Latest Events in Shenzhen(December Updated)

The world-renowned Verbier Festival, an international classical music extravaganza, has gained fame for gathering numerous musical masters and is hailed as the "star-studded circle of classical music." It's not just a premier classical music festival brand, but also a vital force driving the collision of musical ideas, the inheritance of music education, the popularization of musical aesthetics, and the cross-boundary fusion of musical performances. Through initiatives like the "Academy" and "Rising Stars" programs, it continuously nurtures new talents in international classical music, attracting global music enthusiasts annually. The festival has successfully built a unique cultural ecosystem that is "art-centered with lifestyle as its medium." In 2026, the globally renowned Verbier Festival, a top-tier classical music event, will be grandly held in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China from January 30 to February 8. World-class classical music maestros will gather in this "City of Peng" (Shenzhen's nickname), inviting you to join the "Shenzhen Rendezvous." With the theme "Harmony Between Music and Nature," the festival aims to elevate cultural tourism consumption levels. Aligned with the development goal of creating an "International Performing Arts Capital" that leads the Greater Bay Area, sets domestic benchmarks, and achieves global recognition, the event is organized by the Shenzhen Municipal Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism, and Sports Bureau and the Longgang District People's Government. With strong support and guidance from the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department and Shenzhen Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department, the Verbier Festival will make Shenzhen its three-year home, striving to establish a new benchmark for live classical music performances in Asia. Shenzhen Concert Hall and Longgang International Art Center will collaborate with the Verbier Festival and Wu Promotion to bring this music festival beyond Europe to Shenzhen, presenting global music lovers with a "Tale of Two Cities" that blends classical and contemporary expressions, creating a new artistic synergy between the two locations with "Summer in Verbier, Winter in Pengcheng." The Verbier Festival comes to Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, presenting 21 high-quality concerts and 7 masterclasses over 10 days, along with diverse artistic exchanges, creative interactions, and engaging merchandise activities. The festival brings together a stellar lineup of global classical music luminaries including Martha Argerich, Mischa Maisky, Janine Jansen, Mikhail Pletnev, Gautier Capuçon, Lang Lang, Joshua Bell, Bruce Liu, Alexandra Conunova, Timothy Ridout, and many other world-class musicians. These maestros will gather in Shenzhen for artistic dialogues and creative exchanges, delivering unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime concert experiences that belong on every music lover's bucket list. Carrying forward the "master inheritance" legacy of the Verbier Festival Academy, this event will bring together outstanding young musicians from across Asia and around the world in Shenzhen. Participants will not only have the opportunity to learn cutting-edge international music education concepts but also receive invaluable one-on-one mentorship and knowledge sharing from top-tier music masters, gaining crucial career-launching experience. Music enthusiasts can also immerse themselves in the experience by attending concert rehearsals, participating in themed music salon activities, and cultivating artistic appreciation and musical perception through these interactive engagements.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Peanuts, Shenzhen hosted several special exhibitions themed around Snoopy.

The Hello Kitty Cosmos Light and Shadow Exhibition in Shenzhen will be held from November 1st to January 25th of next year. The nearly 2,000 square meters of immersive futuristic fantasy space features ten panoramic exhibition areas, including the "Apple Forest" with a 10-meter-high apple and Hello Kitty; the "Birth" exhibiting paintings and sculptures; the "Daydream" where you can find a group of characters floating on the clouds; the "Colorful Vision" where the entire dome is an interactive light and shadow scene; the "Fun Memory" with a giant bow pool and a comic wall; the "Cute Hug" where Hello Kitty and characters such as the water monster and KURUMI transform into glowing balloons; the "Pixel Fantasy" where you enter the pixel world of Hello Kitty; the "Wishing Quicksand" where projections create a wonderful giant quicksand illusion; the "Gorgeous Party" where you can have fun on a carousel with other popular characters; and the "Wish Wonderland" with the addition of digital technology. Using technological means including holographic projection, motion capture devices, light and shadow art, Hello Kitty Kitty's classic symbols are combined with futuristic fantasies, and I believe fans will be so tired of checking in.

Following successful runs in the US, Europe, Australia, and Singapore, Harry Potter: The Forbidden Forest Experience makes its debut in China. Inspired by the Forbidden Forest (Dark Forest) bordering the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, this immersive experience is presented by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment in collaboration with Fever and Holovis. The adventure brings to life iconic scenes and creatures from the *Harry Potter™* and *Fantastic Beasts™* film series, creating a magical forest encounter. Visitors will journey 1–2 km through a lantern-lit woodland, discovering wondrous creatures and reliving unforgettable wizarding world moments in this spectacular nighttime adventure. After the expedition, head to the themed village at the trail's end to enjoy magical-themed food and beverages, and browse an array of exquisite merchandise and souvenirs to complete your adventure. Featuring around 20 immersive scenes, this globally touring attraction has already enchanted over 2 million visitors across 10 cities worldwide.

