Just a few days ago, CCTV officially released the full 2026 Spring Festival Gala.Program. Performance time: February 16, 2026, 20:00 A total of 36 programs, with a star-studded lineup.HighlightsIt's packed with content. I quickly sifted through the entire program list and highlighted a few key points for overseas viewers, along with a viewing guide.

Must-watch program highlights

• Highlight 1: Shen Teng and Ma Li team up for the skit "Chess Village A"! The golden duo Shen Teng and Ma Li are back! Their skit, "Chess Village A," is the sixth act, a highlight of the first half of the show. Judging from the title, it likely uses chess as a theme to tell a rural story, and the chemistry between Shen and Ma is definitely something to look forward to.
• Highlight 2:Zhou ShenDominating the screen, with two songs as a base Zhou Shen has at least two songs this year: "Nostalgia for Yichun" and "The Soul of Nüshu." One focuses on rural sentiment, while the other emphasizes cultural depth; he can handle both styles with ease. Zhou Shen's fans are absolutely thrilled with this performance.
• Highlight 3: Zhang Jie's three consecutive performances Zhang Jie has been making appearances extremely frequently this year—he's in all three programs: the opening song and dance "New Year's Money," the song "Malanshan," and the song "Love of Yushan." His workload is truly model worker level.
• Highlight 4: Jackie Chan, G.E.M., and Cheng Xiao – a stellar cast for "Flower Bay" This combination is amazing! Jackie Chan is the anchor, G.E.M. guarantees her vocal prowess, and Cheng Xiao brings the stage presence. "Flower Bay" is the 30th performance, placing it in the climax of the second half of the show—definitely worth watching.
• Highlight 5: Cai Ming's skit "Ode to the Rooster" Cai Ming is back! This time, she's teaming up with Qin Hailu and Mao Xiaotong, along with writers from the "China Farmers' Writers Village." Cai Ming's sketches never disappoint, and this year's lineup is refreshing.
• Highlight 6: Liu Lanfang's storytelling of "Qin Qiong Sells His Horse" Storytelling on the Spring Festival Gala! Liu Lanfang performed the classic piece "Qin Qiong Sells His Horse," a story about horses that resonates in the Year of the Horse—perfect for the occasion. These kinds of traditional performing arts programs are a unique feature of the Spring Festival Gala, rarely seen in other galas.
• Highlight 7: Magic Show Returns Deng Nanzi will team up with Liu Yan to perform a magic show titled "Witnessing the 'Qiji' (a legendary horse)". Magic performances on the Spring Festival Gala have been lackluster in recent years; will this duo be able to pull off something special this year? We'll have to wait and see.
• Highlight 8: Li Guyi's closing performance, "Unforgettable Tonight" A traditional staple of the Spring Festival Gala, Li Guyi's "Unforgettable Tonight" is a must-listen. No matter what you've seen before, the moment this song starts, the festive spirit is instantly there. This year, Wang Ying also joined in the performance, creating a blend of veteran and new talent.

Host lineup

The list of performers for the opening program, "Ode to the Horse," reveals this year's top-tier hosting team:

• LongyangThe main hosts of the Spring Festival Gala in recent years
• Sa BeiningThe star of variety shows, with top-notch stage presence.
• Ma FanshuRepresentative of the new generation of hosts
• Ma YueCCTV veteran, consistent performance
• Zhang YiyiNew faces, worth paying attention to. The host lineup is full of "horse" elements, which fits the theme of the Year of the Horse.

Complete Guide to Watching Overseas

Now that we've looked at the program schedule, let's get down to business:How do people overseas view the Spring Festival Gala?

Option 1: CCTV Video App (Recommended) CCTV Video is the official streaming platform of CCTV and the primary source for the Spring Festival Gala live broadcast. It boasts the highest picture quality, lowest latency, and is uncut. The problem is that accessing CCTV Video directly overseas often encounters regional restrictions, with much content displaying "Viewed only in Mainland China." Use QuickFox to accelerate your return to China. Once QuickFox is connected, CCTV Video will be accessible. Open the app, log in to your account, find the Spring Festival Gala live stream entry, and click to watch. Installation process: Download QuickFox from the official website → Register an account → Select a node to connect → Open CCTV Video. The whole process takes about two minutes.

Option 2: Bilibili live stream Bilibili (Bilibili.com) broadcasts the Spring Festival Gala live every year, and it even has bullet comments (danmaku). For those who enjoy watching and commenting simultaneously, Bilibili is the best choice. However, you'll need QuickFox to unlock regional restrictions. Bilibili's advantage lies in its interactivity—the bullet comment culture makes you feel like you're not watching alone, but with millions of others. The moment Shen Teng and Ma Li's skit ends, the bullet comments explode.

Option 3: iQiyi/Tencent Video/Migu Video These platforms will also broadcast or replay the Spring Festival Gala. QuickFox supports acceleration for these platforms, providing a single tool to solve all problems.

Time conversion

Spring Festival Gala live broadcast time:Beijing time, February 16, 2026 (Lunar New Year's Eve), around 20:00 - 00:30 the next day

Viewing Tips

This year's program lineup is truly impressive. Shen Teng, Ma Li, Zhou Shen, Zhang Jie, Jackie Chan, G.E.M.... a veritable who's who of top stars. Sketches, crosstalk, storytelling, magic, martial arts... a complete range of genres. The opening act, "Lucky Money," is lively and festive, while the closing act, "Unforgettable Tonight," is full of nostalgia. For those of us overseas, the technical issues are easily handled by QuickFox; all that's left is to find a comfortable position, turn on the screen, and celebrate the New Year with over a billion people. See you at 8 PM on February 16th for the Spring Festival Gala.