As the Spring Festival draws near, countries around the world hosted a variety of cultural events to mark the upcoming Chinese New Year, or the Year of the Horse, which begins on Tuesday this year.
On Friday, the final leg of the China National Peking Opera Company's Canada tour took place in Toronto, receiving a warm welcome from enthusiastic viewers.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney extended congratulations to the performance and conveyed sincere New Year greetings to the audience. The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka held a Spring Festival gathering in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, to celebrate the occasion.
More than 700 attendees, including Sri Lankan government officials, representatives from various sectors, and overseas Chinese in Sri Lanka, gathered to exchange New Year greetings.
The promotional video for the China Media Group (CMG)'s 2026 Spring Festival Gala was also screened at the event. A cultural and creative exhibition booth for the gala attracted guests to take photos and commemorate the occasion.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath extended his New Year greetings to the Chinese people at the event.
"On the occasion of the Chinese New Year, I would like to convey my warmest greetings to the government of China and the people of China. On behalf of the Sri Lankan people, I wish the Chinese people a happy and prosperous new year," he said. Nepal's national broadcaster Nepal Television also aired the promotional video of the CMG's Spring Festival Gala on its international channel as the Chinese New Year approaches.
Nepal's leading broadcaster, Ray TV HD, invited a CMG reporter to its live studio to introduce Chinese New Year customs.
"Happy New Year to my Chinese friends and all the Chinese people. May you enjoy good health; may all your wishes come true, and may you achieve immediate success in the Year of the Horse," said a Nepalese citizen.
Additionally, the promotional video of the Spring Festival Gala was also aired in multiple African countries including Zambia and Angola, offering local residents a window into Chinese Spring Festival culture.
Diverse events staged worldwide to celebrate China's Spring Festival
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
