Chronicle
CSIAF24 2025.10.17-11.27
Opening performanceTrue Elegance of Supreme Harmony: The Kunqu Opera Classics from the Imperial Palace (Season One) by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe
Closing performanceConcert by Daniel Harding and Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia
The Greater Bay Area Cultural Week was held, reaching new heights in the size of exchanges and volume of exhibits.
Residency performances held in Shanghai by the Shaanxi People’s Art Theatre.
“Parallel Sessions Express” was established for the first time, through the innovative format of “Art Festival Express”, CSIAF promoted the joint development of cultural exchange and tourism consumption in the Yangtze River Delta.
Tech-Art fusion became a new genre within Rising Artists’ Works.
Hosted the 5th Annual Conference of the Network of Silk Road Arts Festivals, which produced the significant Network of Silk Road Arts Festival Development Report (2017-2025), depicting the “Shanghai Plan” for global cooperation.
CSIAF23 2024.10.18-11.17
Opening performanceAzure After the Rain by the Shanghai Dance Theatre
Closing performanceSymphony concert by Tugan Sokhiev, Haochen Zhang and Münchner Philharmoniker
Residency performances held in Shanghai by the Beijing People's Art Theatre.
Discounted tickets introduced themed exhibition-and-performance passes for the first time, innovating public-benefit access models.
CSIAF22 2023.10.15-11.15
Opening ceremony performanceSymphony Concert "Ode to the Silk Road"
Closing performanceRelative Calm by Robert Wison & Lucinda Childs
In celebration of its 10th anniversary, Rising Artists’ Works recruited international young artistic talents for the first time and set up its first visual arts section.
Hosted the Network of Silk Road Arts Festival Forum, which became a platform with 180 member institutions from 49 countries and regions. 24 representatives from the member institutions of the network signed the “Shanghai Consensus” of the Network of Silk Road Arts Festival.
The Festival’s keynote forum was upgraded to the International Urban Culture Forum.
For the first time, the Parallel Session in Weifang, Shandong was established.
The first Nanxun International Children Arts Festival was held.
Introduced the CSIAF Impact Index Ranking.
Officially launched the new arts brand “ARTRA”.
CSIAF21 2019.10.18-11.17
Opening performanceLarge-scale acrobatic drama The Battle of Shanghai by the Shanghai Acrobatic Troupe and the Shanghai Circus School
Closing performanceConcert by the NDR Radiophilharmonie, Andrew Manze conductor, and Mengla Huang
Teatro Alla Scala made its full China debut with two complete opera productions, La Finta Giardiniera and Die Zauberflöte. This engagement was the first time in China that an opera company alternated repertoire in swift succession on the same stage.
The "Hong Kong Culture Week" was held.
CSIAF20 2018.10.19-11.22
Opening performanceSymphony Hidden Tapestries——Myths of Creation
Closing performanceDon Quixote by the Ballet Nacional de Cuba
Hosted “20-40 Homecoming" special programming for the 20th Anniversary of the China Shanghai International Arts Festival.
Planned "40th Anniversary of Reform and Opening-up Themed Performance Series".
The "Yangtze River Delta Regional Cultural Co-operation Forum" was formed.
The Parallel Session in Inner Mongolia, the first such session outside the Yangtze River Delta, was established.
The "Jiangsu Culture Week” was held.
CSIAF19 2017.10.20-11.19
Opening performanceLarge-scale choral symphony Revival
Closing performanceThe Makropulos Case by Janáček Opera of the National Theater Brno from the Czech Republic
The Network of Silk Road Arts Festivals was formally established, with a membership of 163 arts organizations from 44 countries and regions.
For the first time, the Parallel Session in Hefei was established.
The Student Arts Jury was established for the first time.
The “Guizhou Culture Week” was held.
The "Israeli Culture Week" was held to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Israel.
CSIAF18 2016.10.12-11.15
Opening performanceNew Oriental Chinese Music Scene by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra
Closing performancePrince Igor by the Kolobov Novaya Opera Theater of Moscow
For the first time, a Parallel Session in Ningbo was established.
