Backstage at the 2026 Chinese Opera Spring Festival Gala, performers from across the globe exchanged heartfelt Lunar New Year wishes ahead of the Year of the Horse, which begins on February 17. The event, celebrated for its fusion of traditional Chinese opera and international artistic influences, highlighted cross-cultural camaraderie as artists from the Chinese mainland, the Republic of Korea, Italy, and other regions shared blessings in multiple languages.
Veteran Peking Opera singer Li Wei emphasized the gala’s role in “building bridges through art,” while Italian soprano Giulia Moretti praised the collaborative spirit: “Opera transcends borders – here, we celebrate both diversity and shared humanity.” The gala’s lineup featured innovative adaptations of classic Chinese operas blended with Western orchestral arrangements, drawing praise from audiences worldwide.
This year’s celebrations coincide with renewed interest in traditional Asian performing arts, with streaming platforms reporting a 40% surge in opera-related content views since January. Analysts suggest such cultural exchanges could bolster soft diplomacy efforts amid ongoing global economic partnerships.
