What are the expectations for 2026 Conference on Creation of High-Quality-Product in Radio and Television of China?

The 2026 Conference on Creation of High-Quality-Products in Radio and Television of China will be held at the Beijing Conference Center from Nov. 4 to 5. Hosted by the National Radio and Television Administration and the Beijing Municipal People's Government, and organized by the Publicity Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, the Beijing Municipal Radio and Television Bureau, and the CPC Chaoyang District Committee and Chaoyang District People's Government, the conference aims to advance the high-quality development of radio, television and online audiovisual services during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). It will bring together industry professionals to promote innovation in audiovisual content and its distribution, and support the creation of more high-quality productions.

With the theme “Creating Classics for Our Time, Reaching New Heights in the Arts,” the conference will pool industry expertise, stimulate innovation and encourage the production of outstanding works with depth of thought, artistic excellence and high production standards. It will contribute to China's efforts to build itself into a country with a strong cultural sector.

Diverse highlights to support high-quality audiovisual production

Guided by the principles of pooling creative talent, drawing on industry expertise and fostering a thriving ecosystem, the conference will feature a “1+9+6+N” program: one opening ceremony and main forum, nine parallel forums, six arts salons and a range of supporting activities.

Through high-level exchanges, the release of achievements and research findings, and project presentations, the event will bring together industry expertise and build consensus on future development. It aims to create an industry platform integrating premieres of high-quality productions, exhibitions and exchanges, business cooperation and transactions, and innovation-driven activities.

The conference will release a series of industry achievements and research reports, offering policy interpretation and trend analysis to help industry players better understand policy priorities and providing data and guidance for future development.

It will bring together frontline creators, audiovisual organizations, industry leaders and experts to share creative experience and inspire new ideas.

It will explore new ways of organizing industry events through activities such as the Audiovisual Trend Market, the Grand Audiovisual Exhibition and the Audiovisual Trading Market, fostering cooperation across the industry chain and creating new consumption scenarios through the integration of audiovisual content with other sectors.

Focusing on quality productions to drive high-quality industry development

The conference will feature a wide range of activities covering the entire production chain for high-quality radio, television and online audiovisual content, with the aim of fostering a more dynamic and sustainable creative ecosystem.

The opening ceremony and main forum will be held at the main auditorium of the Beijing Conference Center on the morning of Nov. 4. Under the theme “Stimulating Innovation and Reaching New Heights in the Arts,” the main forum will bring together officials from relevant authorities, Chinese and international industry experts, platform executives and frontline creators.

The event will also feature the signing of a “Radio and Television + Education” cooperation agreement and the launch of the “Co-Creating a Beautiful China Through Drama, Sharing a Better Life Through Drama” initiative. The second batch of recommended titles under the “Beautiful China Through Drama” high-quality production program will be unveiled, and the “Better Life Through Drama” brand will be officially launched.

The results of the 2025-2026 “Audiovisual China: Global Broadcast” selection will also be announced, showcasing the achievements of China's radio, television and online audiovisual industries in producing high-quality content.

Parallel forums address key industry trends

The parallel forums, arts salons and other activities will explore cutting-edge issues across a broad range of fields, including television dramas and web dramas, documentaries, animation, radio and television programs, public service advertising, micro-dramas, ultra-high-definition technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

As one of the conference's core sessions, the Television Drama and Web Drama Forum will bring together representatives of regulatory authorities, content platforms, production companies and creative teams. Discussions will focus on how AI is reshaping drama production, how to innovate around drama intellectual property (IP), and how to build a more diverse industrial ecosystem. The forum will explore ways to create a more supportive environment for drama production and chart a path toward the high-quality development of China's television drama industry.

At the forum, major content platforms, including iQIYI, Youku, Tencent Video and Mango TV, will jointly launch the “Great Drama” content section, providing a wider distribution channel for quality productions.

The Micro-Drama Forum will explore ways to foster a new generation of high-quality micro-dramas featuring positive values, engaging storytelling and diverse themes.

The Forum on Innovation and Development in Ultra-High-Definition Audiovisual Technology and AI will examine new approaches to integrating UHD technology and AI, using technological innovation to support high-quality content creation and industry development.

The Public Service Advertising Forum will focus on producing high-quality public service advertisements and expanding collaboration across the sector.

The Broadcaster Leadership Forum will bring together heads of radio and television stations who have made progress in reform, along with leading industry experts, to explore pathways for the systematic transformation of broadcasting and television media.

The Animation Forum will discuss ways to promote the high-quality development of Chinese animation, while the Revisiting Classics Forum will focus on creating outstanding audiovisual works that combine cultural depth with contemporary relevance.

The Documentary Forum will explore coordinated innovation in documentary content, distribution, technological applications and industrial development. The Radio Forum will examine new approaches to audio content creation, production and integrated development in the new era.

Arts salons spotlight quality content and talent development

Among the six arts salons, several will focus on the creation and distribution of high-quality content.

The “Great Drama” Salon will explore collaboration between large and small screens and ways to foster a creator-friendly ecosystem. It will also announce the 100 Quality Mid-Length Dramas Co-Creation and Co-Investment Plan, including its first list of selected titles, and launch the Great Drama app section and a distribution network for smaller screens.

The “Better Life Through Drama” Salon will discuss how quality productions can become part of everyday life, encouraging audiences to move beyond following a single drama toward embracing the lifestyles and experiences it portrays.

The Talent Development Salon will address key issues such as how content platforms can empower creators, how professional skills need to evolve in the AI era, and how to build collaborative environments in which experienced professionals mentor newcomers.

The AI-Empowered Content Creation Salon will explore innovative applications of AI throughout the production process, from script development to content creation and production, promoting the integration of technology and art.

The Screenwriting Salon will invite renowned screenwriters to share their insights on telling compelling Chinese stories.

The Sports Audiovisual Salon will explore how sports content can evolve from event broadcasting to high-quality creative production, and from one-off viewing experiences to long-term content IP development.