This edition of the festival featured 57 stage productions, with over 90% of them having their Shanghai premieres, presenting a magnificent artistic scene where world‑class lineups and domestic original creations complemented each other. Following the Berliner Philharmoniker residency in Shanghai in June, renowned ensembles such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Monte‑Carlo Ballet, and the Schaubühne Berlin chose Shanghai as their "only stop" in China or even Asia, or the "first stop" of their China tours. Classic masterpieces including Spartacus by the Bolshoi Ballet and La Bayadère by the Mariinsky Ballet, along with international artists like bass‑baritone Bryn Terfel and pianist Alexandre Kantorow, took the stage in succession, demonstrating the festival's brand influence on the world stage.

Centered around the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, realistic and revolutionary‑themed works – such as the musical Chasing Dreams, the dance drama Breaking the Ice, and the drama The Warmth of Home – looked back on history with deep emotion and reflected on the present. The kunqu opera Poetry Banquet: Biographies of Tang Poets and the Peking opera Xue Tao paid tribute to the integrity of ancient literati with classical poetic grace. Meanwhile, the physical theatre production The Terracotta Warriors Stand for Millennia and the dance drama Dunhuang Reunion followed the wave of "national trend" culture, using contemporary language to bring cultural relics to life on stage and endow them with renewed radiance. In addition, the festival specially curated two sections: "Encounter the Brilliance of Beijing People's Art" and "Encounter the Elegance of Shanghai Style." The Beijing People's Art Theatre presented a month‑long residency with five major productions, showcasing the cultural heritage of Beijing, while made‑in‑Shanghai productions such as Blossoms and The Song of Everlasting Sorrow highlighted the allure of Shanghai style, fostering an in‑depth dialogue between northern and southern cultures.