Chongqing to Launch International Light Art Festival, Building a Global “Chongqing Night” Brand

Chongqing - The "Changan NEVO · 2026 'Chongqing Night' International Light Art Culture and Tourism Season" will kick off on December 31, launching a nearly three-month celebration that aims to weave the city's cultural and scenic gems into a globally recognizable tourism brand.

Organized under the theme "A Journey of Light, Meeting Beauty in Chongqing," the festival seeks to boost the city's nighttime economy and elevate its profile as an international consumption hub and world-class travel destination. By merging light art, digital technology, and cultural creativity, the event is designed to inject fresh energy into Chongqing’s cultural tourism sector.

Guided by the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Culture and Tourism Development, the Chongqing Municipal Urban Management Bureau, and the Chongqing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the program is hosted by the Chongqing Culture and Tourism Group, the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, and the Chongqing Artists Association. Activities will take place across multiple locations, following a citywide, yet distinctive, approach.

Highlights of the Season

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 8:00 PM on January 1, 2026, at the Chongqing Grand Theatre, in the heart of the city's renowned "Two Rivers and Four Banks" illuminated landscape. The event will blend light displays, interactive technology, and live performances against the stunning backdrop of Chongqing’s mountains, rivers, bridges, and urban skyline.

Preceding the opening, an academic seminar titled "Light and the City Narrative will be held on December 31. Nearly 100 experts and artists will explore how light art can deepen cultural tourism and urban development.

Four major light art exhibitions will anchor the season:

• Children's Park · Light and Shadow Invitational Exhibition (December 31 – March 31): Featuring 14 international artist teams, this interactive display will create nearly 20 immersive scenes to inspire young audiences.

• Jiangbeizui Ten-Screen Digital Art Exhibition (January 1 – January 15): Nearly 50 digital works from 11 top art academies will illuminate ten buildings in Jiangbeizui.

• Chongqing Florentia Village · International 3D Mapping Competition (December 31 – January 11): 23 entries from 14 countries will be judged by an 11-member international panel.

• Chongqing Nanshan Botanical Garden · IN Nanshan Wonderful Night (December 30 – January 8): An immersive after-dark experience merging nature, light, and storytelling.

Building an International Legacy

Chongqing has been cultivating its light art credentials in recent years, having hosted two municipal Light Art Seasons and the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute's International Light Art Festival, which previously attracted over 300 artist groups from more than 50 countries.

Ran Bin, Chairman of Chongqing Culture and Tourism Group, emphasized the strategic vision behind the festival: "We are bringing together global artistic excellence to create a coherent citywide narrative. By integrating culture, tourism, and technology, we are shaping a distinctive 'Chongqing Night' identity that can resonate worldwide."

The event is projected to attract over 10 million visitors and generate approximately 4.3 billion USD in economic impact, boosting night markets, exhibitions, performances, and tourism.

"Through high-level artistic collaboration, we are stringing together Chongqing's cultural and scenic assets into a compelling global IP," Ran added. "This is a key step in advancing Chongqing as an international consumption center and a must-visit destination."