Google Gemini Launches AI Music Creator for Lunar New Year 2026

Alvin Lang Feb 27, 2026 17:49

Google's Gemini app now generates personalized 30-second musical tracks with Lyria 3 AI for Year of the Fire Horse celebrations across Asia.

Google has rolled out a limited-time feature in its Gemini app that lets users generate personalized 30-second musical tracks to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse—the first such alignment in the Chinese zodiac since 1966.

The feature, powered by Google's newly released Lyria 3 model, transforms text prompts into high-fidelity audio complete with custom cover art. Users input a recipient's name, personal message, and details about their personality, then select from genres including Mandopop-Trap, Classical pop, R&B, Jazz, and Thai Luk Thung.

Limited Regional Availability

The discovery banner appears for Gemini app users in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, and Mongolia. The feature runs until March 3, coinciding with the traditional Lantern Festival that closes out Lunar New Year celebrations.

Users outside these regions can still access the experience by pasting a specific prompt directly into Gemini. Once generated, tracks export to WhatsApp, WeChat, KakaoTalk, and iMessage with a single tap.

Why the Fire Horse Matters

The Fire Horse year carries unusual cultural weight. This zodiac combination—Fire element plus Horse animal sign—occurs only once every 60 years. The previous Fire Horse year in 1966 coincided with the start of China's Cultural Revolution, and historically these years are associated with periods of upheaval and radical change.

In Japan, the 1966 Fire Horse year saw a notable dip in birth rates due to superstitions about women born under this sign having "fiery and uncontrollable temperaments." Whether similar cultural anxieties emerge in 2026 remains to be seen, though modern attitudes have generally softened toward such beliefs.

Google's AI Music Ambitions

The Lunar New Year feature serves as a consumer-facing showcase for Lyria 3's capabilities. Google hasn't disclosed whether the model will see broader commercial applications, but the timing suggests the company wants real-world testing data from millions of potential users across Asia's largest markets.

For those tracking AI development in creative applications, Gemini's music generation represents another front in the competition between Google, OpenAI, and specialized startups like Suno and Udio. The Year of the Fire Horse promotion runs through March 3.

• google
• gemini
• ai music
• lyria 3
• lunar new year