Over 1,200 performances coming this fall

The world on stage

This year's lineup underscores Shanghai's role as a hub for global performing arts. Among the 129 major performances, nearly 60 percent are international productions, with almost 90 percent making their Shanghai premiere.

The opening night features Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe's True Elegance of Supreme Harmony: The Kunqu Opera Classics from the Imperial Palace (Season One).

The closing night presents Daniel Harding with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.

International luminaries include the Vienna Philharmonic, Staatskapelle Dresden, Berliner Ensemble, Stuttgart Ballet, RCO Brass, and soprano Renee Fleming.

Original voices from China

Alongside international stars, Chinese artists will present works that reflect both tradition and contemporary life.

Shanghai productions include Blossoms Part III, the concert Poetry of China , and the ballet Lily.

Resident performances include five plays from the Shaanxi People's Art Theatre, among them The Ordinary World and White Deer Plain.

New works debuting this year include the national opera Knot of Togetherness , the dance drama Wang Yangming, and the dance drama of Qiuci.

A festival everyone can enjoy

CSIAF continues to take art beyond traditional venues. This year's "Art Space" program brings 90 performances to landmarks, neighborhoods, and parks across the city, creating "theaters without walls" with nearly 2,000 artists from over 30 countries and regions.

Complementing this, more than 80 education events will take place in schools and universities, nurturing the next generation of audiences and creators.

To make the festival accessible, over 6,000 half-price tickets will be released, and cultural vouchers will be accepted across all major productions.

Why Shanghai?

Every autumn, Shanghai becomes a crossroads of cultures. International premieres share the stage with Chinese originals, while the city itself transforms into an open gallery and concert hall. For artists, the festival is a platform to connect with peers and audiences from around the world. For visitors, it offers a chance to experience Shanghai not only as a global economic hub but also as a city where art thrives.

Whether you are an art lover, an industry professional, or simply a curious traveler, the 24th China Shanghai International Arts Festival promises six weeks of discovery, dialogue, and inspiration.

Sources: WeChat account of the General Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government at "shanghaifabu", China Shanghai International Arts Festival