The “Fujian Culture Week” was held.
The “Hungarian Culture Week” was held.
CSIAF17 2015.10.16-11.16
Opening performanceBreaking new ground, this edition of CSIAF had a double opening, featuring two Shanghai original productions: the stage musical Jews in Shanghai and the ballet Echoes of Eternity.
Closing performanceBallet La Bayedere by The Mariinsky Opera Ballet
For the first time, an “Arts Education” section was introduced under the theme “Art Magnet”. The program was designed by age group and level, covering audiences of all ages. More than 50 initiatives and nearly 100 events were held in communities, commercial districts, theaters, and schools, attracting close to 200,000 participants.
"Tibetan Culture Week" was held.
"Indian Culture Week" was held.
CSIAF16 2014.10.17-11.16
Opening performanceFour-Act Opera The Spring River by the Shanghai Conservatory and Zhou Xiaoyan Opera Center
Closing performanceSymphonic ballet Beethoven Symphony No.9 by the Bèjart Ballet Lausanne, Tokyo Ballet, Shanghai Ballet, and the Shanghai Opera House
For the first time, the “Art Space” performance series was established.
The "New Silk Road" Cultural Week was introduced.
The “Canadian Culture Week” was held.
CSIAF15 2013.10.18-11.18
Opening performanceBallet Swan Lake by Ballet de Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Closing performanceOriginal music drama National Anthem by the Shanghai Opera House
For the first time, CSIAF introduced its commissioned original works: Tan Dun’s Symphonic Poem Nv Shu Symphony for 13 Micro Films and drama Green Snake.
CSIAF initiated a collaboration with the Shanghai Theater Academy to produce the "Rising Artists’ Creative Week", using the campus of the Shanghai Theater Academy to host a variety of performances, masterclasses, boutique classes, and visual arts exhibitions.
A special zone for "live promotion performances" at the trade fair was created, and over a dozen Chinese and international folk music and world music ensembles offered live showcase performances.
"Ningxia Culture Week" was held.
CSIAF14 2012.10.18-11.20
Opening performanceOpera La Bohème by the Austria Salzburg Festival
Closing performanceRussia’s Mariinsky Theater Orchestra, under the direction of Gergiev and the young pianist Lang Lang
Established the "Rising Artists’ Works (R.A.W.!)" program, building an incubator for young creative artists with international aspirations. Renowned composer Tan Dun serves as Chairman of the Artistic Committee, and nine young artistic talents were selected for commissioned works.
For the first time, a parallel session was established in Wuxi within the Yangtze River Delta region
CSIAF13 2011.10.18-11.18
Opening performanceDance drama Goddess and the Dreamer by the Zhengzhou Song and Dance Theater
Closing performanceBallet The Taming of the Shrew by Germany’s Bayerisches Staatsballett
CSIAF12 2010.9.27-10.27
Opening performanceOriginal fashion ballet Marco Polo - The Last Mission by the Shanghai Ballet
Closing performancethe Israel Philharmonic Orchestra concert, directed by legendary conductor Zubin Mehta.
Concurrent with the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the theme of this year's festival was "Dazzling Expo, Dancing Shanghai", expressing the Expo’s theme with art.
CSIAF11 2009.10.18-11.18
Opening performanceLarge-scale original dance drama Wang Zhaojun by the Hubei Song and Dance Theater
Closing performanceOriginal opera King of Chu by the Shanghai Opera House
The first art campus tour was organized.
The first Shanghai Puppet Festival was held.
CSIAF10 2008.10.18-11.18
Opening performanceOriginal Chinese Dance Drama Peony Pavilion by the Qian Xian Song and Dance Ensemble of Political Department of Nanjing Military District and Beijing Da Du Yang Guang Art Troupe
Closing performanceSymphony concert by St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Russia
For the first time, parallel sessions were held in other provinces and municipalities. Three productions were sent to Sichuan Province.
