2026 YMCG Kicks Off in China

The 2026 Youth Music Culture the Greater Bay Area (YMCG) officially launched, marking the 10th edition of the annual international cultural extravaganza dedicated to nurturing young musical talent and strengthening international artistic exchange across the Greater Bay Area.

From January 29 to February 12, the 2026 YMCG will take place in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macao. YMCG is led by world-renowned conductor and current YMCG Music Director Daniel Harding. This year's event also features mezzo-soprano Karen Cargill and the Greater Bay Area Festival Orchestra - formed by musicians from the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, and Macao Orchestra.

Also participating is a faculty of 17 principal musicians from leading international orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras, along with the 2026 YMCG Orchestra, composed of 102 outstanding young musicians selected from 78 professional music institutions worldwide and 21 professional orchestras in China and abroad. Together, they will appear in seven concerts, 10 conducting, vocal and instrumental masterclasses, and five keynote lectures with renowned conductors, competition laureates and arts administrators.

Organized with the support of leading cultural institutions and partners from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, the 15-day gathering brings together outstanding young musicians from around the world for performances, educational activities, and cross-cultural dialogue. Through concerts, masterclasses, forums, and collaborative programs, YMCG aims to create a high-level international platform that highlights youth creativity while showcasing the Greater Bay Area's growing role as a global cultural hub.

The 2026 program features 23 musical works showcasing a diverse range of musical styles, including classical, contemporary, and cross-genre works - including a world premiere of a global commission focused on the Greater Bay Area. Events take place across multiple cities in the Greater Bay Area, encouraging regional collaboration and allowing participants to engage with the area's rich cultural landscape. Public concerts will be complemented by professional workshops and forums addressing topics such as artistic career development, international collaboration, and the role of music in cultural exchange.

The organizers and co-organizers of YMCG have actively explored new models and pathways for coordinated cultural and artistic development within the Greater Bay Area. After a decade of dedication in Guangzhou, four consecutive years in Shenzhen, and three consecutive years in Hong Kong, YMCG will enter Macao for the first time in 2026. Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG), one of Macau's leading tourism and leisure enterprise, is one of the organizers and the presenter of the Macao series of events, co-organized by the Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra and Arcadia Music Management Ltd.

As a leading Macau integrated tourism leisure operator, GEG has long been committed to supporting local arts and culture. Leveraging its diverse portfolio of world-class venues and leisure facilities, GEG has actively hosted, supported, and participated in a wide range of cultural activities, continuing to provide platforms for young musical talents to showcase their abilities, while fostering interaction and exchange between Macau and Greater Bay Area cities in music, the arts, and cultural and creative industries. This further enriches Macau's positioning as "a base for exchange and cooperation with Chinese culture as the mainstream and diverse cultures coexisting."

The launch of the Macao programs marks the first time YMCG has achieved simultaneous engagement across all four major cities of the Greater Bay Area, demonstrating the powerful momentum of high-quality cultural and artistic integration in the region and carrying profound significance. With the strong support of GEG, a chamber concert and a series of masterclasses, and lectures in the Macao program will be presented as public welfare activities at its Galaxy International Convention Center, with tickets of concerts and lectures open free of charge to Macao residents and visitors. Meanwhile, GEG will also invite musical talents from local schools and community associations to participate, striving to broaden cultural and artistic horizons and to promote cultural exchanges within the local community. Moreover, Galaxy Auditorium, the venue for the chamber concert, features more than 600 seats and state-of-the-art audiovisual and sound systems, delivering audiences a truly top-tier performance experience.