ChinaJoy 2026: What to expect this year

The 23rd China Digital Entertainment Expo and Conference, commonly known as ChinaJoy, is scheduled to run from July 31 to Aug 3 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

This year's event is themed "Level up with AI" and will span more than 140,000 square meters.

Nearly 900 companies from 39 countries and regions will participate. Visitors will be able to try more than 1,000 games and explore the latest products and applications in artificial intelligence, smart hardware, humanoid robots, new energy vehicles, and collectible toys.

1,000+ games to try

Gaming remains at the heart of this year's ChinaJoy. The BTOC Interactive Entertainment Halls will span nearly 120,000 sq m and host more than 350 exhibitors. The BTOB Business Halls will cover 25,000 sq m and feature over 500 participating companies.

Across the event, more than 500 gaming companies and development teams will offer hands-on access to over 1,000 titles. Major participants include Tencent Games, NetEase Games, Blizzard Entertainment, PlayStation, and Bilibili Games. Several dedicated areas will also showcase indie games.

AI takes center stage

AI technologies will appear across multiple exhibition zones, with applications ranging from gaming to robotics.

Qualcomm will collaborate with industry partners to present a Snapdragon-themed exhibition area. The area will showcase AI-powered entertainment across smartphones, personal computers, XR devices, wearables, and other connected products. Visitors can also explore new AI-enabled games and interactive applications.

For the first time, ChinaJoy will introduce the Vision Future technology zone. The zone will showcase intelligent robots, large AI models, smart wearables, and other emerging technologies. Meanwhile, the ChinaJoy Next Play zone will demonstrate AI integration in games through AI-powered non-player characters, interactive storytelling, and generative content experiences.

A new exhibition area dedicated to imaging technology and animation, comics, and gaming culture will also debut, bringing together technologies for image capture, processing, and display to showcase how digital content and technology are being integrated.

Creativity and culture in focus

Creative content, emerging talent, and local culture will also be among this year's highlights.

Youku Animation will showcase several animated series, including The Demon Hunter. The titles cover a range of fantasy genres.

The exhibition will also include a showcase of entries from the sixth China Game Innovation Competition. This year's competition received 204 entries from participants in 19 provinces and municipalities in China, as well as six other countries.

Another new feature is the ChinaJoy Academy Games Show, which will bring together 80 student teams from universities in China and abroad. Students will present their self-developed games, artwork, and AI applications, and many of the games will be available for visitors to try.

The upgraded exhibition area for well-known Shanghai brands will feature architecture inspired by the city's historic shikumen neighborhoods. The space will blend traditional and modern design elements while highlighting long-established local brands such as Lei Yun Shang and Maxam. Visitors will also find exclusive co-branded products and be able to take part in activities at an experience area featuring national-level intangible cultural heritage.

Beyond the exhibition halls

This year's event will introduce several new technology-enabled services and experiences.

Visitors will be able to try powered exoskeletons designed to reduce fatigue during long periods of walking. In the BTOB Business Halls, smart translation devices will support real-time multilingual interpretation and speech transcription, making communication easier for companies from China and abroad.

Alipay will introduce tap-enabled physical ticket stubs. By tapping a ticket with a smartphone, visitors can access venue maps, exhibitor information, event schedules, interactive activities, and exclusive digital collectibles. Organizers will also improve booth navigation, self-service badge collection, and dynamic crowd-flow guidance.

As part of the Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season, ChinaJoy ticket holders will have access to exclusive benefits in major shopping destinations, including Lujiazui, World Expo area, and Qiantan.

Sources: Shanghai Observer, ChinaJoy