This year's China Media Group Spring Festival Gala has set a new benchmark for technological integration in live broadcasting, blending tradition with innovation to captivate over 1 billion viewers worldwide. The February 20, 2026 showcase demonstrated how China's cultural flagship event is driving the global convergence of entertainment and advanced technology.
Three Pillars of Innovation
The production leveraged AI-generated content creation, real-time cross-screen interactivity, and seamless integration of VR/AR/XR technologies. This trifecta transformed Beijing's studio into a multidimensional space where dancers floated through digital landscapes and historical figures materialized through holographic projections.
AI as Creative Partner
The groundbreaking 'Ode to the Flower Deities' performance utilized generative AI to dynamically adjust 4K projections based on vocal patterns and movement. This enabled real-time seasonal transitions and precise control of floral elements across moving camera angles – achievements previously requiring weeks of post-production.
Audience in the Director's Chair
For the first time, viewers influenced live stage effects through a second-screen app, choosing color schemes for dragon dance sequences and triggering augmented reality fireworks. This interactivity created a shared creative experience across 86 countries and regions.