CSIAF09 2007.10.18-11.18
Opening performanceDance Spectacle “Drum Dance” The Sound of Dragon by the Shanghai Song and Dance Ensemble and the Shanghai Oriental Youth Dance Troupe
Closing performanceThe Czech Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert in Shanghai, a highlight of its Asian Tour.
CSIAF08 2006.10.17-11.18
Opening performancethe large-scale dance drama A Handful of Sour Jujube by the Shanxi Huajin Art Troupe
Closing performanceA Midsummer Night's Dream by the Ballet Company of Italy’s Teatro Alla Scala
The first “International Performing Arts Trade Fairs Alliance” meeting was held.
The first "Gold Catalogue" promotional event for outstanding Chinese theater productions was held.
CSIAF07 2005.10.18-11.18
Opening performanceChinese-international co-production of Rossini’s classic The Barber of Seville.
Closing performanceAcrobatic ballet Swan Lake by the Guangzhou Military Region Warrior Acrobatic Troupe and the Shanghai City Dance Company
The “Guest Province” programs were introduced for the first time, the first being the performance and exhibition series “Journey to Land of Wonder Yunnan”.
CSIAF06 2004.10.15-11.18
Opening performanceLarge-scale original dance drama A Dream of Red Mansions by the Beijing Zhanyou Dance Ensemble and the Shanghai City Dance Company
Closing performanceLarge-scale classical ballet Sylvia in cooperation with the National Ballet of China and French dancers
CSIAF05 2003.10.18-11.18
Opening performanceLarge-scale original dance drama Farewell My Concubine, jointly produced by the Shanghai Oriental Youth Dance Troupe and the Shanghai City Dance Company
Closing performanceArgentinian tango musical Tanguera
Introduced the Arts Festival’s discounted ticket scheme for the first time, with tens of thousands of discounted tickets offered to the public, enabling a broader audience to enter theaters and enjoy the arts.
The first Asia-Pacific Arts Festival Alliance Conference and the Yangtze River Delta Cultural Co-operation and Development Forum were held.
CSIAF04 2002.11.1-12.1
Opening PerformanceOpera La Bohème by the Shanghai Opera House and an Italian cast
Closing performanceClassic ballet The Fountain of Bakhchisaray by the National Ballet of China
The first “Guest Country Cultural Week” was launched. The "Australian Cultural Week" was held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia.
The first "Arts Festival Forum" was held, with representatives of leading Chinese and international arts festivals and performance agencies gathering to discuss topics such as "arts festivals and the performance market", "arts festivals and urban development" , etc.
CSIAF03 2001.11.1-12.1
Opening performanceGala Show The Brilliance of China
Closing performanceEthnic ballet dance theater Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai by Shanghai Ballet
Launched for the first time the “Everyday Performance” series of public cultural activities on Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street
The first Shanghai Magic Festival was held.
CSIAF joined the International Society for Performing Arts (ISPA)
CSIAF02 2000.11.1-12.1
Opening performanceThe massive and spectacular opera co-production of Aida, which included performances by Chinese and international artists, set three records for "the largest stage set, the most opera performers, the most opera audience", recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Closing performanceDance Drama Wild Zebra by the Shanghai Oriental TV Youth Dance Troupe, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Opera House Choir & OTV Xiao Huo Ban Art Group.
The Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival was established as the main operating body and permanent institution of the Festival.
CSIAF01 1999.11.1-12.1
Approved by the State Council of the PRC, hosted by the Ministry of Culture of the PRC and undertaken by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, the first China Shanghai International Arts Festival was held on the banks of the Huangpu River.
Opening performanceLarge-scale costume dance Golden Dance with Silver Dresses by the Shanghai Song and Dance Ensemble
Closing performanceOpera La Traviata by the UK’s Royal Opera House Covent Garden (in collaboration with Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and others)
The first CSIAF International Performing Arts Fair was held: 96 representatives of domestic and international performance agencies, performance ensembles, and venues participated in the fair, and 48 letters of intent were signed.
141 guests in 39 groups from 24 countries and regions came to Shanghai to participate in the Festival.
