The 31st Shanghai TV Festival opens on June 22 and runs through June 26.

Founded in 1986 as China's first international television festival, it has grown into one of Asia's leading audiovisual platforms, bringing together global creative talent and new industry ideas.

Expanding global reach

This year's Magnolia Awards, the festival's top honors, received more than 1,000 submissions from 60 countries and regions across five continents, up from 43 countries and regions last year.

The overseas TV series category alone received 184 entries, compared with 142 in 2025, while the number of participating countries rose from 28 to 37.

Submissions came from a wider range of countries, including Egypt, Pakistan, Brazil, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand, helping broaden participation beyond the awards' traditionally strong European representation.

International jury

The Magnolia Awards jury comprises 15 professionals from seven countries: Ireland, Germany, France, Malaysia, Singapore, Italy, and China.

Embracing micro-dramas

This year's festival will make the high-quality development of micro-dramas a key focus, with a series of industry events aimed at driving innovation.

An AI micro-drama forum and a dedicated salon on AI animated comics will examine the opportunities and challenges AI brings to audiovisual content creation.

Culture meets commerce

The Magnolia Awards Ceremony will take place in the Lin-gang Special Area on June 26.

Also in Lin-gang, a dedicated Drama Street will bring together several popular films and television series and offer three themed experience areas. Visitors can pick up a Drama Street guide, collect stamps and earn points at brand booths, participating shops, and other check-in points, and redeem them for limited-edition merchandise.

Free screenings at multiple venues

Nearly 30 outstanding Chinese and international programs will be screened free of charge at 11 venues across eight districts, in partnership with the Shanghai Mass Art Center.

The lineup is divided into six themed sections: Joyful Childhood, Dazzling Planet, Extraordinary Lives, Focus on Asia-Africa, Samba in Full Swing, and the STVF × Hasbro collaboration section.

Reservations for the free screenings are available via the Damai app.

Sources: STVF, Shanghai Observer