#China #Hebei #Damai Entertainment #Xiami Festival #The Cardigans

The Xiami Music & Arts Festival: A Celebration of Global Music and Art

The fifth edition of the Xiami Music & Arts Festival took place from August 28 to 30, 2026, at Aranya, a stunning coastal cultural hub in northern China's Hebei province. This year's festival was headlined by the Swedish rock band The Cardigans, who led a lineup that included nine international acts alongside 15 Chinese artists. The festival's theme, "Life is not a track, but a ______," resonated with the diverse crowd of tens of thousands who attended.

Co-produced by Damai Entertainment, an Alibaba Group subsidiary, and organized under the Xiami Music Entertainment label, the festival has swiftly grown into one of China’s premier music events. Over the past five years, it has attracted 33 international acts, offering Chinese audiences exposure to a wide array of global music genres, while simultaneously serving as a launch pad for foreign artists into the lucrative Chinese market.

This year, the international lineup showcased an impressive range of performers from countries such as Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Artists like Tortoise, The Horrors, Frente!, Gallant, Hayd, Christian Kuria, Ivoris, and Zella Day shared the stage with notable Chinese performers, including Lao Lang, Chen Li, and Leah Dou. The festival encapsulated genres from indie pop to post-rock, alternative rock, R&B, and dream pop, highlighting the eclectic mix of musical styles.

The Cardigans delivered a memorable 90-minute performance featuring beloved hits from their three-decade career, including classics like "Lovefool," "Communication," and "Carnival." Their performance was a standout as they connected with the audience, igniting nostalgia while showcasing their evolution as artists.

Aside from music, the festival expanded its scope in recent years to embrace other forms of entertainment, such as theater, exhibitions, and designer toys. The event emerged as a multi-faceted showcase for Damai Entertainment’s extensive live entertainment offerings. This year, the event also featured LUCKY LOOP, a designer-toy brand showcasing original characters, which aims to establish a stronger foothold in the Chinese market by opening stores in several major cities.

Furthermore, the festival highlighted the growing synergy between live entertainment and film, with the performance of the theme song from the popular film "Dear You" being part of the festivities. Damai Entertainment is playing a key role in distributing the film on a global scale, further solidifying its influence in the entertainment industry.

In terms of commercial growth, the 2026 festival marked a significant increase in partnerships, engaging 30 brands such as Samsung, Volkswagen, and Sprite. Over the past five years, the festival has collaborated with 61 brands, achieving a notable repeat-partnership rate of nearly 30% as many brands returned for further collaborations.

Environmental responsibility has become an essential aspect of the Xiami Music & Arts Festival’s operations. The festival has established 500 waste-sorting stations, successfully collected over 300,000 plastic bottles, and involved more than 300,000 attendees in various eco-friendly initiatives throughout its history.

As the Xiami Music & Arts Festival continues to grow, it remains a vital platform promoting cross-cultural music engagement, environmental sustainability, and the vibrant creativity of both local and global artists. The future looks promising for this beloved festival, with its integrated approach towards both entertainment and ecological consciousness forging a path forward in the realm of music festivals.

About Damai Entertainment
Damai Entertainment operates as a technology-driven company that offers immersive experiences in entertainment. Its extensive ecosystem includes film production, live events, intellectual property commercialization, TV series, artist management, and ticket sales, focusing on delivering unique, interactive experiences to global audiences.