Art on an Envelope: Our Top Picks for the Most Beautiful 2026 Year of the Horse Red Packets

Every Chinese New Year (CNY), brands, malls, hotels and organisations turn the humble ang bao into a canvas for storytelling, heritage and design.

This year, we received an especially impressive range of red packets that were so thoughtful and beautiful, they deserve to be admired beyond the festive season.

Here is our list of the most interesting ang bao designs we collected this year.

RSP Architects Planners & Engineers

RSP’s Year of the Horse ang bao draws inspiration from the expressive facade of Holiday Inn Express Clarke Quay which is designed and completed by the firm. The geometric texture mirrors the hotel’s articulated window system to reflect both beauty and performance. The RSP70 logo behind marks the firm’s 70th anniversary, while a surprise sky blue inner flap with auspicious greetings reveals a more playful side.

EFG Bank

EFG Bank’s red packet features an embossed golden horse mid leap against a rich red backdrop with plum blossoms. The design symbolises momentum, resilience and leadership, while the gold detailing adds depth and tactility that elevates the ang bao into a statement piece. This is so pretty you can open up a couple of them and use them as CNY decor pieces. They are among our favourites for 2026.

Geneco

Geneco’s ang bao is tied to its #WhereProsperityBlooms campaign, linking Lunar New Year with sustainability, conservation and education. Their red packets celebrate children as seeds of hope for a greener future with pop out floral motifs printed on 100% recycled paper. Beyond the packets, they are supporting the digitalisation of the Singapore Herbarium and have expanded their Used Red Packets Recycling Initiative to over 250 collection points islandwide.

Porsche Singapore

Porsche Singapore collaborated with a local artist to create an exclusive ang bao set inspired by the agile and energetic spirit of the horse. The result is a dynamic and premium design that feels both festive and unmistakably Porsche.

Starbucks Singapore

Starbucks Singapore opted for playful horses and colourful illustrations depicting family and couple togetherness, capturing the warmth and joy of reunion during the festive period.

Nespresso

Nespresso kept things simple and elegant with a refined patterned design. Minimalist yet festive, the ang bao reflects the brand’s sophisticated aesthetic.

Trust Bank

Inspired by the elegance of the horse, these packets blend style with sustainability. They feature Peranakan inspired patterns with velvety textured finishes in elegant blue and pink colourways. Crafted from sustainably sourced paper, they are exclusive to Trust Bank customers who spend S$88 or more in a single purchase.

Ascott

Ascott introduced a set of four ang baos inspired by the four seasons. Each packet carries a seasonal blessing and when placed side by side, they form a continuous artwork linked by flowing gold foil motifs that symbolise balance and the cyclical nature of time.

lyf Singapore

lyf Singapore embraced bright, colourful cartoon horses for a youthful and energetic design that aligns closely with its vibrant brand personality.

foodpanda

foodpanda featured its mascot Pau Pau with a lion dance head as the opening flap, creating a fun and interactive ang bao that ushers in luck with cuteness.

VivoCity

VivoCity’s ang bao uses neon like colours and a playful take on the word “Feng” in its Chinese name. Pulling out the inner envelope reveals a patterned display through the horse cutout, creating a modern yet festive visual effect.

TANGS

TANGS designed its ang bao so the front and back combine to form the iconic facade of its Orchard Road flagship store, a clever nod to its heritage.

Frasers Property

Frasers Property featured racing horses on clouds, combining traditional symbolism with a contemporary brand expression.

City Square Mall

City Square Mall collaborated with Paw Patrol for five adorable designs filled with dog themed cuteness that appeal strongly to families with young children.

nex

Similarly, nex has collaborated with LINE Friends mini for their red packets. The result is a set of charming designs that are bound to be a hit with fans of the popular characters.

Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford

To mark their 40th anniversary, the hotels reinterpreted their distinctive balcony architecture into a geometric motif. Subtle gold accents form the Chinese character for good fortune, while illuminated window details reflect warmth and hospitality.

Civil Service Club

Our favorite for its thoughtful execution, the Civil Service Club partnered with local creator Wang Shijia to feature Ang Ku Kueh Girl. This limited edition set includes all 12 Chinese zodiac animals reimagined through the character’s signature style, complete with her iconic bonnet and clever wordplay for each zodiac sign. It is a joyful celebration of local culture that links up perfectly when the 12 pieces are put together.

Cathay

Marking a special 80th anniversary milestone, Cathay has released a limited edition set that serves as a nostalgic nod to their most iconic cabin crew uniforms through the decades. It is a beautiful reflection of the airline’s evolution and its enduring connection with travellers across Asia.

Gardens by the Bay

taying true to what they do best, Gardens by the Bay has chosen to represent the beauty of flowers. Their colourful flowery designs are versatile enough to be used for all seasons and occasions throughout the year.

RISIS

RISIS makes great use of texture with a gradient gold sand finish on the envelope. The front depicts a “千里马” in a modern geometrical shape, symbolising the strength to go the distance in the year ahead.

Tiong Bahru Bakery

Featuring playful artwork in their signature brand style, Tiong Bahru Bakery keeps it simple with two designs. One features a classic festive pineapple while the other depicts a horse, both accompanied by playful fonts that match their quirky aesthetic.

UOL Malls

UOL Malls brings a heavy dose of nostalgia and fun by partnering with Sesame Street. Both kids and adults will adore seeing Elmo, Cookie Monster, and their friends featured on these festive packets.

Yeo’s

Yeo’s uses a clever play on words regarding the horse to bring in wishes for immediate luck, wealth, and prosperity. The inclusion of a pull out envelope adds a fun factor that makes receiving these packets a little more interactive.

LEICA

This classy design comes presented in a clean box. Each packet is shaped like a camera and features a dial on the side. Turning the dial reveals different elements through the shutter, ranging from auspicious characters to iconic LEICA motifs. It is a perfect showcase of interactive engineering and luxury aesthetics.

Samsonite

Samsonite delivers an elegant motif of two horses atop colourful plains under the theme “Gallop your Max”. The experience continues as the envelope opens to reveal even more vibrant, colourful plains inside, reflecting a sense of adventure and boundless potential for the new year.

Sentosa

Sentosa continues its meaningful collaboration with renowned Xinyao singer-composer Dr. Liang Wern Fook for their 2026 red packets. Dr. Liang has composed a contemporary bespoke poem inspired by the island’s connection to the elements, capturing Sentosa as a place where the heart finds calm and quiet joy unfolds in its own rhythm. The calligraphy and poetic lines add a profound layer of local artistry to the festive season.

OKX

For crypto traders and those in the digital finance or web3 sector, OKX has designed a fortune cat ang pao that is totally vibing for the community. The design is simple and elegant, featuring either a gold or silver fortune cat holding a BTC coin to usher in more wealth for the new year.

Ben & Jerry’s

To end on a sweet and cheery note, Ben & Jerry’s red packets feature a colourful horse and signature brand motifs, designed to spread festive cheer and a sense of fun to everyone who receives one.

    Overall, these ang baos show how a traditional festive item can become a powerful design object. From architecture and sustainability to pop culture and nostalgia, this year’s red packets carried not just blessings, but stories worth keeping! We look forward to compiling this list again in 2027!

    alvinology

    Alvin is a marketer by day and blogger by night. He is a 100% geek who spends too much time surfing the web.

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