The 2026 China-ASEAN Micro-Drama Competition was officially launched on April 15 during the Micro-Drama High-Quality Development Forum, held alongside the opening of the 13th China Network Audio-Video Conference in Chengdu.
Organized jointly by China's National Radio and Television Administration, relevant departments of Brunei, and the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the micro-drama contest is one of six major events under the 8th China-ASEAN Audio-Visual Week scheduled for this year. This marks the inaugural edition of the newly established competition.
Lu Zhengning, Deputy Director of the Guangxi Radio and Television Bureau, stated that the competition is themed "AI Short Drama: Co-creation and Sharing." Entries will be accepted in three categories: live-action micro-dramas, AI-generated micro-dramas, and micro-drama scripts. Competition segments include "Unity and Collaboration for Mutual Success," with the aim of attracting high-quality works and original scripts from China and ASEAN member countries.
The submission period will run from April to July, followed by evaluation from August to September. Results will be announced and support funds distributed during the opening ceremony and gala of the 8th China-ASEAN Audio-Visual Week in Guangxi this October.
The launch of the competition aligns with the rapid growth of the industry. According to the "China Network Audio-Video Development Research Report (2026)," micro-dramas represent the fastest-growing category in terms of daily user engagement among online audio-video applications and are a major driver of China's audio-video content exports.
Lu Zhengning noted that ASEAN is a key target market for Chinese micro-drama exports. Chinese-produced micro-dramas have been well-received in ASEAN countries, with production companies from Thailand and Malaysia actively seeking co-production opportunities. The competition encourages diverse creative formats, including co-productions and adaptations of local stories, to foster cultural exchange and advance the audio-visual industry, thereby establishing a new hub for China-ASEAN micro-drama collaboration.
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