At a press conference on October 8 hosted by the Shaanxi Provincial Culture and Tourism Department, officials announced that the 10th Silk Road International Arts Festival will take place in Shaanxi Province from October 12 to November 10.
This year’s festival is envisioned as “a grand celebration of Silk Road arts, a bridge connecting hearts, and a festival for the people.” It will feature performances by artists from 15 different countries and regions, including Austria, Hungary, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, showcasing a total of 33 performances and 63 shows. In a record-breaking showcase, the “Today’s Silk Road International Art Invitation Exhibition” will display 789 artworks from 113 countries and regions.
Alongside the opening and closing ceremonies, attendees can look forward to an array of events including outstanding performances, an International Children’s Theatre Week, a Japan-China Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition, a Silk Road Choral Concert, and a vibrant Silk Road Carnival.
This year, the festival reaffirms its commitment to community outreach with initiatives such as the “Silk Road Carnival” and “International Children’s Theatre Week,” highlighting the importance of making the arts accessible to everyone. Artists from both domestic and international backgrounds, along with selected festival productions, will embark on community tours across various cities, neighborhoods, business districts, and schools in Shaanxi Province as part of the “United in Spirit” outreach program. In-person performances will be available at affordable ticket prices, and key events will feature live text and video broadcasts to encourage greater public engagement.
For the first time, the festival will introduce a “Silk Road ‘Flash’ Theatre Carnival” that focuses on micro-theater performances. This initiative aims to boost the local micro-theater scene through screenings, roadshows, and script submissions, encouraging audiences to “travel with micro-theater” and fostering a healthy integration of cultural tourism and micro-theater to stimulate economic consumption.
Since its inception in 2014, the Silk Road International Arts Festival has successfully hosted nine editions, attracting participants from over 120 countries and regions. The festival has showcased 273 remarkable productions and over 3,200 artworks and items of intangible cultural heritage. Its scale has significantly expanded, enhancing its brand value and increasing its influence on the international stage.