China Media Group’s (CMG) 2025 Spring Festival Gala lit up screens around the world on Tuesday, bringing laughter, joy, and cultural pride as people welcomed the Year of the Snake. The spectacular show didn’t just entertain—it broke records, setting new heights for viewership and global engagement.
In China, the gala was a massive hit. With 2.8 billion views—690 million more than last year—it became a must-watch event. Innovative features like vertical screen viewing drew in 496 million views (an 18% increase) and engaged 286 million users. On social media, the buzz was real: 16.6 billion reads and 670 million interactions, up nearly 14%. Plus, 52 million people enjoyed the accessibility features, ensuring everyone could join the celebration.
But it wasn’t just China tuning in. The gala went global in a big way. Broadcast live through CGTN’s multi-language channels and over 2,900 media outlets, it racked up over 1.59 billion reads and 520 million video views overseas. On CMG’s social media, live views hit 73 million, up 21%. Japan’s Niconico streamed the gala for the 10th year straight, with over 101,000 people watching together.
The festival vibes spread to 136 cities in 87 countries, displayed on 3,508 public screens—from New York’s Times Square to Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. That’s a huge jump in global reach!
This year’s gala was extra special—it was the first since the Spring Festival was listed as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. The show rocked a mix of traditional arts and tech innovation. The opening act, “Welcoming Fortune,” showcased iron flower displays and paper cutting. “Pillars and Beams” wowed audiences with visuals of the newly listed Beijing Central Axis.
There were epic performances too: a skit called “The Boatman’s Umbrella” based on “The Legend of the White Snake,” the futuristic robot dance “Yange BOT,” and a martial arts display “The Pen Writes the Dragon and Snake,” bringing Li Bai’s poetic calligraphy to life.
Back home, over 1,500 landmark screens in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen lit up with the gala, spreading festive cheer and bringing people together.
The 2025 CMG Spring Festival Gala wasn’t just a show—it was a global celebration of culture, tradition, and unity, resonating with people of all ages around the world.
