The opening concert of the 18th China International Chorus Festival is held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on July 13, 2026. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The 18th China International Chorus Festival kicked off with a grand opening concert on Monday evening at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.
Embracing the theme "Come to Beijing, Listen to the Songs of the World", the festival has united 306 choirs representing 31 countries and regions, as well as participants from 28 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across China — including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Over 15,000 singers, conductors, and music educators have gathered in the capital, showcasing choral music's unique ability to bridge cultures and foster global harmony.
Running from July 13 to 20, the festival features over 200 diverse activities, including choral performances, evaluations, special "celestial voices" concerts, workshops, seminars, and public welfare initiatives.
As China's only national-level international choral arts festival, the 18th edition is guided by the Bauhinia Culture Group Corporation Ltd, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and the China Musicians Association. It is jointly hosted by the China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd, the International Federation for Choral Music, the China Committee for Promoting Art, the People's Government of Beijing's Tongzhou District, and People's Music Publishing House.
The opening concert of the 18th China International Chorus Festival is held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on July 13, 2026. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Voices of the four seas
The opening concert featured 17 outstanding Chinese and international works performed by prestigious choirs from the UK, Germany, the United States, Hungary, Russia, and Greece as well as leading domestic ensembles.
From ancient rhythms drawn from The Book of Songs (Shijing) to the Hani ethnic group's Jubilant Song of Shanzhai, and from the romantic Butterfly Lovers to the contemporary China in the Lights, the concert highlighted classical and popular Chinese melodies and the beloved stories behind them.
The concert also celebrated music's power to transcend language barriers and bridge cultures. For example, the audience erupted in applause following the Oxford University Choir's performance of Anhui's folk tune Fengyang Flower Drum, and the Portland State Chamber Choir's presentation of Chinese pop diva Faye Wong's As You Wish.
Beyond Chinese highlights, the audience was also treated to Russian choral grandeur, rich Mediterranean timbres, haunting Eastern European folk melodies, and mesmerizing Western polyphony, celebrating global musical diversity and striking a dialogue between Eastern and Western choral traditions.
The opening concert of the 18th China International Chorus Festival is held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on July 13, 2026. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
A standout piece was Songs of the Silk Road, performed by the China Performing Arts Agency Silk Road International Choir. It echoed China's Belt and Road Initiative, using choral art to symbolize the connected hearts and shared futures of participating nations.
The event also carried a strong public welfare message. Project Hope's "Happy Music" Choir and the Golden Sail Choir of Beijing No. 171 Middle School performed Big Bright Eyes together, the pure voices of the children showcasing the festival's long-term commitment to promoting music education among disadvantaged children.
Guo Liqun, Party secretary, chairman, and general manager of the China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd, emphasized the group's role as the national team in international cultural exchange during an interview ahead of the opening concert.
"We will keep building the China International Chorus Festival into a creator of choral beauty and a platform for showcasing Chinese and foreign cultures and building heart-to-heart connections — nurturing global peace and friendship through choral music," he said.
The opening concert of the 18th China International Chorus Festival is held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on July 13, 2026. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Choral music for everyone
This year's festival introduces several groundbreaking features to make the art of choral music more accessible, according to the organizers.
Notably, an innovative dual-track evaluation system has been introduced, with one for music enthusiasts and the other for professional choirs.
Building on over three decades of accumulated prestige, the 18th festival has launched the "Navigator" talent empowerment program. It brings together more than 300 top Chinese and international choral experts for masterclasses, one-on-one coaching, and academic forums. This comprehensive initiative, according to the organizers, aims to nurture industry talent to support China's goal of becoming a cultural powerhouse.
Remaining committed to its core values of cultural education and moral cultivation, the festival has been nurturing the "Happy Music" program by working with charity organizations such as Project Hope. The program has raised funds over many years to support school choirs in China's less-developed regions.
The opening concert of the 18th China International Chorus Festival is held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on July 13, 2026. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Since its founding in 1992, the China International Chorus Festival has attracted over 10,000 teams from more than 90 countries and regions, involving approximately 1.2 million direct participants and reaching over 1 billion people online and offline.
"The International Federation for Choral Music will deepen its partnership with the China International Chorus Festival to promote the global popularization and development of choral art, making music a true language that transcends borders and connects hearts," said Emily Kuo Vong, president of the International Federation for Choral Music and executive vice president of the International Music Council.
The opening concert of the 18th China International Chorus Festival is held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on July 13, 2026. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The opening concert of the 18th China International Chorus Festival is held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on July 13, 2026. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The opening concert of the 18th China International Chorus Festival is held at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on July 13, 2026. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
