China News Service, Beijing, September 25 (Reporter Gao Kai) 2026 Beijing Animation will open in Beijing before Sunday. This year’s Animation Week, with the theme of “Animation + Together is More Wonderful”, is co-sponsored by the Beijing Municipal Radio, Film and Television Bureau and the Beijing Xicheng District Committee and District Government.
Li Zhongzhi, Director of the Publicity Department of the State Administration of Radio and Television, said in his speech that Beijing Animation Week has become an important domestic animation event since its inception in 2022, establishing a platform for policy release, achievement display, and industry exchanges. He put forward three thoughts: first, to redouble efforts in high-quality creation, choose the right topics and tell good stories; second, to deepen the digital intelligence revolution to ensure that technology serves people instead of replacing them; third, to further improve the industrial ecology and promote the integration of animation, digital consumption and other industries.
Wang Jiequn, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Beijing Municipal Radio, Film and Television Bureau, said in his speech that 2026 is the year of transformation for Beijing Animation Week from "organizing events" to "building an ecology". The Beijing Municipal Radio, Film and Television Bureau focuses on four key areas: quality creation, technological empowerment, industrial upgrading, and international communication to promote Beijing's animation industry to a new level.
According to reports, at present, Beijing has formed a complete industrial chain with a total output value of more than 120 billion yuan, gathering 154 active animation, film and television institutions, and the development pattern of "one core leadership, multi-point support, functional complementation, and collaborative linkage" is accelerating. Beijing coordinates the radio and television network audio-visual development fund, supports about 30 animation projects every year, and promulgates the "Beijing Support Measures for Key Projects to Promote High-Quality Development of the Animation Industry" to promote the large-scale application of artificial intelligence technology in the entire animation production chain, integrate innovation to activate IP value, and generate new growth points for integrated consumption of cultural, commercial, travel and sports exhibitions.
In the authoritative release session, the "China Animation Development Report (2026)" was released. The report shows that there will be 603 online cartoons and 6,657 episodes licensed for distribution in 2025; the AI penetration rate of the companies surveyed reached 90.3%; more than 93% of children watch animations regularly or occasionally, and TV is still the first scene for parent-child animation; "Nezha: The Devil Boy in the Sea" topped the box office list in Chinese film history with a domestic box office of 15.446 billion yuan, and its leading work has become an iconic carrier for the global expression of Chinese culture.
The "2026 China Animation Industry Development Trend Insights" was released, pointing out that the market size of China's animation industry will reach 469.77 billion yuan in 2025, with animation movie box office accounting for 49% of the annual movie box office, of which domestic animation accounts for 76%; the animation derivatives market size will reach 180.78 billion yuan, and the size of China's overseas animation market will reach 15.76 billion yuan. Animation has formed a "four arrows" development trend of movies, TV, Internet, and short plays. Chinese animation is moving from "products overseas" to "culture overseas".
"Beijing's Measures to Support Key Projects to Promote High-Quality Development of the Animation Industry" was released on the same day. Special support funds will be provided every year to focus on supporting four directions: R&D application projects, ecological service projects, integrated application projects and high-quality innovative market entities.
30 major Beijing audio-visual animation projects including "Luo Shen: Chinese Famous Paintings in Motion" were released. The animated series "My Childhood in the Hutong" has officially debuted. The film is supported and promoted by the Beijing Municipal Radio, Film and Television Bureau. It is set in Shichahai Hutong and tells the story of friendship, misunderstanding, bravery and farewell experienced by ordinary boy Hou Sensen in the four seasons of the year. The original author Zhou Min and director Wang Lei had a live conversation, sharing the original intention of the creation and the adaptation process.
In addition, the construction results of Beijing Huairou Great Wall International Animation Valley were also released on the same day.
During the keynote speech session, the guests discussed core topics such as digital intelligence transformation, AI creation, international communication, and talent cultivation. Ma Li, President of the China Animation Society, pointed out that China’s animation overseas is moving from a single breakthrough to a systematic advancement. The way to go overseas has formed four models: hot-selling breakthrough, long-term operation, matrix coverage, and co-production and co-creation. In the future, competition will no longer be just between works, but a comprehensive competition of content, platform, technology, and operational synergy capabilities.
Sun Lijun, dean of the China Animation Research Institute of the Beijing Film Academy and president of the Beijing Film and Television Animation Association, looked back on the 100-year history of Chinese animation with the title "The Road to the Development of Chinese Animation". He talked about classic art films to contemporary Chinese animation, sorted out the creative context and aesthetic exploration of Chinese animation in different historical stages, and pointed out that integrity and innovation are the consistent spiritual foundation of Chinese animation.
It is reported that the 2026 Beijing Animation Week will last until September 27. This Animation Week innovatively builds a "1+7+N" overall structure. Next, parallel forums, exhibitions, industrial venture capital and other activities under the framework of 7 core sections, as well as N market-oriented animation activities and the city's 16+1 district-linked animation theme activities will take turns.
