Spring Festival Gala Program List Revealed — Stars, Robots and a Night of Surprises
Organizers unveiled the running order and key highlights for the 2026 Spring Festival Gala this week, setting the stage for an eclectic mix of pop power, variety skits, large ensemble numbers and cutting‑edge robotics on the program for February 16, 2026 (ET). The lineup peppered the show with high-profile solo turns, unexpected collaborations and a clear push to blend traditional New Year spectacle with contemporary technology.
Star power and running order: who’s on when
The announced sequence places several headline performers early in the show, with a marquee pop appearance by Yi Yangqianxi slotted as the fifth act. A duo performance featuring Wang Churan and Liu Xueyi follows in the sixth spot, while Wang Yibo is set to perform seventh. A much-anticipated turn by Dilraba is scheduled ninth, with promotional imagery and costume previews suggesting a dramatic, mermaid‑inspired stage concept for her Yibin sub‑venue performance.
Other notable placements: Liu Yuning is listed at 26, singer‑songwriter Wang Sulong at 28, and the comedy pair Shen Teng and Ma Li are slated for the 30th spot — one of the late‑show anchors likely to carry the program toward midnight. An eight‑person group vocal featuring Bai Lu, Bi Wenjun, Tian Xiewei, Li Landi, Ding Yuxi, Li Yunrui, Song Weilong and Wang Yuwen is scheduled among the final segments, appearing in the countdown‑to‑end portion of the show and promising an ensemble moment before the finale.
The host roster returns several familiar faces, maintaining the mix of veteran presentation and live variety that viewers expect on Lunar New Year’s Eve. Performers with deep Gala histories will also return this year, including a star who will make a sixth Gala appearance and a comedy veteran marking a comeback after a multi‑year absence.
Robots, martial arts and the tech angle
This year’s Gala explicitly leans into robotics, with at least three programs integrating robotic performers or robotic partners into their staging. One variety skit features powered robotic collaborators alongside the cast, while a martial arts piece pairs schooltrained kung fu performers with humanoid robots for a segment titled ‘WuBOT. ’ A separate musical number will incorporate robotic elements produced by a tech team billed as working on intelligent manufacturing themes.
These inclusions continue a recent trend of showcasing embodied artificial intelligence and motion robotics on the national stage, following earlier Gala appearances where robots performed choreographed folk dances. Organizers appear to position robotic acts both as spectacle and as a cultural statement about technology’s place in contemporary life.
What to watch live (times and moments)
Viewers should note that key moments are concentrated across the evening. Promotional guidance suggests a highly watched window for one of the headline pop performances around 7: 40–8: 05 PM ET on February 16, 2026, but the program stretches well into the late hours with large collaborative pieces and comedy set pieces anchoring the second half. Expect sweeping visual design, national and regional folklore nods, and at least one choreography‑heavy segment filmed on water for an artist whose look has been teased as a ‘mermaid princess. ’
Beyond star turns, the Gala’s mixture of solo spots, group numbers and skits will aim to blend family‑friendly humor with spectacle. The inclusion of robotic partners and martial arts hybrids positions this edition as both a celebration of tradition and an experiment in staging and technology, offering viewers a chance to see where mainstream entertainment and new tech collide on one of the year’s biggest live stages.
As customary, the program seeks to serve as a communal starting point for New Year festivities, combining nostalgic staples with fresh collaborations and tech‑forward surprises designed to spark conversation well after the final curtain.
