CMG to hold 4th rehearsal for 2026 Spring Festival Gala

China Media Group (CMG), the country's national broadcaster, is to hold the fourth rehearsal for its 2026 Spring Festival Gala on Sunday, the most-watched annual television show in China to mark the Chinese New Year.

The annual extravaganza, also known as "Chunwan," is a cherished part of the Spring Festival celebrations in hundreds of millions of Chinese homes. Blending music, dance, comedy and drama, it celebrates family reunion and national pride and will be broadcast live worldwide on Chinese New Year's Eve, which falls on Feb 16 this year.

Themed on horse in celebrating the Year of the Horse, the gala this year aims to highlight family reunion and optimism while showcasing China's cultural vitality, the organizer said.

"This is my ninth time performing in CMG Spring Festival Gala. The gala this year is very immersive, and it's a meaningful program that allows more people to take part in," said Liu Tao, an actress.

"Our show is very refreshing this time. Audience will sense a kind of hope and expectation for 2026 after watching the show," said Rayza Alimjan, another actress.

This year's gala features an expanded use of technologies in stage design and performance to enrich the festive atmosphere and imagination of the Chinese New Year.

"I think the biggest highlight this year is the integration of technology. For example, I will interact with a robot during the show, and the robot will perform as well and it can engage with us. Each Spring Festival Gala brings us a leap forward in how technology is applied," said Qin Hailu, also an actress.

"I was amazed when I entered the studio. The wisdom of all the staff, both onstage and behind the scenes, together with the use of advanced technologies, has created a scene that feels completely new and truly deserving of praise," said Liu Mintao, an actress.

The Spring Festival Gala has been broadcast live annually since 1983. It has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the most-watched annual television program worldwide. Just over a year ago, the Spring Festival itself was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

CMG to hold 4th rehearsal for 2026 Spring Festival Gala

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 72,027, with 171,651 others wounded since Oct 7, 2023, Gaza-based health authorities said on Saturday.

In a press statement, the authorities said that 174 deaths from Jan 30 to Feb 6 were added to the official count, following approval by the relevant government committee.

Since a ceasefire in Gaza came into effect in October, 576 Palestinians have been killed and 1,543 others wounded, it added.

In a separate statement, the health authorities said that the remaining functioning hospitals in the Gaza Strip, struggling to continue providing services, have become mere waiting rooms for thousands of patients, adding that many of the wounded face an uncertain fate.

The war has made sustaining healthcare a daily struggle, severely hindering recovery and the revival of specialized medical services, the authorities said.

The statement warned that basic painkillers have become a rare luxury due to shortages. It also said that 46 percent of essential medicines, 66 percent of medical supplies and 84 percent of laboratory and blood bank materials are completely out of stock.

It added that cancer treatment, hematology, surgery, intensive care and primary healthcare are among the hardest hit, with the limited supplies available falling far short of demand.

Palestinian death toll in Gaza Strip surpasses 72,000 since Oct 2023