The 27th International Joy Festival (Hainan Island Happy Festival) has commenced on China's Hainan Island, marking one of China's largest annual tourism events. This year's program reflects a new phase in the island's development as an international resort: for the first time, a modern theme park serves as the central venue, and the festival's main themes include marine tourism, innovation, gastronomy, culture, and a vibrant nightlife.
The festival will run until August 18, covering the entire peak summer season. Throughout the month, over 50 major events will take place across the island: water sports festivals, marine shows, gastronomic tours, concerts, night markets, cultural programs, and family events. Instead of a single central celebration, organizers are offering travelers dozens of itineraries to explore different regions of Hainan and its modern tourism infrastructure.
One of the main innovations for 2026 was the location for the opening ceremony. For the first time, the theme park "Changying" became the festival's main venue, rather than traditional urban spaces. This choice reflects changes in the region's tourism strategy, where theme parks, natural landscapes, marine resorts, and cultural projects are integrated into a unified travel experience.
The opening was accompanied by a large-scale multimedia show. Approximately 3,000 drones took to the sky, forming light compositions dedicated to Hainan's free trade port, and the festive program concluded with 30,000 fireworks. A parade featuring 19 themed columns and 15 artistic platforms, bringing together hundreds of artists from China and other countries, moved through the park.
On the evening of July 18th, the 2026 Hainan Island Carnival officially opened at the Hainan Changying Wonderland in Haikou. Across the province, more than 50 special events and activities will be rolled out to delight visitors and locals alike. The dazzling Ocean Flower Island
This approach is increasingly becoming a global trend in the tourism industry. More and more destinations are striving to make travel interesting at any time of day, turning evening hours into a full part of the vacation experience. Light shows, gastronomic spaces, festivals, and cultural events are becoming a standalone reason to stay in a city or resort for a few extra days.
This strategy holds particular significance for Hainan. Following the launch of an independent customs regime within the free trade port on December 18, 2025, the island has been actively developing international tourism, modern infrastructure, and marine routes. One of the key directions has become the so-called night economy – a system of services, entertainment, and public spaces that continue to operate after sunset, creating a new tourist experience.
The open visa policy also contributes to the development of international tourism. Today, citizens of 86 countries can visit Hainan visa-free for up to 30 days, making the island one of China's most accessible tourist destinations.
Moreover, modern development does not displace local culture. The festival program includes performances by representatives of the Li and Miao ethnic groups, traditional music and dance performances, gastronomic projects featuring regional cuisine, and events dedicated to the island's maritime heritage. Modern multimedia technologies are organically combined here with cultural traditions, forming Hainan's recognizable image.
For travelers, the festival offers an opportunity to see the island during its most vibrant events. Daytime relaxation on the coast naturally continues with evening shows, strolls along illuminated embankments, festivals, and cultural programs, transforming the trip into not just a beach vacation, but also an immersion into the island's modern life.
Today, the International Joy Festival is becoming more than an annual celebration. It reflects how Hainan itself is changing – opening up to international tourism, new cultural initiatives, and modern travel formats. The development of the free trade port, simplified entry for foreign guests, large-scale world-class events, and attention to cultural heritage are shaping the image of an island that confidently asserts itself as one of Asia's most dynamically developing tourist destinations. It is this openness – to people, ideas, and new experiences – that is gradually becoming one of the main features of modern Hainan.
