The news conference for the 15th China Children's Theater Festival is held in Xiuzhou Library in Jiaxing. [Photo/WeChat account: jxfabu]

The news conference for the 15th China Children's Theater Festival was held in Xiuzhou district, Jiaxing, East China's Zhejiang province, on May 20, announcing that the festival will run from July 10 through late August.

This year's edition combines national performing arts resources with Xiuzhou's local culture to promote cultural tourism and regional development. It will bring together 25 theater groups from four countries, presenting 39 productions and 181 performances, along with theater carnivals, art markets, and other related cultural activities.

The opening production, the children's percussion musical Mu Lan, will premiere in Jiaxing. Blending modern percussion with a youth-centered retelling of the classic story, the work follows a strong reception during earlier performances in Beijing.

In Xiuzhou, 15 selected productions will be staged across 41 performances, covering adaptations of classic literature, original works, and international plays, with online streaming also available to expand access.

The festival will extend into public spaces through outdoor performances, street parades, pop-up shows, and lakeside art markets, bringing theater closer to everyday urban life.

Since its launch, the festival has involved 35 countries and regions, staged more than 2,000 performances, and reached over 50 million audience members. Its expansion to Xiuzhou has also supported arts education and youth cultural development.