China sci‑fi convention opens
The 2026 China Science Fiction Convention opened at Beijing’s Shougang Park with a robot host, satellite‑linked visuals and a major industry report — a three‑day event positioning China as a global speculative‑fiction hub (news.cgtn.com). Organizers are explicitly tying sci‑fi to tech and media industries as part of a broader cultural push (news.cgtn.com).
Organizers released an industry report at the opening showing China’s sci‑fi sector generated 126.1 billion yuan in 2025, a 15.7% year‑on‑year increase and the third consecutive year the sector exceeded 100 billion yuan. (CGTN, ) The three‑day convention is scheduled March 27–29 at Shougang Park in Beijing’s Shijingshan District and is listed as a parallel/sub‑event of the broader Zhongguancun Forum, which organizers say will feature more than 100 events and over 1,000 guests from 100+ countries and regions. (Beijing Municipal Government, ) (Zhongguancun Forum, ) The official CSFC 2026 site lists the permanent theme as “Scientific Dreams, Creating the Future” and the annual theme as “Gathering for Ten Years, Intelligent Initiation of the New Era,” noting the convention has been held at Shougang Park for five consecutive years. (CSFC official site, ) Programming is divided into four major sections—opening ceremony, forums and meetings, industry promotions, and public sub‑events—with organizers advertising more than 20 sub‑events plus the concurrent International Sci‑Fi and Future Tech Expo and the Beijing Science Fiction Carnival. (Shijingshan District press, ) (China Daily, ) Public activities include six complimentary film screenings at the Shijingshan District Cultural Center—with titles and times listed by the municipality (Mutant, Bureau 749, Crazy Alien, The Wandering Earth, The Wandering Earth 2, Moon Man) and 80 seats available per showing on a first‑come, first‑served basis. (Beijing Municipal Government, ) Event promotion and on‑site footage show robot volunteers and at least one robot co‑host deployed to greet attendees, and organizers’ promotional video explicitly highlights “robot volunteers” serving at the convention. (CGTN, ) (Promotional video, )
