As spring breezes arrive, so does the joy! The 2026 Shanghai Citizens' Cultural Festival City Aesthetic Education Day (Changning District) and "Release Your Dopamine" — 2026 "Best Hongqiao" Carnival spring edition will kick off on March 28, with a series of events taking place across spring and autumn. From special performances and intangible cultural heritage experiences to fun interactions and creative workshops, there's something for everyone. Impromptu challenges and joyful interactions await — come unlock the beauty of culture and arts and unleash your happiness!

Grand launch! Xinhongqiao Center Park awaits your visit on March 28

The launch day event will feature a special performance lasting over 60 minutes, showcasing professional performers alongside local talent, delivering a high-standard audiovisual feast for the public. The lively line dance "Let's Dance Together!" will ignite the stage, while the GOOD Morning Choir will offer a gentle, healing rendition of "Fragrance of Rice." The guqin solo "Three Variations on the Yang Pass" will bring ancient melodies to life, and Jiangnan sizhu (silk and bamboo) ensemble "Purple Bamboo Melody" will gather liuqin players, ruan players, and other musicians to perform the elegance of Jiangnan. Ma Zhongqi (Malian) will present a medley of classic TV and movie songs including "Coffee Shop" with guitar, accompanied by Zhang Jinkun's saxophone solo "Passing by the Coffee Shop," filling the air with contemporary melodies. Traditional acrobatics featuring balancing acts and diabolo will make a stunning appearance, and the group dance "Stories by the Ancient Well" will bring vivid, lively scenes. A diverse array of programs will unfold, capturing all the joy of spring.

On the same day, "Release Your Dopamine" — 2026 "Best Hongqiao" Carnival spring edition will officially launch. Staff will display a QR code with recruitment information, announcing details for talent recruitment in the first half of the year. Scan the code to unlock the opportunity to take the stage!

It's worth noting that from March 27 to 28, the Spring Tour Carnival Market will also be on site for two consecutive days, bringing citizens and tourists high-quality travel routes in the Yangtze River Delta region, urban micro-travel itineraries, exclusive on-site promotions, as well as travel consultation and itinerary explanations.

Event time: 3pm-4:30pm, March 28

Venue: Lawn of Xinhongqiao Center Park (2238 Yan'an Road W.)

Participation: Follow the "Shanghai Changning Culture and Arts Center (上海长宁文化艺术中心)" WeChat official account to register

Spring renewal! Five themed events unlock diverse experiences

"Release Your Dopamine" — 2026 "Best Hongqiao" Carnival spring edition will run from March 28 to April 25, with five consecutive sessions held every Saturday from 2pm to 3pm at Xinhongqiao Center Park. Each session will feature a unique theme, combining special performances, interactive experiences, and themed workshops, bringing culture into daily life and making joy accessible to all:

1. Launch Day (March 28): Experience four themed art zones (music, dance, theater, intangible cultural heritage), citizen co-creation interactions, team showcases and recruitment — kicking off the spring cultural feast;

2. Retro Trend Day (April 4): Retro fashion show, vintage record exhibition, nostalgic games — immerse yourself in classics and explore retro trend styles;

3. ICH Renewal Day (April 11): Paper-cutting, shadow puppetry, and other intangible cultural heritage displays, live performances by inheritors, teaching workshops, themed exhibitions — bringing traditional heritage to life;

4. Nature Coexistence Day (April 18): Natural art installations, plant graffiti creation, paired with eco-friendly handicraft workshops — spreading green ecological concepts;

5. Family Joy Day (April 25): Parent-child games, children's theater performances, warm parent-child craft workshops — creating wonderful family moments.

Autumn continuation! Five themed events showcase new cultural highlights

"Release Your Dopamine" — 2026 "Best Hongqiao" Carnival autumn edition is tentatively scheduled for September to October, with five themed sessions on Saturdays from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, continuing the joy of spring and unlocking new cultural experiences:

1. Color Healing Day: Color psychology lectures paired with color graffiti, meditation, and other interactive experiences — healing the mind through art;

2. Music Rhythm Day: Diverse outdoor music festival performances, interactive music workshops — unlocking the joy of music creation;

3. Art Creativity Day: Creative art activities such as graffiti and collage, paired with a creative market — letting imagination run wild;

4. Cross-Disciplinary Fusion Day: Cross-disciplinary performances combining music and dance, theater and visual arts — artist talks sharing creative inspiration;

5. Annual showcase: Integrating outstanding programs from spring and autumn, creating an immersive performance feast — celebrating the talent of the community.

Everyone participates! Three interactive ways to spark joy

The "Release Your Dopamine" series breaks down the boundaries of being a "spectator," creating a cultural stage for everyone. Three fun interactive experiences run through spring and autumn, waiting for you to explore:

Decibel Competition: Use applause and cheers as votes; a decibel meter captures peak sound levels in real time. The most enthusiastically received participant at each session will be crowned "Decibel King."

Impromptu Challenge: A dedicated registration desk is set up on site, with staff assisting in completing application forms. After approval, the organizing committee will coordinate scheduling, notifying participants of performance details one week in advance. Take the stage to compete for the "Decibel King" title!

Themed Workshops: Each session includes corresponding themed workshops, with professional instructors and intangible cultural heritage inheritors offering on-site instruction, allowing citizens to deeply experience the joy of cultural creation.

Citywide recruitment! Showcase your talent on an open stage

The "Release Your Dopamine" series is now open for long-term recruitment, welcoming individuals or groups living or working in Shanghai, with no age limits or genre restrictions. Music (vocal/instrumental), dance, theater, opera and folk arts, intangible cultural heritage skills — all are welcome to register. Discover local artistic talent and give everyone with skill and passion the opportunity to shine on stage in spring and autumn!

Who Can Apply:

1. Community arts groups from Changning District's subdistricts and towns (community choirs, orchestras, dance troupes, folk theater troupes, etc.)

2. Community talent, individual artists, and groups with artistic skills and stage experience

How to Apply:

Submission address: Public Culture Guidance Department, Shanghai Changning Culture and Arts Center (Room 312, 650 Xianxia Road)

Contact number: 021-62421443 (Wang Wen, Wang Jingyu)

Application email: yishuzhidaobu@126.com

Submission Materials:

① Complete video of the performance (1080P horizontal shooting, fixed camera, one continuous shot, MP4/MOV format, within 500MB)

② Completed application form (available upon inquiry)

Submit the form and video as attachments to the application email, with the email subject line indicating program name + contact person + contact information.

Release your dopamine! Spark your joy!

The 2026 "Best Hongqiao" Carnival promises a wonderful lineup in both spring and autumn.

Join the spring launch on March 28 at Xinhongqiao Center Park.

Through culture, meet beauty, and shine brightly!