China’s 2026 Cultural Summit: Heritage Meets AI Innovation

China’s top leadership and cultural policymakers gathered in Shenzhen on May 21–22 for the 2026 Cultural Power Construction Summit Forum (2026文化强国建设高峰论坛), a high-level event aimed at strengthening the nation’s cultural foundations while embracing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. The forum, themed “Inheritance of Cultural Context and Cultural Innovation,” was organized by the Central Propaganda Department and featured keynote addresses from two Politburo members, underscoring the strategic importance Beijing places on cultural development as a pillar of national rejuvenation.

High-Level Participation Signals Strategic Priority

Li Shulei, Politburo member and head of the CCP Central Propaganda Department, delivered the keynote speech, while Huang Kunming, Politburo member and Guangdong Provincial Party Secretary, gave the opening address, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The forum brought together representatives from central propaganda and cultural units, provincial propaganda departments, central ministries, cultural enterprises, and think tanks. The Shenzhen government portal reported that the event coincided with the opening of the 22nd China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (文博会), creating a powerful platform for cultural exchange and commerce.

Participants emphasized that “culture concerns the foundation of the nation and the fate of the country,” echoing Xi Jinping’s vision for cultural confidence as a core component of China’s development strategy. The forum’s discussions were framed within the context of the 4th Plenary Session of the 20th CCP Central Committee and the “15th Five-Year Plan” (2026–2030), both of which prioritize cultural innovation and the flourishing of socialist culture.

Balancing Heritage Preservation with Technological Innovation

A central theme of the forum was the dual imperative of preserving cultural heritage while embracing digital transformation. Wang Jun, a researcher at the Palace Museum, stressed that “holistic and systematic approaches are important manifestations of Chinese culture and its heritage forms,” calling for comprehensive cultural heritage protection systems. The forum advocated for a “protection first, minimal intervention” approach to cultural relics.

At the same time, artificial intelligence emerged as a dominant topic across multiple sub-forums. Gong Ke, former President of Nankai University and Executive Dean of the China New-Generation AI Development Strategy Research Institute, offered a clarifying perspective: “Artificial intelligence is an empowering tool for cultural creation, never a replacement for humanistic creation.” He urged cultural talents to “uphold the unique human life experience and humanistic reflection, maintaining human subjective value in human-machine collaboration.”

The forum featured 11 specialized sub-forums covering topics from humanistic economics and AI-driven media transformation to the preservation of rare traditional scholarship and the development of the Greater Bay Area’s digital-cultural ecosystem, as detailed in the People’s Daily coverage.

Cultural Industries as Economic Powerhouse

The forum highlighted the significant economic contribution of China’s cultural sector, particularly in Guangdong Province. Data presented at the event showed that Guangdong’s above-scale cultural enterprises generated 2.77 trillion RMB in revenue in 2025, ranking first in China for 22 consecutive years. Cultural new business formats grew approximately 28% in the first quarter of 2026, serving as what officials called the “first engine” of cultural industry development.

Shenzhen’s cultural and related industries revenue exceeded 1.5 trillion RMB in 2025, with the city’s cultural industry added value surpassing 300 billion RMB—roughly 8% of local GDP. The State Council Information Office reported that these figures underscore the growing integration of cultural development with economic planning.

The Human Element: Stories That Resonate

Beyond policy and economics, the forum celebrated cultural works that have captured public imagination. Director Lan Hongchun’s film “A Love Letter to Grandma” (《给阿嬷的情书》), a small-budget production that became a box office phenomenon with over 700 million RMB in ticket sales and a 9.1 rating on Douban, was highlighted as an example of how authentic storytelling can achieve both critical and commercial success. “I believe that true feelings will continue to flow forward,” Lan said at the forum.

Looking Ahead: Culture as a Pillar of National Strategy

The 2026 Cultural Power Construction Summit Forum signals that China is doubling down on culture as a strategic priority, integrating it with economic development, technological innovation, and international engagement. The emphasis on “strengthening dialogue with the world through culture” and expanding international people-to-people exchanges points to a continued push for cultural soft power projection globally.

As China implements its 15th Five-Year Plan, the balance between preserving ancient traditions and embracing cutting-edge technology will remain a defining challenge. The forum’s message was clear: AI should empower, not replace, human creativity—and cultural confidence remains fundamental to China’s vision of national rejuvenation.

Sources: Xinhua News Agency, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Shenzhen Government Portal, People’s Daily, State Council Information Office