POP Mart Chinese New Year 2026: The Golden Gallop Series

Photo Credits: Lifestyle Asia

The anticipation surrounding POP Mart Chinese New Year celebrations has reached fever pitch as collectors and enthusiasts across Asia prepare for one of the most exciting launches of the year. As we enter the Year of the Horse, POP Mart has unveiled an extraordinarily ambitious celebration that transcends traditional toy releases, transforming major destinations into immersive experiences that honour both collectible culture and zodiac traditions.

Understanding the Year of the Horse

Before delving into POP Mart Chinese New Year offerings, it’s worth understanding the cultural significance of the Year of the Horse within Chinese zodiacs. The Horse represents the seventh position in the twelve-year zodiac cycle and carries profound symbolic meaning in Chinese culture. Historically, horses were among the most valued animals in ancient Chinese society, representing power, speed, and success. The phrase “馬到成功” (swift horse achieving success) encapsulates the optimistic energy associated with this zodiac sign.

People born in the Year of the Horse are traditionally believed to embody characteristics including diligence, friendliness, sophistication, talent, and independence. The animal itself symbolises vitality, perseverance, and dynamic energy—qualities that resonate deeply throughout Chinese New Year celebrations. For 2026, this cultural foundation provides the perfect backdrop for POP Mart’s ambitious seasonal campaign.

The Golden Gallop Series: A New Standard for Holiday Collectibles

POP Mart Chinese New Year initiatives have evolved significantly over recent years, but the Golden Gallop Series represents a watershed moment for the brand. Launching strategically in early January to build momentum through Lunar New Year on 17 February 2026, this collection features an unprecedented reimagining of twelve beloved characters. Each figure has been specially designed to incorporate zodiac-inspired aesthetics whilst maintaining the distinctive artistic identities that collectors recognise and treasure.

The twelve characters featured in the Golden Gallop Series include Labubu, Baby Molly, Skullpanda, Dimoo, Hirono, Twinkle Twinkle, Pucky, Hacipupu, Chaka, Zsiga, Nyota, and Tinytiny. What distinguishes this particular POP Mart Chinese New Year collection is the meticulous attention paid to cultural authenticity. Each character appears in festive horse-themed variations, many adorned in traditional Chinese garments and complementary zodiac elements. Additionally, collectors report that special colour variants and secret editions exist within this series, maintaining the appeal of the blind box format that has become synonymous with POP Mart’s global success.

The Blind Box Experience: Unboxing Meets Collectible Culture

The blind box format remains central to POP Mart’s appeal, and the Chinese New Year release maintains this tradition whilst introducing enhanced packaging that references traditional lantern designs. Each box is priced at approximately SGD $15.90 across most major markets, positioning the collection as accessible luxury for collectors of all experience levels.

The blind box mechanism operates on a simple principle: purchasers receive a sealed box containing one random figure from the series without prior knowledge of its contents. This element of surprise has driven remarkable consumer engagement, creating what researchers refer to as “artificial scarcity”—a psychological dynamic that encourages repeated purchases as collectors attempt to acquire complete sets or elusive secret variants. For POP Mart Chinese New Year releases, this dynamic becomes particularly pronounced, as collectors view zodiac-specific editions as limited-time acquisitions with inherent cultural and collectible significance.

Immersive Installations and Interactive Experiences

Beyond retail availability, POP Mart Chinese New Year celebrations have evolved into multisensory brand experiences. Major installations at destinations such as Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore showcase larger-than-life character sculptures positioned throughout sprawling resort environments. These installations serve dual purposes: they function as Instagram-worthy focal points for contemporary collectors whilst simultaneously recreating the experiential brand engagement that distinguishes POP Mart from conventional toy retailers.

The interactive passport journey available at these installations represents an innovative gamification layer. Visitors collect commemorative stamps at twelve designated stations across thematically organised zones. Upon completion of the passport journey, collectors redeem exclusive sticker sheets featuring all twelve characters in Golden Gallop Series attire. This mechanic transforms a passive shopping experience into an active, location-based quest, encouraging extended engagement with both the brand and the destination itself.

Complementary Collections: The Have a Good Run Series

Recognising diverse collector preferences, POP Mart Chinese New Year 2026 extends beyond vinyl figures. The “Have a Good Run” series introduces plush pendant iterations of popular characters including Labubu, Dimoo, Hirono, Skullpanda, Twinkle Twinkle, Crybaby, and Baby Molly. These softer collectibles present an alternative format for those preferring tactile, huggable companions to traditional figurines. The festive packaging incorporates lantern motifs and warm colour palettes, reinforcing thematic cohesion across the entire POP Mart Chinese New Year campaign.

Collector Strategies and Rarity Considerations

The secondary market for POP Mart Chinese New Year releases has become increasingly sophisticated. Seasoned collectors recognise that early acquisitions during initial launch windows typically command premium valuations. Furthermore, secret variants—randomly inserted rare figures within standard blind box runs—carry disproportionate collector interest. Within the Golden Gallop Series, the presence of confirmed secret editions has already generated substantial collector speculation and trading activity across international platforms.

Serious collectors pursuing complete sets frequently adopt multi-market purchasing strategies, acquiring boxes across Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, and other regional distribution centres. This approach maximises the statistical probability of obtaining rare variants whilst diversifying supply sources. Full unboxed sets, acquired through specialist retailers, provide an alternative for collectors prioritising completion over the unboxing experience itself.

The Broader Significance of Zodiac-Themed Releases

POP Mart’s strategic focus on zodiac-aligned seasonal releases reflects deeper understanding of collector psychology and cultural relevance. By anchoring collections to lunar calendar events and zodiac symbolism, the brand elevates collectibles beyond recreational acquisition into cultural participation. For diaspora communities and international markets, POP Mart Chinese New Year campaigns provide touchstones to heritage celebrations, infusing modern collectible culture with ancestral significance.

The Golden Gallop Series represents the culmination of this strategy. By committing substantial creative and logistical resources to zodiac-specific character reimaginings, immersive installations, and interactive experiences, POP Mart demonstrates confidence in the commercial and cultural durability of its brand positioning.

Where to Acquire Golden Gallop Series Collectibles

Availability varies by region, with pop-up stores across major shopping destinations in Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, and other Asian markets offering dedicated POP Mart Chinese New Year retail experiences. Official online platforms and authorised retailers provide accessible purchase channels for those unable to visit physical locations. Collectors should verify authenticity through official channels, as the brand’s popularity has unfortunately generated counterfeit product concerns.

Looking Forward

As 2026 progresses toward Lunar New Year, the Golden Gallop Series is positioned to become one of the year’s most sought-after collectible releases. Whether driven by zodiac affinity, character familiarity, or collector completion instincts, demand for POP Mart Chinese New Year offerings is expected to remain robust throughout the celebration period. For those considering entry into collectible culture, the Chinese New Year timing presents an opportune moment to begin a collection with cultural significance and artistic merit.

The convergence of POP Mart’s collector enthusiasm, Chinese cultural traditions, and immersive retail experiences has created something genuinely distinctive: collectibles that function simultaneously as art objects, cultural artefacts, and investment commodities. The POP Mart Chinese New Year Golden Gallop Series exemplifies this multifaceted appeal, making it worthy of consideration regardless of your relationship with collectible culture.