Performers on 2026 Spring Festival Gala

China Media Group's 2026 Spring Festival Gala completed its fourth rehearsal on Sunday, and performers are more ready to present a show that will feature audience participation, immersive stage design, and festive symbolism.

Several performers shared their feelings for the gala that is taking a better shape to greet the Year of the Horse for viewers both at home and around the world.

"I especially love the horse-shaped ornament on my headpiece and the sparkling patterns on my trousers, as they are particularly eye-catching," said a child actor named Yang Yumo.

"I find that the Spring Festival Gala is very different this time. The stage design is entirely different from that of the last gala, with more sci-tech features and more immersive interactions with the audience," said Rayzha Alimjan, an actress.

"I think the programs this year will be something that both viewers watching them on TV and audience on site will really want to take part in. This is my ninth participation in the gala, and this year is my zodiac year. Since I was born in the Year of the Horse, I feel the festive vibe seeing all the mascot designs," said actress Liu Tao.

"This is actually my fifth time performing at the Spring Festival Gala. Every time I perform in the gala, I feel different. Every time I come here, I feel especially excited. And I really hope everyone, all the audience friends, could join me in ending the work of the past year and start a new chapter," said another actress, Qin Hailu.

The gala, set to be aired on the Chinese New Year's Eve on February 16 this year, will combine traditional Chinese culture with modern stagecraft, as well as cross-cultural performances presented by international artists.

Commonly known as "Chunwan" in Chinese, the gala has been broadcast live on each Chinese New Year's Eve since 1983, and has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the most-watched annual television program on the planet.

Performers on 2026 Spring Festival Gala

Performers on 2026 Spring Festival Gala

Global food commodity prices climbed for a second consecutive month in March, driven mainly by higher energy costs linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said in report released on Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 128.5 points in March, up 2.4 percent from February and 1.0 percent above its level a year ago.

According to the report, the FAO Vegetable Oil Index and Sugar Price Index showed the largest increases, up 5.1 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively.

The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 1.5 percent from the previous month, driven primarily by higher world wheat prices, which rose 4.3 percent.

The FAO Meat Price Index rose by 1.0 percent from the previous month, and the FAO All-Rice Price Index declined by 3.0 percent in March, according to the report.

FAO stated that rising energy and fertilizer prices have been driving up agricultural input costs.

If the conflict stretches beyond 40 days, farmers will have to choose to farm the same with fewer inputs, plant less, or switch to less intensive fertilizer crops, according to FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero.

These choices will hit future yields and shape food supply and commodity prices for the rest of this year and beyond, Torero said.

Global food prices rise for 2nd consecutive month in March amid Middle East conflict: FAO