A bridge between Venice and China: our Chinese New Year 2026 at Teatro Toniolo

Education means creating spaces for encounter. It means safeguarding our own roots while, at the same time, learning to welcome those of others.

This year, that spirit became sound, colour, and movement at the Teatro Toniolo in Venice Mestre. As Carnival filled the city with masks and celebration, inside the theatre another festivity unfolded: Chinese New Year 2026, marking the beginning of the Year of the Horse.

The initiative was organised by Evergreen, our partner dedicated to offering educational and cultural afterschool activities focused on Chinese language and culture. On stage were the students who attend these Chinese language courses: children who, week after week, explore not only vocabulary and grammar, but stories, symbols, and traditions that carry centuries of meaning.

Chinese New Year is far more than the start of a calendar cycle. It is a celebration of renewal, family, gratitude, and hope: a moment when homes are filled with red and gold, when wishes for prosperity and happiness are shared, and when communities gather to mark a new beginning. In 2026, the Year of the Horse brings with it symbolism of energy, determination, and forward momentum; qualities that resonated powerfully with the spirit of our young performers.

The celebration opened with the Lion Dance in a burst of colour and drumbeats, echoing through the theatre with its traditional promise of good fortune and protection. Accompanied live by “Yuan Ri,” the performance transformed the stage into a meeting point between East and West. Outside, Carnival celebrates identity through masks and spectacle; inside, Chinese New Year honours heritage through movement, music, and shared ritual. Together, they created a joyful harmony. Two festive traditions, equally vibrant, speaking to one another.

The PYP3, PYP4, and PYP5 students (Nando, Achille, Chloe, Ezabella, Nicolò, and David) embraced this experience with determination and team spirit, demonstrating how an international education translates into listening skills, respect, and responsibility toward the cultures one chooses to represent.

One voice, many cultures

When all the performers joined their voices in the traditional songs “新年好” (Happy New Year) and “恭喜恭喜” (Wishing You Prosperity) the theatre filled with warmth, rhythm, and celebration. A reminder that even the most rooted traditions gain strength when they are shared.

The audience felt this authentic energy: not a folkloric display, but a genuine exchange experience, capable of bringing Venetian Carnival, symbol of local identity and history, into dialogue with one of the most significant celebrations of Chinese culture.

Educating for the world

At H-FARM International School, we believe that international education is not only about learning different languages, but about learning to see the world with curiosity and respect. It means preserving one’s own traditions while opening them up to sharing, so that they may become a shared heritage.

The stage of the Teatro Toniolo thus became a space for growth: artistic, personal, and cultural. Our students experienced what it means to represent a tradition with responsibility and pride, while at the same time offering it to others as a gift.

Our heartfelt thanks go to the young performers, their families, and the teachers who made this extraordinary opportunity for exchange possible.

For us, this is the deepest meaning of school: building bridges, nurturing respect, and transforming differences into opportunities for connection.

And when traditions travel and intertwine, the future becomes richer, more aware, and more human.