Shanghai Grand Opera House opens on Oct 17, coinciding with the 25th China Shanghai International Arts Festival. Here's what else to know about the week ahead.

 

Weather outlook

Shanghai will see mostly cloudy to overcast skies through Oct 16, with occasional light rain in some areas on Oct 15 and 16.

More showers are expected from around Oct 17. Temperatures will remain relatively stable, ranging from 19 to 27 C.

 

Chongyang Festival falls on Oct 18

Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival, falls on Oct 18.

Celebrated on the ninth day of the ninth month of the Chinese calendar, the traditional festival is associated with health, longevity, and respect for older people. Customs include hill climbing and admiring chrysanthemums.

 

Shanghai Grand Opera House opens on Oct 17

Shanghai Grand Opera House will officially open on Oct 17, with its Born to Sing opening performance season running through Feb 20, 2027.

The season will feature 47 productions and 82 performances covering opera, concerts, dance, traditional Chinese opera, and Spring Festival programs. More than 100 arts education activities are also planned.

The lineup includes Asian premieres of international opera productions, original Chinese works, and performances by leading orchestras and artists.

Read more

→ Shanghai Grand Opera House's opening season: A guide to the lineup

 

China Shanghai International Arts Festival begins

The 25th China Shanghai International Arts Festival will run from Oct 17 to Nov 15, with nearly 400 programs and around 1,100 performances, exhibitions, and other activities.

The month-long festival covers stage performances, public arts activities, exhibitions, arts education, and international cultural exchanges.

The opening concert at Shanghai Grand Opera House on Oct 17 will also mark the start of the festival.

Read more

→ Nearly 1,100 events packed into Shanghai arts festival

 

CIIE visitor registration closes on Oct 20

The ninth China International Import Expo will take place at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from Nov 5 to 10.

The expo will open to general visitors from Nov 8 to 10. Visitors can register to attend on one of the three days.

Registration closes by the end of Oct 20. Only a limited number of places remain, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Read more

→ 9th CIIE opens registration for individual visitors

 

Major sporting events this week

Several international sporting events are taking place in Shanghai this week:

• Rolex Shanghai Masters: Oct 5–18

• 2026 Tissot UCI Track World Championships: Oct 14–18

• Buick LPGA Shanghai: Oct 15–18

• FISE World Series Shanghai: Oct 15–18

A trendy sports carnival will also run from Oct 10 to Nov 22, with activities across Suhewan, West Nanjing Road, Daning, and other areas.

Read more

→ 2026 Rolex Shanghai Masters: What to expect

→ Sporting events in Shanghai from October to December

 

Performances to catch this week

Dorian

When: Oct 16–18

Where: Theatre Young

Directed by Robert Wilson, Dorian is a 90-minute solo performance starring Christian Friedel. Inspired by Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray, the production combines theater, music, and visual art.

Performed in German with Chinese and English surtitles.

Dream in Peony Pavilion

When: Oct 16–18

Where: Shanghai Culture Square

Based on Tang Xianzu's classic play written in 1598, the dance drama Dream in Peony Pavilion retells the story through contemporary choreography and traditional Chinese aesthetics.

Since its premiere in April 2025, the production has been staged more than 100 times in China and abroad.

Tenor Juan Diego Florez Recital

When: Oct 18

Where: Shanghai Expo Culture Park

Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Florez will perform in Shanghai as part of his 2026 Asian tour.

Chinese tenor Shi Yijie will join him for their first public performance together, accompanied by the Shanghai Opera House Orchestra under conductor Diego Matheuz.

 

Source: General Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government