on Xinghai Square and the convention centre. It is the city’s most formal event and draws buyers and media from across northeast Asia. Most exhibition halls are open to the public with tickets of CNY 50 to 100. The dates shift slightly each year, so check locally. It is a natural pairing with the cooler weather noted in the Dalian weather by month article.
Dalian Events and Festivals: Spring and Sporting Events
The Dalian International Marathon and the International Walking Festival both fall in May, when temperatures sit at a comfortable 20°C (68°F). The marathon starts on the waterfront, and the walking festival sends tens of thousands of residents along Binhai Road. Registration is free or low-cost for the walking event and opens weeks in advance. These are the best months to combine an event with the outdoor things to do in Dalian on the coast.
Dalian Events and Festivals: Cherry Blossom and Food Festivals
The Lushun Cherry Festival runs through June, when the orchards around the old port open for picking, with buses and special trains added from the city. The Golden Pebble Beach International Beach Festival runs in July and August with sand sculpture and music on the sand at Jinshitan. Both are family-oriented and cheap, with entry under CNY 50. They spread visitors across the districts covered in the Dalian neighborhoods guide.
Dalian Events and Festivals: Month-by-Month Calendar
- January and February: Chinese New Year temple fairs and fireworks, dates move with the lunar calendar.
- May: International Walking Festival and Dalian International Marathon.
- June: Lushun Cherry Festival, and the start of beach season.
- July to August: Dalian International Beer Festival, Golden Pebble Beach International Beach Festival.
- September: Dalian International Fashion Festival.
- October: National Day fireworks and autumn foliage along the coastal hills.
For transport, tipping, and airport details to reach any of these events, read the Dalian travel tips article.
