2026 Spring Festival Gala mascots displayed on outdoor screens across China

The official mascots for the 2026 Spring Festival Gala, a set of four majestic horses, have recently been displayed on outdoor screens across China.

With the theme "Galloping Steed, Onward Unstoppable," the mascots, Qiqi, Jiji, Chichi, and Chengcheng, were unveiled by the China Media Group (CMG) on December 18. They embody the nation's journey towards a new Chinese miracle.

In Guangzhou City, a bustling economic hub in southern China, images of the Spring Festival Gala mascots are prominently displayed on screens in popular shopping districts, attracting many residents who made a stop to snap photos.

"I can see the elements of the Year of the Horse under the Canton Tower. It truly evokes a festive atmosphere," said local resident Ms. Mo.

According to the CMG, three of the mascot designs draw inspiration from iconic horse figures appearing in art across Chinese history, specifically from the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 BC), and the Han (202 BC-220 AD) and Tang (618-907) dynasties. The fourth is modeled on Przewalski's horse, the world's only surviving species of truly wild horse. Together, they blend Chinese cultural heritage with a dynamic spirit of innovation.

The mascot designs have been well received as they amplify the festive spirit associated with the upcoming Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year, one of the most significant traditional celebrations in Chinese culture.

"I think these mascots incorporate traditional Chinese elements. They’re really cute. My favorite is Qiqi as it’s a black horse, which I see as a good omen. I hope to be like a 'dark horse,'" said Zheng Shiqin, a college student.

"The colors of the four little horses are vibrant and festive, creating a strong sense of the Spring Festival. It makes me feel that the New Year spirit is growing stronger," local resident Hu Yuanmei said.

In 2026, the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, falls on February 17.

2026 Spring Festival Gala mascots displayed on outdoor screens across China

2026 Spring Festival Gala mascots displayed on outdoor screens across China

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have reaffirmed that they will not seek normalization of ties with Israel, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump's call for the two countries to join the Abraham Accords.

Saudi Arabia's position on the Palestinian issue remains unchanged, a Saudi source told Al Arabiya TV on Monday.

The source affirmed the need for "an irreversible pathway to a Palestinian state".

The remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Muslim-majority and regional countries to normalize relations with Israel and join the Abraham Accords before the U.S. reaches a peace agreement with Iran.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly said it would not normalize relations with Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that Pakistan will not join any agreement to normalize ties with Israel, adding that the country will not accept any deal that "conflicts with its fundamental ideologies".

Trump on Monday urged Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and Pakistan -- countries involved in mediating U.S.-Iran talks -- to immediately join the Abraham Accords, warning that otherwise they should not participate in the mediation.

He added that if a U.S.-Iran deal is reached, Iran should also join the agreement.

The Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States in 2020 during Trump's first term, were established between the Israeli government and Arab countries including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, aimed at rapidly advancing the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab countries.

Before the outbreak of the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023, the United States had been pushing for normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

After the conflict erupted, Saudi Arabia suspended normalization talks with Israel.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan reject Trump's Abraham Accords demand