Cultural fair to showcase global creative power with record intl. participation

The 21st China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF), which will take place from May 22 to 26, is set to be a grand gathering for the world’s cultural sector.

It will showcase an unprecedented level of international participation, highlighting its growing role as a global platform for cultural exchange and innovation, according to a press conference yesterday.

A news conference announces the upcoming 21st ICIF in Shenzhen yesterday. Courtesy of the Information Office of Shenzhen Municipal Government

The number of "Belt and Road" countries participating in the ICIF, the global cooperation institutions involved, and the variety of products on display have all set new records. The international "circle of friends" of the fair has now expanded to nearly 100 countries and regions across the globe, bringing a diverse array of cultural products and creative collaborations.

Notable contributions include the Egyptian exhibition group, which will showcase multiple well-known cultural brands, and a Swedish luxury jewelry brand debuting rare amber collections from the Cretaceous period.

Performers engage with visitors during a live cultural show at the 20th ICIF, held in 2024 in Shenzhen. Photos from Shenzhen Special Zone Daily unless otherwise stated

This edition of the fair has organized a total of 6,280 government delegations, cultural institutions, and enterprises to participate both online and offline, an increase of 265 from the last session. Among them, 3,300 are offline-participating enterprises, up by 224 from the previous session, and 2,980 are online-participating enterprises, an increase of 41 from the last session. 

A total of 305 overseas exhibitors from 65 countries and regions around the world will participate online and offline. Professional overseas visitors from 110 countries and regions are also expected to attend the fair in person and virtually. 

A bustling crowd explores exhibition halls at last year’s ICIF in Shenzhen.

This year, the fair has attracted more than 300 leading brands from home and abroad, including over 60 "new friends" who are participating for the first time. During the exhibition period, the entire venue will host more than 120 new product launch events.

It will showcase more than 120,000 cultural products, and over 4,000 cultural industry investment and financing projects will be displayed and traded on-site.

Additionally, this year’s edition will highlight the empowerment of technology, with the first-ever establishment of an artificial intelligence (AI) exhibition area, inviting more than 60 renowned companies in the field of AI to participate.

An interactive e-sports zone at the 20th ICIF in 2024.

The fair’s main venue will be the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao’an District, with 52 subvenues across the city.

Renowned as the premier cultural exposition in China, the ICIF in Shenzhen has emerged as an unmissable highlight of the nation's cultural landscape. Over the years, it has recorded an impressive transaction volume exceeding 3 trillion yuan (US$476.19 billion), underscoring its significant economic impact and cultural relevance.