Yiwu City, Zhejiang Province, east China - Feb 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of musicians including U.S. singer Lionel Richie, Chinese singer Jackie Chan singing "We Are the World," performing

Beijing, China - Feb 17, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
2. Various of American singer John Legend performing song "All of Me" at China Media Group (CMG)'s 2026 Spring Festival Gala
3. Various of Irish pop group Westlife performing hit song "My Love"

Beijing, China - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) resident (name not given):
"It sounds amazing, like a true feast for the ears and eyes. And it feels very international."

Beijing, China - Feb 17, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
5. Various of Legend, French singer Helene Rolles performing duet of "Beauty and the Beast"

Beijing, China - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) resident (name not given):
"It was so cool to see many foreign friends on stage, I hope one day Taylor Swift can come to the gala."

Beijing, China - Feb 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
7. Various of performance at China Media Group's Spring Festival Gala featuring dances of Hani ethnic group, Lisu ethnic group in China, Spanish flamenco, Hungarian folk dance

Beijing, China - Recent (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Yu Lei, chief director, 2026 Spring Festival Gala (ending with shot 9):
"The audience response has been overwhelmingly positive. This year, the international content has become even more abundant and diverse, featuring not only songs but also dances and acrobatics."

Beijing, China - Feb 16, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
9. Various of performance at China Media Group's Spring Festival Gala featuring dances of Hani ethnic group, Lisu ethnic group in China, Spanish flamenco, Hungarian folk dance
10. Acrobatic team performance in progress, interactive projection on background screen

FILE: Beijing, China - 1988 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
11. Crosstalk comedy performance in progress at 1988 Spring Festival Gala

FILE: Beijing, China - 1999 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
12. Crosstalk comedy performance in progress at 1999 Spring Festival Gala

FILE: Beijing, China - 2013 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
13. Canadian singer Celine Dion singing traditional Chinese classic "Jasmine Flower" at 2013 Spring Festival Gala

FILE: Beijing, China - 2014 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
14. French actress Sophie Marceau, Chinese singer Liu Huan singing "La Vie en Rose" at 2014 Spring Festival Gala

International stars lit up the stage at China Media Group's (CMG) 2026 Spring Festival Gala on lunar New Year's Eve, marking the most globally diverse edition in the event's four-decade history.

As audiences across China welcomed the Year of the Horse on Tuesday, the hours-long spectacle featured iconic collaborations: Lionel Richie and Jackie Chan paired in singing a song; American artist John Legend, French singer Helene Rolles, and Irish band Westlife performed songs that are not only hits in their home countries but also widely loved in China.

The gala's vibrant blend of global music, dance, and acrobatics underscored China's cultural openness and the worldwide appeal of its most-watched annual broadcast.

"It sounds amazing, like a true feast for the ears and eyes. And it feels very international," said a Beijing resident.

"It was so cool to see many foreign friends on stage, I hope one day Taylor Swift can come to the gala," said another interviewee.

Beyond hit songs, acrobats from Austria, dancers from Hungary, and a flamenco troupe from Spain also brought their artistry to the gala.

"The audience response has been overwhelmingly positive. This year, the international content has become even more abundant and diverse, featuring not only songs but also dances and acrobatics," said Yu Lei, chief director of the 2026 Spring Festival Gala.

International performers have long been part of the gala, from early comedy acts to global stars like Canadian singer Celine Dion at the 2013 Spring Festival Gala and French actress Sophie Marceau at the 2014 Spring Festival Gala.

Since first being broadcast in 1983, the gala has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the most-watched annual television program on the planet.