Press Release for Media Briefing of the Shanghai Municipal Government on September 8, 2026

2026.09.08

On the afternoon of September 8, the Information Office of Shanghai Municipality held a press briefing, where Zhang Yuxin, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Municipal Government, briefed the media on the arrangements for the third Shanghai International Light Festival. Gao Hongjian, director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Landscaping and City Appearance; Zhang Lixin, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Landscaping and City Appearance; Zhou Lan, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce; Wang Bin, deputy chief of Huangpu District; Gong Kankan, deputy chief of Songjiang District; and Wang Jian’er, vice president of Shanghai Media Group attended the briefing and answered questions from reporters. The third Shanghai International Light Festival will take place from September 17 to October 16. “Light of Shanghai” has been designated as the festival’s permanent theme, highlighting the continued celebration of “the light of technology, the light of humanity, the light of the future and the light of life.” Under the theme “Light Rhythm Shanghai, Images Moving the World,” the festival aims to fulfill its vision of “making life better and the city more vibrant” through the power of light and visual art. This year’s event will feature one main venue and 16 sub-venues, with 158 themed activities planned to offer residents and visitors from home and abroad an immersive, diverse and spectacular audio-visual experience.Key highlights of this year’s Shanghai International Light Festival are as follows. First, the main venue will feature a distinctive theme and create an upgraded light-and-visual experience through the integration of diverse art forms. Located in Huangpu District, the main venue will include two major event zones at the Origin of the Bund and Yan’an Zhonglu Green Space. From September 17 to October 16, Yan’an Zhonglu Green Space will host a series of activities, including the opening ceremony, projection shows, industry exchanges and a light-themed market. At the Shanghai Concert Hall Plaza, a 10-day “Music and Light Fantasy Show” will combine architectural projection mapping with a diverse lineup of contemporary music performances, creating an immersive audio-visual experience that blends light and music. At Yan’an Zhonglu Green Space, the festival will create the first large-scale connected urban forest light experience zone in Shanghai’s central urban area. Leveraging four green spaces, including the Music Plaza, Yan’an Zhonglu Plaza Park, Plaza Park and Spring Garden, the project will offer visitors a unique light-themed journey through an urban oasis. Among the highlights, the Telecom Building will feature an interactive immersive projection show, transforming the experience from simply “viewing light art” to actively “engaging with light art.” The venue will also host international art exchange programs, exploring emerging topics such as the integration of light art and artificial intelligence, the development of light festivals and the night-time economy, as well as green and low-carbon lighting technologies. At the Origin of the Bund, a multi-dimensional waterfront light art space will be created along the Suzhou Creek, showcasing outstanding works by light artists from 16 countries around the world. During the festival, dedicated themed cruise experiences will also be launched, including the “Brilliant Galaxy” light festival cruise and the “Childhood Memories in Light” family-themed sightseeing route, together with special package offers for visitors.Second, sub-venues across the city will showcase the unique charm of light art through diverse and immersive experiences. The festival’s 16 sub-venues will leverage their distinctive local characteristics to illuminate the city through light and art, bringing new vitality to urban spaces while highlighting Shanghai’s history, culture and innovation. Pudong New Area will take Qiantan Park Lane as its main venue, creating an 800-meter forest light corridor and an original cat-themed IP projection show on gauze screens. A kilometer-long continuous light corridor will also be developed at the River Mall’s Sunshine Valley. Xuhui District will extend into the heart of Gate M West Bund Dream Center, bringing together original digital art and new media resources. It will present the world premiere of site-specific works created by leading global new media artists, creating a pioneering and experimental immersive walking performance space. Hongkou District will use the Grand Halls at the North Bund as a backdrop, integrating the city’s waterfront landscape along the Huangpu River and Suzhou Creek, rowing events and technological light displays to showcase the district’s new waterfront development. Yangpu District will connect several landmark sites, including Yangshupu Power Plant Relics Park, the WorldSkills Museum, Douyin’s Yangpu Riverside headquarters and Fuxing Island Global Maker Island. Together with music festivals and cultural events, it will create a riverside light art belt along the Yangpu waterfront. Putuo District will launch Shanghai’s first large-scale floating light installation on water, complemented by a musical water curtain fountain show. It will also feature specialty food and products from 13 cities along the Shanghai-Nanjing corridor, creating a romantic destination for night-time tourism. Jing’an District will focus