Henan TV's traditional New Year gala embraces modernity

Actress Tong Liya stars as a peony fairy in a creatively designed costume adorned with intricate stamen-like embellishments. Her graceful movements depict the flower blooming, culminating in a dance with stilts portraying cranes, a symbol of auspiciousness in traditional Chinese culture.

This is one magical scene set for the 2026 Henan Satellite TV Spring Festival Gala, which airs at 7:30 pm on Saturday on both Henan Satellite TV and the multimedia platform Elephant News. The Chinese New Year falls on the coming Tuesday this year.

Unlike traditional Spring Festival galas, the show has no hosts or a typical stage. Instead, all segments are pre-filmed in a cinematic narrative format, resembling a cultural movie rooted in traditional Chinese culture, philosophy and aesthetics.

"The secret to our creation is that we keep our expressions youthful, integrating advanced technology and embracing contemporary aesthetics. We blend elements of traditional Chinese culture into every segment's details, allowing the audience to naturally appreciate its beauty," says Lu Hongli, the gala's chief director.

Actress Guan Xiaotong presents four distinct costumes that represent the four seasons.

Adorned in a mythical bird-inspired gown that signifies the heralding of spring, she transitions into a Tang Dynasty (618-907) robe and listens to the falling summer rain. She then changes into a Song Dynasty (960-1279) ensemble to appreciate the moon under an osmanthus tree in autumn, and into a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) outfit to admire plum blossoms in the snowy winter.

"It demonstrates the beauty of hanfu (traditional Chinese attire) and ornaments from different dynasties, infused with intangible cultural heritage. The shifting seasonal scenes invite us to contemplate the passage of time over the past year, epitomizing the beauty of living in harmony with nature's eternal rhythm," says chief director Lu.

Yueju Opera actress Chen Lijun performs as the legendary warrior Hua Mulan, who disguised herself as a man to take her aging father's place in the army.

"This program is meticulously tailored to showcase Chen's unique artistic strength, featuring scenes of her riding a horse, wielding a sword, and beating a drum. She also sings a pop song infused with traditional Chinese elements, in a version adapted to her distinctive voice and operatic vocal range," Lu says.

Dancer-choreographer Yang Liping and her team perform a horse-themed dance infused with indomitable drive and a soaring spirit, to honor the upcoming Year of the Horse.

The China Oriental Performing Arts Group performs parts of the dance drama The Palace Through Time, which premiered in Beijing last year. The drama is inspired by the Yongle Palace, a Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) Taoist temple in Ruicheng county, Shanxi province. Dancers wear costumes resembling figures from the temple's exquisite murals, such as celestial deities and a blue-glazed jiao shen (corner god).

The iconic "Snow King" mascot of Mixue, a beverage brand originating in Henan, has become a cultural symbol after its store theme song went viral in recent years.

A highly anticipated performance centers on the smiling mascot, who dons various costumes and happily dances with performers across global settings. It features vibrant music and instruments from countries including China, the United States, Thailand, and Brazil, all markets where Mixue has a presence.

"This year marks the first time artificial intelligence has been applied on a large scale in the Spring Festival gala. We have replaced many elements traditionally created with CG (computer graphics) with AI-generated content, complemented by physical sets," Lu says.

She adds that adopting AI enhances visual richness, streamlines production time, and reduces production costs. Besides traditional hand-drawn methods, they also utilize AI-generated storyboards in making the production.

"The blend of profound heritage and cutting-edge creativity in the gala captures the essence of Henan's spirit today. We never forget where we come from while boldly advancing toward the future," says Peng Kun, originally from Henan province and currently living in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

It's an annual ritual for her to watch Henan Satellite TV Spring Festival Gala with her husband and two children. It is also an opportunity for her to pass down traditional Chinese culture to the next generation.

"The gala captures the identity and nostalgia of Henan residents, touching the softest corners of our hearts. For friends across the country, it is the most sincere name card to invite them to visit Henan."