CMG’s 2026 Spring Festival Gala Begins, Welcomes Year of Horse

The 2026 Spring Festival Gala, China’s biggest annual televised celebration hosted by China Media Group (CMG), began at 8:00 PM on Monday (Beijing Time), on the eve of Chinese New Year. The gala is broadcast as families across China gather to welcome the Year of the Horse at midnight.

The long-running program features a carefully selected lineup of performances, including songs, dances, operas, comedy sketches, magic shows, and creative fusion acts. This year’s show focused on reflecting the spirit of modern China and presenting the country’s cultural beauty through a mix of traditional and modern performances.

According to China Central Television (CCTV), the main stage was set in Beijing, along with four sub-venues in different parts of the country. These include Harbin in northeast China, widely known as the “ice city,” Yiwu in east China’s Zhejiang Province, often called “the world’s supermarket,” Hefei in Anhui Province, which has become a major hub for science and technology innovation, and Yibin in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, known for its ancient architecture and scenic views along the Yangtze River.

The practice of setting up multiple venues for the Spring Festival Gala began in 2016. Each sub-venue adds its own local cultural style and visuals, creating a nationwide celebration that highlights China’s diverse traditions and landscapes.

The 2026 Chinese New Year marks the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. The gala’s theme this year is “Galloping Steed, Onward Unstoppable.” The horse, seen as a symbol of progress, self-improvement, and moving forward, was heavily used in the gala’s stage design and creative presentation.

A major highlight this year is the debut of CMG’s new artificial intelligence-generated content (AIGC) real-scene special effects technology. The new technology was introduced as part of the show to display China’s latest progress in innovation and advanced media production.

The Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional holiday for Chinese people. Watching the Spring Festival Gala, also called “Chunwan,” remains one of the most popular traditions in hundreds of millions of households.

The program was first broadcast in 1983 and has become a key part of Chinese New Year celebrations. It is recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s most-watched annual television program. The Spring Festival itself was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2024.