FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The State’s Largest Celebration of Lunar New Year
Asian American Coalition of Chicago Announces the 43rd Annual
Lunar New Year Celebration “Asian + Americans” 2026
Time: 4:30 pm VIP Reception & 6:00 pm Program and Dinner
**MEDIA INVITED** (Parking Available)
Date: Saturday, February 28th, 2026
Location: Marriott Marquis Chicago-Great Lakes Ballroom (McCormick Place)
2121 S. Prairie Avenue
A Star-Studded Evening Celebrating Excellence Across Chicago’s Asian American Communities! Event highlights include a VIP reception, a Lion Dance, and performances for 1,000 guests! Emcees include former Chicago-based broadcaster Nancy Loo and NBC correspondent Brian Cheung.
(Chicago, IL) — The Asian American Coalition of Chicago (AACC) proudly announces its 43rd Annual Lunar New Year Celebration, to be held in 2026. This landmark event marks more than four decades of honoring leadership, service, and cultural excellence across Chicago’s diverse Asian American communities.
The 2026 celebration is slated to be a star-studded evening recognizing the who’s who of Chicago’s Asian American leaders, professionals, and youth. Each year, ten different Asian communities take turns serving as the host (Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Pakistani, Thai and Vietnamese). This year, Chicago’s Chinese Community proudly serves as the host committee, highlighting its rich cultural heritage and enduring contributions to the city, and welcoming the “Year of the Horse”. Former Chicago-based broadcaster Nancy Loo and NBC correspondent Brian Cheung will emcee.
This year’s event will be held at the Marriott Marquis Chicago – Great Lakes Ballroom (McCormick Place), located at 2121 S. Prairie Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. The program begins at 4:30 p.m. with a VIP reception. The VIP reception will feature acclaimed flutist Jennifer Zhang, whose elegant performances blend classical technique with contemporary and traditional Asian musical influences. Magician Shin Lim, from “America’s Got Talent,” will be attending the VIP reception as well.
Following dinner and the program, guests will view live performances, including the transitional Lion Dance and other Chinese cultural performances, as the evening goes on! The evening’s special guest is internationally acclaimed magician Shin Lim, featured on America’s Got Talent.
Organizers anticipate 1,000 guests attending this year’s celebration.
“The Asian American Coalition of Chicago is the oldest and largest pan-Asian American organization in Illinois. Our theme, “Asian + American,” celebrates the 250th Anniversary of America and the important contributions of Asian Americans in building and shaping our Country. We are excited to host this event, featuring beautiful cultural performances, drummers accompanying gorgeous Chinese Lion Dancers, and culminating in the magical artistry of performer Shim Lim. Everyone is invited to join us in celebrating the Year of the Horse and enjoy these events. We look forward to showcasing our community,” says Anne Shaw, President of Asian American Coalition of Chicago and Co-Chair of this year’s gala.
The evening will feature the presentation of AACC’s most prestigious honors, celebrating legendary impact and service:
The Pan Asian American Ping Tom Memorial Award will be presented to Dr. Manjeet Singh Chawla, a distinguished physician and philanthropist recognized for decades of compassionate healthcare service and generosity to underserved communities in Chicago and Southeast Asia.
The Grand Asian American Sandra Otaka Memorial Award will be awarded to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) for its transformative leadership since 1996 in advancing immigrant rights, shaping public policy, and providing critical services and protections for immigrant and refugee families across Illinois.
Exemplary Community Service Awardees
The Asian American Coalition of Chicago proudly honors the following individuals as Exemplary Community Service Awardees, recognizing their lifelong dedication, leadership, and profound impact on Chicago’s Asian American communities:
Jane Lau (Chinese) – Served 22 years as Community Outreach Representative for the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, leading Chinese-language election access and voter education under the Voting Rights Act and strengthening civic participation.
Jaime P. Dejuras (Filipino) – Principal of Dejuras Management Group, Inc., a family-owned business operating Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins locations across Chicago, creating economic opportunity and community investment.
Apinder (Vic) Singh (Indian) – Certified Illinois Assessing Officer and Permanent Board of Review Member for Lake County, recognized for integrity, leadership, and decades of public service.
Dr. Budi Kusnoto (Indonesian) – Orthodontist, educator, and founder of AllCare Orthodontic Center, providing affordable dental care and leading UIC outreach programs for underserved families.
Reverend Patti Nakai (Japanese) – Served nearly 30 years as a minister at the Buddhist Temple of Chicago, advancing interfaith dialogue and strengthening Japanese American and broader community engagement.
Dr. Sung W. Kim (Korean) – General surgeon for 38 years, performing over 10,000 surgeries and leading medical missions; continues service through Korean American civic organizations.
Wanis S. Shurts (Malaysian) – Malaysian-born cultural leader and former President of the Malaysian Association of Illinois, preserving heritage and strengthening community connections.
Dr. Teepu Siddique (Pakistani) – World-renowned neurologist and geneticist, identified the first ALS-causing gene and established Chicago’s largest ALS clinic.
James Limson (Thai) – Philanthropist and Thai American community leader, helping establish the Thai Community Center and expand access to cultural, medical, and educational resources.
Thomas Ngo, P.E. (Vietnamese) – Refugee-turned-successful civil engineer and entrepreneur, co-founder of Millennia Professional Services, mentoring youth and empowering the Vietnamese community.
Youth Who Excel Awardees
The Youth Who Excel Awards recognize outstanding young leaders who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, and a deep commitment to community service. The 2026 honorees are:
- Eric Chen (Chinese)
- Lauren Mendiola (Filipino)
- Ava Kaur Silverstein (Indian)
- Ellen Natalie Chua (Indonesian)
- Sofia Ozaki (Japanese)
- Crystal Yuri Park (Korean)
- Summer Christensen (Malaysian)
- Rahim Sattar (Pakistani)
- Prisara Chumsangsri (Thai)
- BaoMinh Ben Tran (Vietnamese)
The 43rd Annual Lunar New Year Celebration stands as a powerful testament to unity, resilience, and shared success—honoring legacy leaders while uplifting the next generation of Asian American changemakers in Chicago.
Dr. Karen Eng, Co-chair of the gala, declares,”I’m proud that this gala will bring our community together in celebration and shared purpose. It’s an opportunity to showcase the diversity that defines us as Americans while strengthening the connections that make our community vibrant and welcoming.”
For sponsorship opportunities, ticket information, or media inquiries, please contact the Asian American Coalition of Chicago at https://aacchicago.org.
Media Contact:
Arjumand Hashmi Khan, CBCAC
Media Relations
Phone: 773-616-0755
Email: h3mmediallc@gmail.com