The annual Beijing 798 Art Festival is just around the corner. Scheduled to run from September 4 to October 7, the 20th edition, themed "Open Interaction", will center on art, urban culture, international exchange, and consumption. It will feature more than 100 dazzling exhibitions and events across multiple sections. Read this guide for more information.
Main Exhibition
This festival will introduce an art-and-technology-themed exhibition, showcasing innovations in digital art, artificial intelligence, and digital media. Below is the information:
Uncharted Realm I: Chinese Digital Art in the Pre-AI Era
Dates: September 4–26, 2026
Venue: 798 International Art Exchange Center
The exhibition will bring together multiple artists to review the development of Chinese digital art in the pre-AI era and explore the role of "human beings" in digital art in the AI age.
Parallel Exhibitions
During the festival, 110 exceptional exhibitions will run concurrently. Below are some highlights:
Carsten Höller: Two
Dates: July 14, 2026–January 31, 2027
Venue: UCCA Center for Contemporary Art
Planetary Navigation: As Above So Below
Dates: September 5, 2026–November 5, 2026
Venue: MACA Art Center
"Prehistoric Planet: Dinosaurs"—The Epic Immersive Experience
Dates: July 16, 2026–January 3, 2027
Venue: Fuxing Square in 798 Art District
White Spots: Evgenia Tut Solo Exhibition
Dates: September 5–26, 2026
Venue: Bounded Space
EN ROUTE III
Dates: August 15, 2026–September 12, 2026
Venue: HdM Gallery
Open Unit
This unit is about creating inclusive art experiences for the general public. Renowned Chinese and international artists will bring art into open public spaces through technology-based art experiences and interactive digital art installations.
Additionally, an AIGC (AI-generated content) workshop will be launched, covering four modules: AI-generated art, digital imagery, sound experiments, and digital intangible cultural heritage. This allows visitors to participate in the entire creative process from conceptual design to finished artworks.
Interaction Unit
This year's festival will feature a series of thematic seminars on artificial intelligence, algorithms, and art and technology, among other topics. Artists, scholars and practitioners from relevant fields will engage in these in-depth exchanges.
Moreover, the festival will roll out a series of concurrent exhibitions, in collaboration with several prominent art museums like Inside Out Art Museum, X Museum and Today Art Museum. The first Festival Brasil, themed "Flying River: A Diverse and Sustainable Brazil" (飞天之河：多元与可持续巴西), was launched on September 2 at the art district and will run until September 6. It presents thematic exhibitions, samba performances, handicraft workshops, and special seminars to showcase Brazil's diverse culture.
798 International Youth Art Week
The 798 International Youth Art Week will be held from October 1 to 7, serving as a platform for young people to join in artistic co-creation and self-expression. Highlights include the thematic exhibition "Artistic Growth" (艺趣生长), the interactive art installation "Endless Botanical Garden" (无限植物园), and neo-Chinese folk music performances. In addition, special family tickets will be available, enabling young participants to transform from exhibition visitors to creators in the digital era.
Throughout the festival, a special nighttime map will be available, featuring evening exhibitions, performances, dining venues, markets, and outdoor film screenings within the art district, helping attendees extend their art journeys from day into night.
For more details, please visit the official website of the 798 Art Festival. Scan the QR code below for access.
(Source: Official WeChat account of the Chaoyang District Bureau of Culture and Tourism)