A Stunning Showcase at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala by China Media Group
17 February 2026
On Monday evening, China Media Group 2026 Spring Festival Gala arrived as scheduled. Centered on the theme of "Joy and Auspiciousness, Festive and Cheerful," it presented a grand Chinese New Year celebration to global audiences, blending cultural depth, technological innovation and international flair, accompanying everyone through the Chinese New Year.
Martial arts robots dazzle at 2026 Spring Festival Gala
Tradition meets technology in a stunning showcase at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala by China Media Group. This year's gala features robots performing synchronized martial arts routines alongside children, highlighting a bold fusion of heritage and high-tech innovation.
Preliminary statistics indicate that as of midnight on February 16, the Spring Festival Gala’s omnichannel live broadcast reached a cumulative audience of 677 million users. Its overseas influence continued to expand, with the gala broadcast on nearly 4,000 international media outlets – a 37.95-percent year-on-year increase.
Dance: Ancient rhythm of the Silk Road
Through magnificent music and dazzling dance, the program brings millennium-old murals to life on stage, recreating the vibrant charm of the ancient Silk Road.
Dance: Auspicious Rain
"Auspicious Rain" is a dance program inspired by the gentle rains of spring. Delicate adornments echo a soft drizzle, evoking the season's tenderness, freshness and quiet vitality.
The gala deeply rooted itself in Chinese traditional culture. Through magnificent music and dazzling dance, the dance "Ancient Rhythm of the Silk Road" brings millennium-old murals to life on stage, recreating the vibrant charm of the ancient Silk Road. The opera segment brought together Peking Opera, Yue Opera and other genres, with four generations – sharing the stage to showcase the inheritance of opera art.
The futuristic tech vibe was a major highlight of this year’s gala. Humanoid robots took the stage once again. This year’s gala featured robots performing synchronized martial arts routines alongside children, highlighting a bold fusion of heritage and hi-tech innovation.
Dance: 'Step to the Rhythm'
"Step to the Rhythm" is a vibrant dance program celebrating folk traditions from around the world. From the passionate intensity of Flamenco to the lively Achimugua of the Lisu people, the rustic charm of the Hani wooden-clog dance, and the energetic Hungarian Légényes, each piece pulses with distinctive cultural energy. United by dynamic footwork and infectious rhythms, the program invites audiences to feel the heartbeat of diverse communities through movement and music.
Song: Jiliang, the Auspicious Steed
An original Chinese-style composition, "Jiliang, the Auspicious Steed," is inspired by Jiliang, a mythical steed from the ancient classic "Shan Hai Jing" (Classic of Mountains and Seas). Through a childlike wonder and imaginative perspective, the piece weaves poetic storytelling with a spirit of aspiration and perseverance, celebrating courage, hope and the power of dreams.
The Spring Festival Gala is a grand celebration for hardworking people across all walks of life, vividly reflecting the lives of ordinary people. The song "Come Celebrate the Harvest" sings of bountiful joy, transforming the sweat of fields and farms into the delight of harvest, showcasing the strength of laborers’ cultivation.
This year’s gala also featured a rich array of international elements. American singer John Legend, French singer Hélène Rollès and Ireland’s Westlife took the stage, conveying warmth through classic songs. At the Yiwu sub-venue in Zhejiang Province, Jackie Chan joined artists from multiple countries, including Lionel Richie, in a collaborative performance, showcasing the openness and hospitality of Yiwu.
'Drawing Spring'
"Drawing Spring" is a dazzling acrobatic program that brings light to its fullest expression. Presented by performers from Austria, Germany and China, the show features diabolo and juggling. Blending skillful acts with glowing effects, the performance captures the essence of spring through a dynamic fusion of light, movement and cultural traditions.
The Spring Festival Gala seamlessly blends cultural richness, technological innovation and international flair into a moving « Chinese New Year Symphony, » accompanying Chinese communities worldwide and friends abroad as they celebrate a joyous reunion and a vibrant, forward-looking Chinese New Year.
CMG