By Xiao Ran
As the world-renowned Shen Yun Performing Arts celebrates its 20th anniversary, its 2026 global touring season has officially kicked off on Dec. 18 in France. Shen Yun International Company arrived in Paris on Dec. 16, marking the start of a new European tour that is already generating extraordinary demand.
In Poland, performances across four cities have all added extra shows amid continued sellouts, while in the U.S. state of Texas, more than 20 cities have issued official commendations praising Shen Yun for its outstanding contributions to reviving traditional Chinese culture and promoting universal values.
RELATED: ‘It was incredible’: Shen Yun Wows Audience Members at Lincoln Center
Kicking off this year’s world tour
During the 2026 season, Shen Yun will once again take the stage at many of the world’s most prestigious theaters, including 18 performances at New York’s Lincoln Center David H. Koch Theater, 12 at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C., eight at Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre, 16 at Paris’s Palais des Congrès, 11 at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre, and 14 at Milan’s Teatro degli Arcimboldi.
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The company will also perform five shows for the first time at Copenhagen’s Royal Arena, while returning to major venues such as Mexico City’s National Auditorium.
Founded in 2006 and based in New York, Shen Yun has become a luminous presence on the global arts stage. Its performances combine classical Chinese dance, a live orchestra, meticulously handcrafted costumes, and high-tech animated backdrops to vividly revive the essence of 5,000 years of divinely inspired Chinese civilization. Over the past two decades, Shen Yun has performed in more than 200 cities across five continents, reaching audiences numbering in the tens of millions.
The 2026 season will span at least 20 countries and nearly 200 cities, presenting hundreds of performances over five months. Eight touring companies will perform simultaneously across the globe. On January 4, eight companies will appear in eight cities on the same day; on Jan. 24, as many as 14 performances will be staged simultaneously, drawing nearly 30,000 audience members.
Shen Yun opens in Paris
On the afternoon of Dec. 16, Shen Yun International Company artists were greeted with flowers and thunderous applause from French fans as they emerged from Charles de Gaulle Airport. The moment marked not only the official launch of the 2026 world tour, but also reflected the strong anticipation among French audiences.
According to organizers, the France tour will span 15 cities with 99 performances and approximately 247,000 tickets. As of Dec. 15, shows in 10 cities were already sold out, with 170,000 tickets sold by Nov. 6. The opening performance will take place on Dec. 18 in Amnéville, in France’s Grand Est region. Due to overwhelming demand, the 2027 season is expected to expand to 18 cities, 118 performances, and 300,000 tickets.
French Shen Yun promotion coordinator Tang Hanlong said group bookings have become the norm. More than 120 groups purchased tickets during the 2025 season, rising to over 500 groups for 2026, with dozens already pre-booking tickets for 2027.
‘Shen Yun brings hope to society’
Shen Yun orchestra trombonist Alistair Crawford said Shen Yun brings hope to society: “The performance revives traditional culture and presents universal values, doing good and walking a righteous path ultimately leads to a beautiful future.”
Principal dancer Ren Ganyong said he felt “honored” and “excited,” emphasizing that Shen Yun conveys “hope and compassion,” showcases China’s traditional culture before communism, and reveals the truth. Despite interference from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), he said, such efforts have proven “counterproductive.”
Principal dancer Pan Chengxue expressed hope that audiences would take away light and traditional values, while erhu soloist Wang Zhen noted France’s long historical affinity with Chinese culture, citing King Louis XIV’s fascination with Chinese craftsmanship in the 17th century. She said she hopes Shen Yun’s all-new 2026 program will inspire people’s inner kindness and reverence for the divine.
Poland adds shows as demand soars
Shen Yun has sparked a major sensation in Poland, where audiences — many with lived experience under communism — deeply resonate with its portrayal of “China before communism.” Word-of-mouth has driven ticket sales to extraordinary levels.
The 2026 Poland tour will open on Dec. 28 in the historic city of Toruń, covering Toruń, Białystok, Łódź, and Lublin. Originally scheduled for 14 performances, organizers added one show in each city, bringing the total to 18, yet demand still exceeds supply. Tickets in Toruń and Białystok are already sold out.
The governors and mayors of Łódź and Toruń granted Shen Yun Honorary Patronage, a high distinction in Poland reserved for cultural events of exceptional artistic merit and prestige.
Texas issues flurry of commendations
In Texas, more than 20 cities have issued official proclamations marking Shen Yun’s 20th anniversary. The commendations praise Shen Yun for reviving 5,000 years of traditional Chinese culture through top-tier artistry and for promoting universal values such as loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, tolerance, and filial piety. They also specifically recognize the artists’ courage and resilience in the face of transnational repression by the CCP.
From late August through September, mayors and city councils in Palmview, Donna, Lancaster, Euless, Seagoville, and Giddings issued the first commendations. On Sept. 15, Palmview Mayor Ricardo Villarreal declared the day “Shen Yun Day,” praising Shen Yun as an American company that brings beauty and cultural enrichment to communities and the nation.
Subsequently, eight more Texas cities joined, including Arlington, Corpus Christi, Pearland, Waxahachie, Farmers Branch, Sachse, Nassau Bay, and Taylor Lake Village. Several mayors declared official “Shen Yun Performing Arts Day,” commending the company’s artistic excellence, cultural exchange, and enduring impact.
Commendations noted that despite CCP pressure, including attempts to cancel performances, false bomb threats, disinformation, and legal harassment, Shen Yun artists continue to convey beauty, hope, and inspiration with compassion and perseverance.
Over the past 20 years, Shen Yun’s influence has continued to expand, offering audiences spiritual elevation and hope. As many viewers have expressed, in turbulent times, Shen Yun shines like a light that uplifts the human spirit. Audiences around the world now look forward to the 2026 season as Shen Yun continues to touch hearts and write a new chapter in its global legacy.
For more information, including upcoming shows and available tickets, please click on Shen Yun’s official site here.
