China Media Group (CMG)'s New Year Gala commenced at 20:00 Beijing Time on Wednesday, bringing audiences together to ring in the new year with an array of dazzling performances.
Titled "Sail into 2026," the gala's main stage is set at a sports center in Lyuliang City in north China's Shanxi Province.
In addition to the main venue, the gala is also unfolding in three sub-venues across the city, namely the Fenyang region, which is famous for producing Fenjiu liquor, Qikou, an ancient town along the Yellow River, and a revolutionary memorial museum in Xingxian County. The gala unfolded in a vibrant celebration with the performance titled "Happy New Year", as singers' voices rose in harmony with the a live orchestra. At the same time, hip-hop dancers energized the stage with sharp and rhythmic moves, creating a striking contrast with the classical orchestral backdrop. Together, the music and dance captured the spirit of the New Year—bold, joyful, and full of hope for what lies ahead.
Singer Zhou Shen also presented a song using his unique voice and wide vocal range.
In the performance "New Bot", singer and dancers were joined by humanoid robots, who can perform backflips, play the drums, and other dance moves in sync with other dancers.
Featuring more than 60 creatively designed performances, the gala presents a rich mix of artistic forms.
The gala is airing simultaneously across CMG platforms, including CCTV-1, CCTV-3, major radio channels and new media platforms.
CMG stages New Year Gala to welcome 2026
CMG stages New Year Gala to welcome 2026
China Media Group (CMG) on Wednesday aired a grand New Year gala to welcome the arrival of 2026 with celebrations focused on the richness of Chinese culture, and blending traditional arts with contemporary creativity in a nationwide showcase of unity and joy.
Titled "Sail into 2026," the gala was staged in Lyuliang City, north China's Shanxi Province, and featured over 60 meticulously crafted performances. From vibrant song and dance routines to performances of traditional Chinese instrumental music, opera and martial arts, the gala embraced a wide variety of artistic styles, reflecting the depth of cultural heritage and the spirit of contemporary innovation.
The show vividly captured regional transformations across China, from the innovative dynamism of the Yangtze River Delta in east China to the cultural vitality of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in the northern part of the country. It also presented the energetic harmony of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area city cluster in the south, as well as heartfelt New Year wishes from China's Taiwan region.
The gala also shone a spotlight on ordinary individuals who made a difference in 2025. It also featured fresh works from a new wave of public cultural creators. Through these stories and performances, the gala offered a panoramic celebration of people nationwide joyfully embracing the New Year, together painting a hopeful picture of peace, prosperity and unity.
The gala was broadcast live at 20:00 on December 31 across CMG platforms including CCTV-1, CCTV-3, major radio frequencies, and new media outlets such as CCTV News.
CMG presents culture-rich New Year Gala to ring in 2026
