Beijing’s iconic Spring Festival Gala for 2026 has shattered multiple broadcasting milestones, captivating audiences at home and abroad. By 8 AM on February 17, China Media Group (CMG) reported a staggering 23.063 billion views across domestic platforms, marking a 37.3% surge from the previous year. The live TV audience share hit an impressive 79.29%, the highest in 13 years.
Peak moments saw an average of 325 million viewers tuned in per minute, with online simultaneous viewers peaking beyond 400 million. This unprecedented engagement underscores the Gala’s enduring appeal during China’s most cherished holiday.
New media platforms stole the show, amassing 16.207 billion views from live streams and on-demand replays—a 49% year-over-year jump. Social buzz exploded, with nearly 2,000 topics trending on hot search lists. By 1 PM on February 17, related online readership soared to 27.12 billion, featuring 1,939 trending topics across major platforms.
Internationally, CMG broadcast the event in 85 languages via its global platforms, reaching 2.309 billion global views and 843 million video views—up 32.85% and 43.61% respectively. This global outreach highlights the Gala’s role in cultural diplomacy, drawing viewers from every corner of the world into the festive spirit.