Scheduled to run from October through December, the "Grand Performances in Beijing" 2026 Beijing International Theatre Season, themed "The World Meets on Stage in Beijing" (幕启世界，戏聚北京), provides a platform for showcasing Chinese and international productions and fostering exchanges in the performing arts, inviting theatre lovers worldwide to visit Beijing and feel the magic of the stage. The Shougang Park International Theatre Arts Festival, a new sub-event this year, was launched on October 18 at the Big Air Shougang, with more activities scheduled on October 24 and 25.
Centered on the Big Air Shougang, the festival links the nearby south square, north square, landing area, and cooling towers. This urban theatrical carnival features immersive activities such as a market of theatre-themed creative souvenirs, art salons, theatre workshops, theatrical parades, and illumination shows on industrial constructions.
The activities on October 18 were themed "A Dreamlike Stage" (舞台如梦). A discussion with the creative team behind the opera "The Magic Flute" was held inside a cooling tower, with symphonic music performances, script readings and other themed activities held. Acrobatic shows, dance dramas, and chamber music performances took place at the north and south squares of the Big Air Shougang, while performers in a theatrical parade interacted with visitors. As night fell, dance dramas, song-and-dance shows, and acrobatic performances followed one another in the landing area. The cooling towers' illumination show — involving a projected 3D animation using the logo of "Grand Performances in Beijing" onto the industrial relics — was the most distinctive visual highlight of the evening.
The "Grand Performances in Beijing" Theatre Season was launched in 2022. This year sees the first-ever "Grand Performances in Beijing" International Theatre Season, featuring 120 major productions from more than 20 countries and regions, which span more than 10 performing arts genres, including plays, dance dramas, and musicals. Among these, 18 are national premieres, 12 are being performed in China for the first time, and 24 are being staged in Beijing for the first time.
(Sources: Beijing Fabu, Shougang Park)