The 2026 Shanghai Movie Fans Festival, a part of the Shanghai International Film & TV Festival, opened on May 29 and will run through June 21.

The inaugural edition last year drew over 200,000 participants and generated over 100 million online impressions. Building on that success, this year's festival deepens the integration of film culture with city tourism, retail, and urban spaces, injecting new energy into Shanghai's cultural and consumer market.

A look back at Hong Kong cinema classics

The festival opens with a special screening program centered on Hong Kong's classic films, running from May 29 to June 7 at the Grand Cinema on West Nanjing Road in Huangpu district.

Eight landmark films from Hong Kong have been selected, including The Myth, Center Stage and Shanghai Grand. The lineup spans fantasy epics, romantic dramas, biographical films, and comedies, offering movie lovers a chance to revisit the unique charm of Hong Kong cinema.

Immersive carnival experience

From June 12 to 14, the festival's main venue will be set up at Dongtai Li in Xintiandi, transforming the area into an open-air film theme park. The carnival will feature three immersive photo installations, a market with 26 film-themed booths, and six fan exchange stalls offering collectibles, vinyl records, and handmade items.

The carnival's main stage will host three days of non-stop performances, including film music choir singing, literary readings, jazz concerts, band sets, and swing dance parties. Every evening, an open-air screening will take place.

The carnival will also offer several salons where film scholars, industry professionals, and fans can gather for in-depth discussions.

Three 'Movie Walk' trails

This year's festival introduces three themed walking routes.

• The Film Trail of Discovery runs through downtown Shanghai, linking 12 landmarks tied to the city's century-long film history. These include classic theaters such as the Grand Cinema, Peace Cinema, and Cathay Theatre, as well as buildings once closely connected to the film industry, including the Embankment Building and the Shanghai Concert Hall. Fans who collect stamps at each stop can earn limited-edition merchandise.
• The Food & Film Trail focuses on restaurants and shops along Nanjing Road and Huaihai Road, offering exclusive discounts for movie fans.
• The Film Industry Trail takes visitors behind the scenes at the Shanghai Film Park and the Shanghai Film Restoration Laboratory, where they can learn about movie production and the art of film preservation.

A special collector's notebook has been created for the festival, designed with flexible binding and pocket pages to hold ticket stubs, handwritten notes, and theater stamps. Fans can purchase it directly or redeem it with eligible movie ticket stubs at the Grand Cinema on West Nanjing Road or the carnival site at Dongtai Li in Xintiandi during the event.

Source: Shanghai Grand Cinema