on Jing’an Park to create the city center’s first true “light art park.” Through the “Urban Blind Box” light exhibition and the “Shining Shanghai” Jing’an International Light Art Competition, the district will offer visitors a unique celebration of light and creativity. Changning District will present diverse light experiences, including diamond-shaped building projections, aerial light corridors and a public digital art exhibition, creating a multifunctional night-time urban space. Baoshan District will host the global public debut of the water-screen light show at the Changtan IMAX Giant Sphere Cinema, the world’s third-largest spherical cinema. It will also feature drone performances and a fireworks show at the Wusongkou aerial theater. Minhang District will center activities around the main commercial area around the Nanfang Shopping Mall, presenting immersive light shows and four themed open-air light art exhibitions. Lin-gang Special Area will focus on the western semicircular section of Dishui Lake, using coordinated building illumination, naked-eye 3D displays and water-screen light shows to create an immersive light environment designed for walking, exploration and leisure. Fengxian District will center activities around Guhua Park, combining cultural heritage, intangible cultural heritage experiences and urban renewal themes to create five immersive interactive garden tours featuring stamp-collection activities. Jinshan District will draw inspiration from traditional intangible cultural heritage lanterns and the area’s floral landscapes, creating a distinctive light experience that blends folk culture, innovative light art and rural charm. Jiading District will launch a “Light, Gardens and Intangible Cultural Heritage” cultural month, featuring traditional-style parades, light-themed concerts and other activities to create a Jiangnan-style light experience integrating ancient towns, gardens and commercial areas. Songjiang District will present the “Three Shadows Encounter” experience combining light art, film and shadow puppetry at Thames Town, further promoting the cultural identity of “Exploring Shanghai Songjiang, Discovering the Roots of Shanghai.” Qingpu District will present “Gathering Micro Lights · A Universe of Aurora,” connecting light installations across the district and introducing themed photo spots and interactive experiences to integrate light art with local commercial activities. Chongming District will illuminate the Chongming Museum, blending light art with the historical architecture of Chongming Academy. It will also introduce traditional-style night tours and cultural experiences that combine heritage charm with summer leisure.Third, the festival will expand channels for public participation by building on Shanghai’s best practices as a people-centered city. In terms of event development, the festival will establish platforms for joint planning and collaboration, transforming the Shanghai International Light Festival from a city celebration into a shared urban art creation platform built and enjoyed by all. During the planning and implementation of light art projects along the Yangpu Riverside, Pudong Riverside, Xuhui Riverside and Suzhou Creek waterfront areas, nearby enterprises and institutions have been invited to participate in co-creation. Meanwhile, experts and residents have been engaged in discussions during the design of light festival programs at Yan’an Zhonglu Green Space and Jing’an Park, ensuring that light art better serves the public and becomes a form of urban storytelling that citizens can experience, participate in and help shape. In terms of public engagement, the festival will provide diverse cultural offerings tailored to different groups. A range of activities will be organized, including youth light art practice camps, the BPI Lighting Design Student Competition, photography collections and pet-friendly night runs. For families, young people, middle-aged and elderly residents, the festival will introduce programs such as parent-child workshops, traditional Chinese medicine wellness markets, intangible cultural heritage experiences, children’s theater performances, traditional culture activities and sports events. It will also offer free digital workshops, light art education programs and public art co-creation initiatives, culminating in a light show created collectively by the public. At the Yangpu sub-venue, deeper collaboration between universities and local communities will enable original works by young students to be showcased on the festival stage. In terms of light installations, the festival will focus on immersive interaction to create new night-time tourism experiences. An international landscape lighting industry exchange event will be held at the southeast entrance of the Shanghai Concert Hall, while the eastern section of Suzhou Creek will feature the “Tracing Light Along Suzhou Creek” themed program. Through a variety of interactive light installations, the festival will create immersive spaces for exploration and entertainment, using real-time creative interactions to enhance visitors’ sense of participation and enjoyment during night-time urban experiences.With light as the medium and the city as the canvas, Shanghai will use the language of light to tell its urban stories and illuminate everyday life over the coming month. Residents and visitors from home and abroad are warmly invited to experience the Shanghai International Light Festival and discover the unique charm of the city.