The creative performance Welcoming the Flower Goddess showcased the rhythm of the changing seasons and the continuity of Chinese tradition. The Beginning of Spring expressed the vitality of renewal, while the dance Footbeats of Spring blended Eastern and Western musical elements. Nearly 4,000 media outlets worldwide broadcast and reported on the event, and total foreign audience engagement surpassed 2.4 billion.
To mark the Year of the Horse in the Chinese lunar calendar, China Media Group’s (CMG) 2026 Spring Festival Gala extended warm greetings to Chinese communities and international friends around the world. The gala offered global audiences a vivid introduction to the cultural richness and aesthetic depth of the Spring Festival.
Argentina’s El Cronista noted that the gala “has evolved alongside China’s socio-economic transformation, becoming one of the world’s largest platforms for artistic and cultural communication.”
Spain’s El Mundo observed that “its significance goes far beyond entertainment—it reflects a national narrative of unity, prosperity, and harmony.”
As the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation, the Spring Festival’s cultural and historical value is gaining broader international recognition. It carries the enduring message of “renewal at the year’s beginning,” while embodying values of family reunion, harmony, and coexistence—sentiments that resonate universally. In a time of geopolitical uncertainty, some global media outlets have highlighted how the festival encourages dialogue and exchange across nations.
The Year of the Horse is the second Spring Festival celebrated since “Spring Festival: Social Practices of the Chinese Lunar New Year” was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes strength and perseverance—signs of steady progress and future prosperity.
Around the world, Spring Festival fairs, lantern shows, and cultural performances have drawn growing interest. Dubai’s Burj Khalifa hosted a spectacular light show themed “Galloping into the Year of the Horse.” In Brussels, Chinese musicians performed exquisite folk music at the local arts center. In New York, visitors at the “Taste of China” cultural event enthusiastically practiced Chinese calligraphy. Thousands gathered in Auckland, New Zealand, to celebrate the festival. Meanwhile, foreign tourists who experienced the Spring Festival in China have shared their impressions across social media. According to Pakistan Observer, the growing global reach of the festival reflects the rising influence of an ancient civilization in the modern world.
The warmth that the Spring Festival brings to the world is no coincidence. As China’s ties with the international community deepen, and as cultural exchanges expand, China-related cross-cultural communication has gained remarkable momentum. The acclaim for the game Black Myth: Wukong, the global success of the film Ne Zha 2, and the rising overseas fanbase of Digital Dunhuang all demonstrate China’s strengthened ability to interpret and share its own culture. Infused with advanced technologies, China’s traditional culture is increasingly dynamic, modern, and accessible to global audiences.
In a turbulent world, China’s pursuit of high-quality development and expanded openness offers much-needed stability and confidence—qualities that are gaining positive recognition internationally. More global observers are seeking to understand China more deeply, contributing to a growing sense of “China affinity” and cultural appreciation abroad.
A new Spring has begun in the Year of the Horse, as people around the world join in celebrating the Chinese New Year. The values promoted by Chinese civilization—harmony, coexistence, and unity amid diversity—are becoming ever more relevant, earning wider respect and recognition. With shared understanding and meaningful exchange, nations can reduce conflict and misunderstanding, bringing new momentum to the world in the Year of the Horse, and moving collectively toward a brighter future.
Source: Sworna-Touhid-Lily, China Media Group.