2026 Spring Festival Gala promo debuts in North Macedonia

China Media Group’s 2026 Spring Festival Gala promo recently lit up a giant screen in downtown Skopje, marking the gala’s first-ever appearance in North Macedonia and drawing crowds of curious locals and overseas Chinese.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional holiday for Chinese people, and the gala’s live broadcast on the eve of the festival has become a cherished part of the celebrations in hundreds of millions of homes.

On February 6, the promo captivated audiences in Skopje’s city center, where its vibrant colors and festive music captured the spirit of the holiday and drew passersby to stop and watch.

“The promotion and the gala seems like a really interesting event, which I would love to attend one day, hopefully in the future, which I believe showcases the most beautiful parts of Chinese culture,” said a local student named Blindit Aranishi.

At the Chinese Embassy’s Spring Festival reception in North Macedonia that same day, guests were treated to a screening of the gala’s promotional video along with highlights from the “Travel China Through Film” series.

“The promotion and the gala seems like a really interesting event, which I would love to attend one day, hopefully in the future, which I believe showcases the most beautiful parts of Chinese culture,” said Jiang Xiaoyan, Chinese ambassador to North Macedonia.

“It’s really breathtaking. The talents that we see from Chinese actors and singers and painters are remarkable. So of course, it will bring lots of joy to people watching the gala and also I am very happy that this joy was shared with the people of North Macedonia,” said Rita Columbia, United Nations Resident Coordinator in North Macedonia.

The Spring Festival falls on Feb 17 this year, marking the start of the Chinese New Year. This year ushers in the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle.

Performers of China’s 2026 Spring Festival Gala revealed that the upcoming grand show will convey a message of warmth and togetherness as people celebrate the Chinese New Year’s Eve.

The highly anticipated gala, set to be aired on the Chinese New Year’s Eve on February 16, completed its fourth rehearsal on Sunday.

Incorporating creative designs and auspicious themes, the show celebrates the arrival of the Year of the Horse with a variety of performances.

Patty Hou, a TV host and singer from China’s Taiwan emphasized the emotional resonance of this year’s musical selections.

“This time, being able to bring so many folk songs to the Spring Festival Gala allows us to recall and feel nostalgia, and evokes a great deal of warmth. What I see in them reflects the resilience of this land, and the stories of its people. Together we look forward to the future, and the Year of the Horse has much in store for us. So I feel what this stage offers the audience is blessings, hope, warmth, and above all, the feeling of gathering as one,” she said.

“This year I’m singing a new song closely tied to the theme of spring as expressed in the Chinese character ‘chun’, brimming with the vitality and renewal of the season. I hope the audience will enjoy my performance,” said singer Liu Xijun.

“I’m bringing a song that I believe can remind everyone of the person they hold most dear in their hearts. I hope it inspires all of us to carry goodness within, to preserve the ability to love others and to love ourselves, and to maintain an upward and kind-hearted spirit,” said Hailai Amu, singer of China’s Yi ethnic group.

This year’s gala will continue to incorporate new technologies to enhance the viewing experience, which is also wowing the performers.

“The stage feels very advanced technologically. Many computer-generated elements transform with such speed that it is truly refreshing. At times the changes happen so quickly that one can scarcely keep up, and suddenly it has become something entirely new, which is so amazing. Especially for those of us elderly people watching these modern new things, we feel tremendous excitement,” said actress Chi Peng.

“Each time I have come here, I have been filled with curiosity. Before and after my own rehearsals, I saw dance performances as well as comic sketches and comedy talk shows, and I found them full of freshness and vitality. I’ve also encountered many different and innovation creations, including advanced technological elements and items oriented toward the future,” said singer Wei Chen.