Birmingham Royal Ballet today announces the China Cultural Engagement Tour 2026, an ambitious cultural diplomacy and educational exchange initiative designed to strengthen artistic collaboration, educational partnerships and people-to-people connections between the United Kingdom and China. This is the company’s first visit to China in nearly twenty years.

In collaboration with UK-based 88 Education, the programme seeks to celebrate the shared values of creativity, excellence and international cooperation through the universal language of the arts and features five dancers, as well as musicians from the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

The Tour will commence with the Shenzhen–Birmingham International Arts Festival 2026 (16 - 18 October), where Birmingham Royal Ballet have been invited to lead a flagship UK–China cultural event bringing together internationally acclaimed dancers, musicians, educators, cultural leaders and young artists from both countries. Through a dynamic programme of masterclasses, educational activities, public engagement initiatives and professional exchanges, the Festival will culminate with a Gala Performance and will serve as a platform for artistic excellence and meaningful intercultural dialogue.

Building upon the success of the Shenzhen Festival, a delegation of Birmingham Royal Ballet artists and educators will continue to Chengdu (19 - 20 October), Shanghai (21 - 22 October) and Beijing (23 - 24 October), delivering a comprehensive programme of cultural and educational outreach. Activities will include masterclasses, institutional visits, collaborative projects, professional exchanges and engagement with leading schools, conservatoires, universities and cultural organisations.

More than a performance tour, Birmingham Royal Ballet China Cultural Engagement Tour 2026 is designed to create a lasting legacy. By fostering partnerships between educational institutions, cultural organisations, government bodies and corporate stakeholders, the programme aims to establish sustainable frameworks for future cooperation, artistic exchange and talent development.

At a time when cultural understanding and international collaboration are more important than ever, the Tour represents a unique opportunity to showcase the very best of British artistic excellence while strengthening the long-standing relationship between the United Kingdom and China through culture, education and shared experience.  

The Tour and collaboration with 88 Education seeks to establish a long-term platform for UK–China cultural exchange, education and artistic collaboration, creating sustainable partnerships that extend far beyond the duration of the project itself.