Beijing, February 7, 2026 — Following the successful hosting of multiple world-class international cultural exchange events, China is once again welcoming a global art gathering of profound international significance. Today, the World Olymp’Arts Council (WOAC) and China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd. (CAEG) officially announced at MADverse Digital Art Space in Beijing that OLYMP ARTS 2027 will be held in China. At present, Beijing, Chengdu, and the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, among others, have entered the candidate selection process for host cities.

As a global arts event held every four years and rooted in ancient Greek civilization, OLYMP‘ARTS uses art as a bridge to connect civilizations and eras. The 2027 edition will focus on the theme “Environment, Climate, and Energy”, issuing an open global call to artists and creators to gather diverse cultural perspectives and contemporary artistic expressions, and to promote the public value of art in addressing global sustainability challenges.

The historical origins of OLYMP ARTS trace back to 566 BC, when artistic competitions flourished in ancient Greece. In July 1995, 68 representatives from 65 countries and regions gathered at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris to jointly sign the Olympic Arts Charter, establishing the institutional foundation of the modern OLYMP ARTS movement. On July 16, 2025, nearly 300 representatives from over 80 countries and regions convened again at UNESCO Headquarters to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Charter and co-sign the Olympic Arts Declaration, marking a new phase in the global development of OLYMP’ARTS.

As an important international platform for cultural and artistic exchange, OLYMP‘ARTS consistently upholds the core values of Universality, Aesthetics, Beauty, Harmony, and Non-Violence. Its emblem—a pyramid formed by six stars—symbolizes diverse artistic forms through different colors. The six stars represent artists from the six continents, while the apex star symbolizes Antarctica, the “Star of Water and Ice,” echoing the concept of a shared future for humanity and resonating deeply with the 2027 theme of environment, climate, and energy.

At the Beijing launch conference, Ms. Qin Wen, Executive President of the World Olymp’Arts Council, stated:“OLYMP ARTS has always responded to the spirit of the times through art and connected the world through creation. China’s openness and creativity in cultural heritage, artistic innovation, and ecological practice make it an ideal host for OLYMP ARTS 2027. We look forward to working together to make art a common language for civilizational dialogue and global challenges.”

According to the organizers, OLYMP’ARTS 2027 will feature nine artistic categories, including painting, photography, animation, sculpture, architecture, music, dance, creative design, and AI art. The World Olymp’Arts Council expects to receive submissions from over one million artists worldwide. Through a model combining online submissions and offline exhibitions and performances, public participation in artwork selection will be encouraged, allowing art to truly enter society and everyday life.

Mr. Guo Liqun, Chairman of China Arts and Entertainment Group Ltd., stated that as an important participant in cultural exchange under the Belt and Road Initiative, the group will integrate national art resources and build an open and diverse platform for artistic display and exchange.“From traditional crafts to contemporary art, from public urban spaces to communities and campuses, we hope OLYMP ARTS will become not only an international platform for artistic exchange, but also an opportunity for the Chinese public to share in and participate in art.”

At the press conference, Ms. Qin Wen, Executive President of the International Olympic Arts Committee; Mr. Guo Liqun, Chairman of China International Culture Group Co., Ltd.; Ms. Yang Lan, renowned media professional and Chairwoman of Sun Media Group; Mr. Olivier Grandjean, Representative of the Beijing Office of the International Olympic Arts Committee (Switzerland); H.E. Martin Mpana, Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroon to China;H.E. Ahmed Mustafa Fahmy Hafez, Ambassador of the League of Arab States to China;Mr. Koffi Kouakou, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in China;Mr. Ashwin Kumar Ruhee, Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Mauritius in China;and Mr. Xu Jin, Executive President of Riad Corporation,together launched the OLYMP’ARTS 2027 Olympic Arts Congress Beijing Press Conference, officially marking the arrival of this global art event in China.

At the same time, a global artistic co-creation initiative centered on “Water” as a shared human cultural symbol—the Water · Realm Project—was officially launched. As a key vehicle linking natural issues, civilizational memory, and contemporary artistic expression, Water · Realm takes water as its core imagery to respond to global climate change, ecological protection, and the shared destiny of humanity. Water symbolizes not only the spirit of the World Olymp’Arts Council, but also serves as a medium through which art connects the world, carrying the ideals of cross-cultural communication and global co-creation. The project aims to establish an open and continuously evolving international co-creation system through cross-cultural and cross-media artistic collaboration.

With the full launch of preparations for OLYMP ARTS 2027, China once again stands at a pivotal moment in global cultural exchange. Using art as a bridge and civilizational dialogue as its goal, the arrival of OLYMP ARTS will not only present a Chinese expression of contemporary art to the world, but also contribute China’s strength and wisdom to the future of global culture.