The 2026 China-Russia New Year Gala in Changchun. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

The 2026 China-Russia New Year Gala, hosted by the Jilin International Culture Association, was held on Dec 31 in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin province.

Around 330 Chinese and Russian guests, tourists, and media representatives gathered to bid farewell to the old year and welcome 2026 through cultural exchange and friendship.

The evening featured a rich program including an opening ceremony, intangible cultural heritage experiences, photography exhibitions, fireworks, stage performances, and a China-Russia family-style banquet.

The China-Russia family-style banquet. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

The intangible heritage experience area opened to guests at 7 pm, showcasing traditional Chinese crafts such as paper-cutting, fish-skin painting, clay figurines, and a calligraphy experience, which invited Chinese and Russian participants to engage in hands-on traditional Chinese artistry.

Photo exhibitions highlighting the 2025 China-Russia Youth Cultural Exchange activities and the "120 Hours in Changchun" China-Russia media photo tour captured vivid moments of youth interaction and media cooperation.

Stage performances were a highlight of the night, with Chinese artists presenting graceful ethnic dances, traditional instrumental music, high-stilted bowl-kicking, and magic shows, while Russian performers delivered energetic folk dances and emotional songs.