China's performance market continued to expand in 2025, with total market revenue reaching 83.72 billion yuan (about 12.28 billion U.S. dollars), up 5.19 percent year on year, according to the data released by the China Association of Performing Arts on Tuesday.
Specifically, box office income rose 6.39 percent to 61.66 billion yuan (about 9.04 billion U.S. dollars), while other revenue streams totaled 22.07 billion yuan (about 3.24 billion U.S. dollars), marking a 1.98 percent year-on-year increase.
The number of commercial performances (excluding performances at entertainment venues) nationwide climbed to over 640,400, with total attendance reaching 194 million, marking steady increases of 6.58 percent and 4.22 percent, respectively, from the previous year.
The data indicates that China's performance industry is shifting toward a more experience-driven and ecosystem-based model, moving beyond traditional ticket sales to integrate cultural tourism and digital innovation.
Large-scale commercial events have emerged as a key consumption booster. Performances with audiences exceeding 5,000 saw strong gains in the number of sessions, box office, and audience size, up 12.70 percent, 9.49 percent, and 18.81 percent, respectively.
Beyond ticket sales, such events generated more than 220 billion yuan (about 32.27 billion U.S. dollars) in related spending on travel, accommodation, catering, and shopping, underscoring broader economic impact.
At the same time, original stage performances were thriving, with upgraded productions and strong market reception. Theater performances across venues of all sizes increased by 7.30 percent to 438,700, reflecting a more diversified and optimized industry structure.
With deeper integration between culture and tourism, live performances were increasingly merged with tourism industry, with large- and mid-scale tourism performances seeing strong gains across the board.
China sees robust performance market in 2025, with revenue up 5.19 pct