"Meta Sense: Beyond Perception" is an innovative new media art exhibition that blends technology and art, aiming to stimulate sensory experiences through interactive installations, virtual reality, and augmented reality technologies. Featuring works from global artists and creative teams, the exhibition presents diverse artworks exploring the intersection of human perception and the digital world. Visitors can engage with immersive environments to experience the dynamic fusion of art and technology. More than just a visual feast, this exhibition boldly explores future artistic expressions.

"British Library Pixels of the World," an exhibition showcasing the world's civilizations at the British Library, showcases over 100 sets of legendary replicas from the library's 170 million-item collection. The exhibition weaves together 2,000 years of human intellectual history through five key themes: "Exploring the Universe," "Literary Gallery," "Music Hall," "Fairytale Kingdom," and "Science Festival." Visitors can fully explore masterpieces such as the Crankey Atlas, Shakespeare's First Folio, Newton's Gravity Manuscript, Leonardo da Vinci's Arundel Codex, and Mozart and Beethoven scores. Visitors can also "travel back to historical moments" through interactive technologies like 3D models, AR/VR, and real-life fairytale scenes. Experience a cross-temporal dialogue with top-tier experts at home, and experience the breathtaking pixel-perfect world of civilization.

Program Highlights Large water curtain light show The super shocking visual opening, lights, water curtain and shocking music kicked off this water and fire show in the water show theater. Spitfire Interactive The actor appeared in the audience holding a flamethrower, and the fire dragon rose up and the heat wave hit the face. On-site interaction can unlock hidden plot props and enhance the immersive experience. Fire Quadruple Attack The flaming knife slashes out sparks, the flaming stick dances out afterimages, the flaming gun detonates the water curtain, and the hot wheels spin and burn all over, showing a variety of fire dance skills. Flying Carbon Fire Dragon Two people lift the carbon fire dragon into flight, and its scales turn into liquid amber in the waves, combined with holographic projection to interpret the myth of "Golden Crow Chasing the Sun". Flower The intangible cultural heritage craftsmen threw the molten iron into the sky, and a golden star waterfall instantly bloomed. The water curtain simultaneously presented the "galaxy countercurrent", and traditional skills and modern technology complemented each other. Water curtain fountain fusion dance The water curtain is like a painting: the opening turns into a starry sky with dancers dancing gracefully; the joyful atmosphere allows the audience to experience the feast at a closer distance, and every frame can be captured and treasured.

Artist Piano: Martha Argerich, Mikhail Pletnev Performance repertoire Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Andante and Variations in G Major, K. 501 Franz Schubert: Fantasy in F Minor, D. 940 -- Intermission -- (Pending) Tchaikovsky/Pletnev - To Be Determined (Program subject to change based on live performance.)

Following the phenomenal experience "The Missing Pharaoh," Bó Xīn Universe officially introduces its second large-scale virtual reality experience—"Era of Life: An Immersive Exploration"—to the Chinese market. This immersive journey is co-produced by Excurio, the creator of "The Missing Pharaoh," and the over 230-year-old French National Museum of Natural History (Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle). It takes audiences through 3.5 billion years of Earth's evolution, showcasing life's transformation across each major epoch. Marking its debut outside France after premiering at the French National Museum of Natural History, the experience also incorporates Chinese elements, vividly recreating the Cambrian-period landscapes of Chengjiang, Yunnan, and its surrounding areas. Audiences can "step into" the ancient shallow seas and witness firsthand the geological and biological wonders of prehistoric China.

Shenzhen's resident ambient suspense drama "Chesia" centers on the murder of Anya, the "Queen of Musicals," in her dressing room, creating an immersive feast of drama and mystery. The theater features a one-to-one replica of the actual crime scene, with clues hidden in details like dresser drawers and sofa crevices. Thirty-two subplots and four possible endings create a sense of uncertainty in each performance. Audiences can choose to become "high-powered forensics officers," entering the theater 75 minutes early to dig for evidence, or become "professional detectives," poring over the case files. Guided by detectives, they confront suspects ranging from veteran actors to top idols, ultimately deciding the plot's trajectory through voting. This interactive format, which transcends the boundaries of the stage, transforms the audience from spectators into participants, allowing them to experience the dramatic tension of the mind-bending mystery. Its open-ended ending makes it a must-see.