CMG's Spring Festival Gala gains global buzz as promo screened worldwide

Anticipation is building worldwide for China Media Group's (CMG) 2026 Spring Festival Gala, as promotional videos are aired in multiple countries, carrying the festive spirit of the Chinese New Year to overseas audiences.

This year's Spring Festival Gala is set to deliver a mesmerizing spectacle on Chinese New Year's Eve on February 16, marking a cherished occasion for families to gather and celebrate the most important festival in the traditional Chinese calendar.

In Ethiopia, a Spring Festival Gala-themed light show lit up Addis Ababa on Friday, projecting vivid images onto the new headquarters of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, the tallest building in East Africa, for the third consecutive year.

The display featured the gala logo and theme reading Galloping steed, Onward unstoppable," conveying the warmth and joyful atmosphere of the Spring Festival.

Festivities continued on Sunday with a Chinese New Year-themed bazaar in Addis Ababa, where visitors sampled traditional Chinese foods and enjoyed martial arts performances, adding to the holiday atmosphere in the East African capital.

"I would like to wish a happy and successful year for all our Chinese brothers," said Nega Werete, deputy commissioner of the Oromia Tourism Commission of Ethiopia.

In Egypt, promotional videos for the gala were screened during a Spring Festival reception hosted by the China Chamber of Commerce, sparking keen interest among participants.

The event brought together Chinese diplomats and more than 140 representatives from 110 Chinese-funded enterprises operating in the country.

"I came to Egypt in 1996 and have spent most of the past 30 years here. Even after all this time, our tradition of watching CMG's Spring Festival Gala has remained. We calculate the time difference, turn on the TV early, and gather around it in advance. Then, we raise a glass, enjoy a feast, and watch the gala with our family back in China, despite the distance. This is a tradition that must never change," said Shan Yuntao, a representative from China Chamber of Commerce in Egypt.

In the United States, the Chinese Embassy hosted a China-U.S. youth Spring Festival celebration on January 31.

Promotional clips of the gala were shown alongside cultural performances, offering audiences a preview of the upcoming holiday and an introduction to Chinese cultural traditions.

This year's Spring Festival falls on February 17 and marks the start of the Year of the Horse, a time traditionally associated in China with family reunions and wishes for good fortune.

Heavy fog blanketed large parts of Dezhou City of east China's Shandong Province early on Monday morning, prompting widespread expressway closures.

The fog has reduced visibility to less than 200 meters in some areas and less than 50 meters locally.

In response, local traffic authorities imposed control measures on several expressways to ensure safety. Meanwhile, traffic police officers intensified patrols to prevent accidents.

The fog began to clear at 10:00 and the traffic control on expressways were lifted later.