The 2026 Zhangjiajie New Acrobatics Theatre Festival kicked off on the afternoon of August 21. Acrobats, theatre artists, and dancers from multiple countries gathered in Zhangjiajie to create a venue for artistic exchanges between China and the rest of the world, injecting new artistic vitality into the development of the Greater Zhangjiajie International Tourism Area.

With the theme of "New Acrobatics, New Performing Arts, New Cultural Tourism," this year's festival brings together 19 outstanding production teams from 11 countries, presenting more than 100 new acrobatic performances. The event transcends the boundaries of traditional theatres by adopting a model that integrates professional theatres with scenic spots. Multiple new acrobatics productions will be staged in rotation at major venues and popular scenic spots across Zhangjiajie, allowing tourists and residents to experience the charm of cross-disciplinary art in natural settings.

The festival also embodies the philosophy of public welfare and benefiting the people. The event serves as an important venue for implementing the "trade union + artistic troupes" public welfare project by the Zhangjiajie municipal authority and the Hunan Performance Group. Leveraging public cultural venues such as the Zhangjiajie Workers' Cultural Palace, the festival brings world-class artistic performances to the public free of charge, thereby continuously enhancing residents' sense of cultural fulfillment. The opening production "Dream," jointly presented by artists from France and Ukraine, blended fluid body language with lighting and stage design, earning warm applause from the audience. Zhangjiajie resident Ouyang Minghui remarked that being able to enjoy high-caliber new international acrobatics right on his doorstep was a delightful surprise.

After several editions, the Zhangjiajie New Acrobatics Theatre Festival has grown into an internationally recognized cultural brand and an important window for international exchange. Leveraging its unique natural landscapes and convenient entry policies, Zhangjiajie's international appeal continues to rise. From January to July this year, the city received 860,700 inbound tourists from 195 countries and regions, a year-on-year increase of 19.01%, among which European and American tourists accounted for 34.43%, surging by 211.36%.

All the photos were provided by Zhang Pan.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Xiao Juan

Chinese source: hunantoday