Press Conference Held for 2026 Zhangbei Grassland Music Festival

The press conference for the 2026 Zhangbei Grassland Music Festival took place in Beijing on May 20. Organizers unveiled the festival’s theme, dates, lineup, attractions, and preparation progress, offering a comprehensive look at the upgraded plans and construction milestones.
The press conference creatively incorporated tech elements, kicking off with a striking performance by two humanoid AI robots. Through situational dialogues, signature dance routines, and interactive farewells, the robots brought together cutting-edge technology and the poetic charm of the grasslands, vividly capturing this year’s theme: “Rush to the Grassland, Wild in Zhangbei.” The atmosphere was energetic and full of memorable moments. During the conference, Ren Xiaowei, Secretary of the Zhangbei County Party Committee, delivered a speech promoting the region’s cultural and tourism resources as well as the music festival itself.
Under the theme “Rush to the Grassland, Wild in Zhangbei,” this year’s festival has been elevated across quality, service, experience, and safety to deliver a brand‑new grassland music extravaganza.
The festival is scheduled to run from July 17 to 19. The dates were chosen based on regional climate patterns to avoid peak rainfall periods. Taking advantage of the area’s cool grassland environment, the schedule minimizes disruptions from rainy weather, ensuring a better experience for attendees.
The event features a complete overhaul of facilities and visitor experiences. The main stage covers 2,600 square meters with an extended T‑shaped platform and a newly added VIP viewing area. Equipped with high‑definition screens, professional lighting and sound, as well as holographic projection and naked‑eye 3D technology, the venue blends modern audio‑visual effects with grassland scenery to create an immersive viewing environment.
The festival grounds also enrich cultural and tourism offerings, focusing on a “Music + Grassland + Technology” concept for an immersive experience. A special “Butterfly Transform Midsummer” theme has been introduced, featuring a cocoon‑shaped entrance, butterfly wing installations, and a sea of butterfly lights, all designed to build a dreamy grassland atmosphere for music fans. Beyond traditional camping and food areas, the event taps into the local culture of the Bashang region, integrating grassland camping, folk experiences, and a specialty food carnival. This shifts the festival from pure musical performances to a diversified leisure experience.
The lineup balances classic nostalgia with fresh innovation, covering pop, rock, rap, folk, and more. Popular artists such as Da Zhangwei, Li Yuchun, Wilber Pan, Zhang Bichen, and Hu Xia will take the stage; Ye Shirong, Second Hand Rose, and Meikaduo rock bands will perform their classic hits; trendsetters like GEM (Old Uncle) and Mayuan Poets will also appear. Over three days, 24 acts will cater to a wide range of musical tastes. To preserve the biggest surprises, the festival has reserved two high‑profile mystery acts. Meanwhile, a nationwide fan mission challenge has been launched. Fans can follow official accounts on Douyin, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu to unlock exclusive benefits and exciting surprises in real time.
To address past issues caused by rainy‑season flooding, the Zhangbei County Party Committee and County Government made flood control, drainage, and venue renovation top priorities early on. A special task force led by top Party and government officials was established, comprising 13 functional working groups. Preparations began at the start of the year, including drainage system upgrades, river restoration, and ground leveling and repairs. These measures have significantly strengthened the region’s flood control capacity, fundamentally solving waterlogging and accessibility problems.
Transportation support has also been comprehensively upgraded. An integrated renovation of surrounding road networks and parking facilities has been carried out, including a 100,000‑square‑meter temporary parking lot that can accommodate 30,000 private cars, greatly increasing vehicle capacity. In addition, shuttle bus services have been set up in the county’s central business district, bus station, and high‑speed rail station, making travel convenient for visitors from all directions and effectively easing traffic pressure during the festival.
Given the outdoor nature of the event, the local government has developed contingency plans for extreme weather and emergencies, establishing an integrated system for early warning, material reserves, and crowd evacuation. On‑site facilities such as dining, rest areas, medical services, smart toilets, guidance, and storage have been improved. Security measures have been refined to create a comprehensive safety net, ensuring a comfortable and well‑organized environment for all attendees.
With better hardware, richer content, stricter safety protocols, and higher‑quality services, the 2026 Zhangbei Grassland Music Festival will continue to burnish the “Grassland Music Capital” city brand. It will further amplify the integrated driving effect of “Music + Culture & Tourism,” invigorate the summer cultural tourism market, support the high‑quality development of the Beijing‑Zhangjiakou Sports, Culture and Tourism Belt, and provide strong momentum for the county’s cultural tourism industry upgrade and rural revitalization.

Source: chinadaily.com.cn