CMG unveils cultural products themed on Spring Festival Gala

China Media Group (CMG) on Thursday unveiled a series of IP-based cultural products themed on the 2026 Spring Festival Gala, and released the mascots for the Spring Festival Gala of the Year of the Horse.

The cultural products include ceramics, decorative items, and collectibles that connect traditional arts with modern design.

The mascots, a group of four spirited horses, have been named based on the Chinese saying -- "Qi Ji Chi Cheng" or "Galloping steed, Onward unstoppable," which is also the theme of the upcoming gala.

The inspiration comes from traditional Chinese horse imagery, and embodies both ancient culture and contemporary vitality.

A new collaboration platform aimed to foster creative partnerships across media, culture, and local tourism was also launched at the ceremony. The initiative seeks to expand the gala brand, enhance audience engagement, and promote cultural innovation nationwide.

The Spring Festival Gala, or Chunwan, hosted by CMG, has been an essential part of Chinese New Year celebrations since 1983, featuring an elaborate mix of performances of songs, dances, comic sketches, traditional operas, and folk arts.

The annual spectacle, the most-watched television program in the world, is broadcast on the eve of the Chinese New Year, when families come together to ring in the new lunar year.

The Chinese New Year's eve falls on Feb 16, 2026.

CMG unveils cultural products themed on Spring Festival Gala

Impact of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is pushing Gulf countries to revisit costly plans for pipelines to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, so that they can continue to export oil and gas, the Financial Times newspaper reported on Thursday.

"Officials and industry executives say new pipelines may be the only way to reduce Gulf countries' enduring vulnerability to disruption in the strait, even though such projects would be expensive, politically complex and take years to complete," said the report.

"Previous plans for pipelines across the region have repeatedly stalled, undone by high costs and complexity," it said.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global energy corridor bordered by Iran to the north.

Around a fifth of global liquefied natural gas supply passed through the Strait of Hormuz, which also carries about one quarter of global seaborne oil trade.

Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities on Feb. 28, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. assets in the Middle East, while tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz by restricting passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.

Gulf countries consider new pipelines to avoid Strait of Hormuz: Financial Times