China Media Group’s 2026 Spring Festival Gala will spotlight acrobatic and dance performances that push creative boundaries, with director Bi Bo promising fresh innovations when the show airs at 20:00 on Monday.
The Gala, themed "Galloping Steed, Onward Unstoppable," will present a diverse lineup of performances ranging from singing and dance to opera, martial arts, skits and magic. Its live broadcast on Chinese New Year's Eve has become a cherished tradition in hundreds of millions of homes.
This year's programs will creatively integrate technology with traditional skills, feature engaging interactive performances, and showcase visually stunning collaborations between Chinese and international artists.
"This year's acrobatic program marks our first attempt to combine acrobatics with technology, especially visual technology. The inspiration for all acrobatic and dance programs stems from the artistry and significance of the performances themselves, or from the memories and significance of our television broadcasting technologies as we explore and develop," Bi explained.
Carrying the memories of generations, the song "Unforgettable Tonight" will be performed in a brand-new way this year.
"'Unforgettable Tonight,' as the closing song of the Spring Festival Gala, has been sung for over 30 years, according to rough estimates. We hope that every new presentation brings fresh expressions," Bi added.
Falling on Tuesday this year, the Spring Festival marks the start of the Chinese New Year and ushers in the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the Chinese zodiac.
Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s most-watched television program, it continues to draw hundreds of millions of viewers each year.
CMG’s 2026 Spring Festival Gala acrobatic, dance acts to showcase fresh innovations
As one of the four sub-venues for China Media Group's 2026 Spring Festival Gala, Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province is to distinguish itself with its unique ice stage.
Known as the "Ice City," Harbin is the northernmost and coldest of this year's gala locations. Set against sweeping snow and ice landscapes, the city is to offer a striking winter backdrop for the nationally televised variety show.
At the Harbin Ice and Snow World, the production team has constructed a new main stage designed specifically for the gala. Framed by ten snowflake-shaped structures, the "ice stage" is intentionally compact and immersive, standing in contrast to the surrounding monumental ice architecture.
"We didn't intend to build a massive stage this time. Instead, we wanted a more intimate layout," said Cao Tianshu, production director of the Harbin sub-venue for the 2026 Spring Festival Gala.
"We've created ten snowflake structures, each made of a special steel mesh material, so as to produce a translucent effect, enhanced through lighting. The structure is sturdy and wind-resistant, as the mesh is pervious to wind. We've also built a 30-by-30-meter ice rink that can accommodate skating and ice dance performances, and we put a lot of efforts into ensuring the quality of the ice," Cao said.
Even without large LED screens or heavy digital effects, producers say the natural texture of ice and snow will create unexpected visual impact — one of the Harbin segment’s defining features.
The Harbin show is expected to run about seven minutes. Members of the directing team traveled to the city five times during preparations, selecting representative landmarks and cultural elements that reflect Harbin’s winter economy, regional character and contemporary spirit.
"We have incorporated signature scenes tied to Harbin's ice and snow culture, like the Ice and Snow World, Central Street and the Chinese Baroque quarter. We've also included local specialties and popular attractions favored by visitors and online audiences, such as the well-known giant snowman. All these elements are woven into this year's program design," said Zhang Ji, chief director of the Harbin sub-venue for the 2026 Spring Festival Gala.
Unlike traditional singing performances, this year's Harbin segment will adopt a narrative format. Performers will portray ordinary people who emerged in Harbin's recent tourism boom, recreating heartwarming moments through staged storytelling.
The segment will also adopt advanced sci-tech elements, both aerial and ground-based, adding further visual dimension to the winter-themed production.
The other three sub-venues are Yiwu in Zhejiang Province, Hefei in Anhui Province and Yibin in Sichuan Province, which alongside Harbin will present a diverse cultural show for the festival.
Initiated in 1983, the Spring Festival Gala has become a central feature of Chinese New Year celebrations. The annual program combines music, dance, comedy sketches, traditional opera and folk arts, and airs on the eve of the Spring Festival.
This year, the gala will go live on Monday.
Harbin brings ice stage to Spring Festival Gala
