The Year of the Horse, symbolized by phrases like "immediate success," "leading the way," "vigorous spirit," and "advancing en masse," is celebrated in countless households and settings. The Spring Festival Gala remains the most discussed topic. The 2026 CCTV Year of the Horse Gala adopted the theme "Steeds Galloping." Among the world's estimated 1.5 million species, the horse stands out as one of the animals that has most significantly influenced human history. Before the widespread use of steam power, every advanced human civilization benefited from the immense propulsion provided by horses. As one publication noted, human history has largely been co-created with horses. While the relationship between humans and horses has evolved, core values such as "self-improvement" and "advancing together" persist. The Spring Festival Gala, a national tradition, has also introduced new elements this year.
The gala showcased significant technological integration. For many families, this may be the first Spring Festival where the presence of AI was distinctly noticeable. In content creation, highly realistic robots demonstrated a wide range of capabilities, from bionic companionship to martial arts, and from performing chores to offering assistance. The gala highlighted the vast potential of AI intelligence. Reports indicate that domestic AI played a substantial role in the galas of several major provincial TV stations. It functioned as a "life assistant" in skits, a "historical narrator" in museum segments, a "virtual partner" in magic acts, and even a witty respondent in comedy routines. From overall design and stage conception to text generation and creative planning, AI has redefined public perception of its capabilities and is subtly reshaping traditional Chinese New Year celebrations and daily life.
The gala also enhanced interactive engagement. A hallmark of the Web 3.0 era is interaction, which the gala achieved in two key ways. First, it collaborated with short-video platforms, integrating smartphone feeds into the main stage broadcast. This allowed hundreds of millions of viewers to see the main stage through mobile live streams, where every detail—from the flutter of red silk in the opening dance to the hosts' expressions and the shifting stage lights—appeared vivid and intimate. This demonstrated that everyday communication devices are now capable of meeting national aesthetic and technical standards. Second, the gala partnered with Bilibili to incorporate a real-time comment feature, or "danmu." Viewers flooded the screen with New Year greetings and expressions of excitement, creating a lively atmosphere. The danmu count reportedly reached 133 million, averaging 7,700 comments per second. This real-time interaction turned audience feedback into a "second stage," allowing netizens to become co-creators of the New Year's Eve spectacle. The gala successfully presented what audiences wanted to see and expressed their sentiments, marking the first official integration of live danmu by CCTV and presenting a more relatable image.
In recent years, the Spring Festival Gala has increasingly become a platform for merging cutting-edge technology with artistic aesthetics. Even before the 2026 gala concluded, a topic related to its visual segments trended online. One particularly challenging performance, involving complex transitions, was successfully executed within the studio, thanks to technological innovations like 3D modeling, augmented reality overlays, and AI-powered scene extension, creating stunning visual effects. Similarly, a popular song themed on renewal incorporated intangible cultural heritage elements such as embroidery and weaving into its costumes and set design. The blend of traditional Chinese aesthetics with modern technology continues to captivate audiences and gain widespread popularity.
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