Beijing festival showcases animation's AI-powered future

The 2026 Beijing Animation Festival will be held from Sept 24 to 27 at the Beijing Exhibition Center, bringing together more than 30 leading Chinese animation companies and institutions.

Organized by the Beijing Municipal Radio and Television Bureau, this year's event is themed "Animation Plus, Better Together", with artificial intelligence and its role in reshaping the animation industry as its annual focus.

The festival will feature one main forum and four parallel sub-forums covering content creation, technological innovation, industry integration and international communication. The main forum will focus on the influence and innovations brought by AI, with industry experts discussing high-quality development and advances in animation production technology.

The sub-forums will explore topics ranging from premium content creation and technological applications to industry convergence and expansion into global markets, providing a platform for industry professionals to exchange ideas on the future of animation in the AI era.

Several popular animation franchises will also be showcased, including Non-Human, which follows ancient monsters who disguise themselves and live in modern human society; The Immortal Ascension, chronicling a poor rural youngster's journey toward immortality; The Legend of Hei, featuring a powerful black cat capable of shapeshifting into a boy; and Ling Cage, a sci-fi franchise about survivors struggling on the brink of extinction following a catastrophic disaster on Earth.

The event will also feature five themed zones, ranging from popular animation franchises to trendy toys. Visitors can take part in interactive activities, meet creators and purchase limited-edition merchandise.

A screening program of acclaimed animated works will run from September to November, both online and offline. Online screenings will be available on platforms including iQIYI and Youku, while offline screenings will take place in cinemas and communities across Beijing.

Last year's festival attracted more than 35,000 visitors to its offline events, while its online livestreams surpassed 75 million views. This year's edition will expand its program to include an opening ceremony and keynote forum, intellectual property promotion, talent development, industry investment opportunities and citywide animation carnivals.