The Shanghai Municipal Government Information Office held the 25th China International Art Festival press conference on 29. According to information released at the event, this year's festival will take place from 10 17 to 11 15, featuring nearly 400 exhibitions and performances across seven key pillars: "Art for All" stage performances, "Art for Future" youth support program, "Art in the Sky" public welfare activities, "Beauty Across the City" art education, "Global Art Exchange" international performance conference, "Dialogue with Hundred Arts" international discussions, "Citywide Art Linkage," and "Boundless Fusion Innovation." The events will total nearly 1100 sessions.
Since its founding in 1999, the China Shanghai International Arts Festival has celebrated 24 editions, becoming a key platform for mutual exchange between Shanghai and the world, and for cross-cultural dialogue. This year's festival brings global highlights to Shanghai ahead of schedule: 60 productions totaling 170 performances, with nearly 90% premiering in Shanghai. Four shows are exclusive to Shanghai and unique in China. The opening and closing ceremonies will continue the "one Chinese, one foreign" format, featuring the Shanghai Grand Theatre's inaugural concert, *Shanghai Grand Theatre and Her Friends*, and the American Ballet Theatre's *Swan Lake*. The program also includes complete works by Shostakovich and Beethoven; three major operas—*Aida*, *Tosca*, and *Der Rosenkavalier*; and four top international pianists: Lang Lang, Yuja Wang, Liu Xiaoyu, and Daniil Trifonov.
At the same time, this year's festival commemorated the 90th anniversary of the Red Army's Long March victory and collaborated with Shanghai arts troupes to launch a series of works with revolutionary themes. The program featured original masterpieces rooted in China's excellent traditional culture, such as "Chu River Han Boundary" and "Prime Minister Liu Luoguo," while also presenting new interpretations of world classics like "Hamlet" and "The Government Inspector" through a Chinese lens. Together, these showcased the brilliance of China's cultural heritage alongside contemporary voices. Through an international performing arts conference, the festival revitalized art trade, actively promoted the "Young Artists Support Program," leveraged the Silk Road International Arts Festival Alliance for collaboration, and strengthened a multilateral cooperation network guided by the "Shanghai Consensus," fostering mutual learning among civilizations and advancing cultural exchange and trade.
This year's Arts Festival also launches its first-ever "land, water, and air" performance system, featuring over 80 premium shows integrated into urban public spaces. The "water" component includes waterfront events such as the Qingpu Waterfront Music Festival and Suhewan Concert; the "air" segment features unique productions like the Spanish High-Air Musical Dance on Fuxing Island; and the "land" section showcases outdoor performances including the Shanghai Urban Lawn Concert. With 6500 discounted tickets, 90 art education programs launched on campuses, and professional exhibition blocks like the Shanghai International Magic Week, Shanghai International Puppet Art Week, and Jazz Shanghai Music Week, art will enrich the city of Shanghai.
Additionally, this edition of the Arts Festival is committed to driving economic growth and boosting consumer activity. We are expanding consumption scenarios through digital innovation with "Land of Rebirth," a digital art project featuring AI-generated art and cross-media gaming installations that bridge art and technology. Leveraging the "ticket economy," over 40 million tickets sold have catalyzed deep collaborations with 46 commercial venues and approximately 1000 businesses—a nearly threefold increase compared to last year. Furthermore, we are elevating the city's brand through cross-sector partnerships focused on night-time, youth, and silver economies, creating an "Art+" product matrix that includes co-branded dining and cultural tourism packages.