The 21st China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF), which will take place from May 22 to 26, is set to be a grand gathering for the world’s cultural sector.

It will showcase an unprecedented level of international participation, highlighting its growing role as a global platform for cultural exchange and innovation, according to a press conference on May 14.

The fair’s main venue will be the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Bao’an District, with 52 subvenues across the city.

This edition of the fair has organized a total of 6,280 government delegations, cultural institutions, and enterprises to participate both online and offline, an increase of 265 from the last session. Among them, 3,300 are offline-participating enterprises, up by 224 from the previous session, and 2,980 are online-participating enterprises, an increase of 41 from the last session. 

A total of 305 overseas exhibitors from 65 countries and regions around the world will participate online and offline. Professional overseas visitors from 110 countries and regions are also expected to attend the fair in person and virtually. 

This year, the fair has attracted more than 300 leading brands from home and abroad, including over 60 “new friends” who are participating for the first time. During the exhibition period, the entire venue will host more than 120 new product launch events.

It will showcase more than 120,000 cultural products, and over 4,000 cultural industry investment and financing projects will be displayed and traded on-site.

Additionally, this year’s edition will highlight the empowerment of technology, with the first-ever establishment of an artificial intelligence (AI) exhibition area, inviting more than 60 renowned companies in the field of AI to participate.

Nanshan District will be responsible for the planning, organization, and construction of the Shenzhen exhibition area at this year’s ICIF. The district’s cultural industry achievements will be showcased at ICIF’s main venue.

Meanwhile, ICIF’s 12 subvenues will be located in Nanshan, including OCT-LOFT, Kexing Science Park, Vanke Design Commune, Zhiheng Cultural and Technological Creative Park, Nantou Ancient Town, Fantawild, China Merchants Shekou Cultural and Creative Area (NH@COOL, Shekou Net Valley), Lixiu Clothing Culture Block, q-plex, Artron Art Center, G·D·C, and Nanshan Animation Valley. Lixiu Clothing Culture Block is a new addition to the list of subvenues this year.