The 2026 International Audio-Visual Arts Carnival will take place in Jing'an District in Shanghai from Sept. 24 to Oct. 18, according to the announcement. The event is meant to give the public an audiovisual arts experience by bringing together audiovisual technology, arts and culture and commercial consumption, and to serve as a platform where audiovisual professionals from around the world can exchange ideas and where Shanghai's audiovisual industry and cultural tourism economy can be upgraded.
Four sections are planned: an international audiovisual arts experience exhibition, an audiovisual wonderland-themed immersive show, an international audiovisual arts and technology salon, and an international Audiovisual Arts Night. The exhibition, described as a highlight of the opening program, will present work from national-level media organizations, international audiovisual brands, domestic technology companies and creative teams from universities.
The immersive show is scheduled for Sept. 25 to 27 and combines music, dance, intangible cultural heritage, light and shadow and live performance with 3D mapping, motion capture, light-shadow tracking and LiDAR-based interactive technology, the announcement said, adding that the aim is to turn traditional culture into stories audiences can touch, empathize with and experience.
Jing'an District will also stage events from Sept. 19 into mid-October, including the fourth "Shining Shanghai Light Up Jing'an", AI and Mid-Autumn Festival-themed audiovisual arts activities, the 14th Shibei Beer Festival and the Jing'an Music Carnival. An international sci-tech culture and fashion week opens in the Nanjing West Road commercial area from Sept. 28 with Tencent Music Entertainment Group and close to 100 special events, covering AI, the metaverse and fashion consumption.
The district said it intends to extend audiovisual arts, light and music, sports and entertainment, parades and pop-up events across the area, deepening the integration of culture, commerce, tourism, sports and exhibitions.