Christmas is just around the corner, and that means the much-anticipated Shen Yun Performing Arts world tour is returning.
The New York-based company will kick off its 2026 season on Dec. 18 in Amnéville, France.
For the North American tour, performances begin on New Year’s Eve in San Jose, California, followed by performances after Christmas in Houston, Tex., Waterbury, Conn., and Jacksonville, Fl.
Shen Yun’s eight equally sized companies are set to perform across five continents this season, with 2026 being especially significant, as it marks the 20th anniversary of Shen Yun’s dedication and excellence.
In honor of the occasion, Texas Sen. John Cornyn sent his congratulations to the performing arts company, noting that “this is an accomplishment for which you and your entire organization can be proud” and that it is “a significant milestone.”
Shen Yun is the world’s premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Established in 2006, it was founded by a group of leading Chinese artists who had fled China due to persecution by the ruling communist regime.
China’s 5,000 years of divinely inspired history and culture was forced to the brink of extinction following the Cultural Revolution and other destructive campaigns over decades of communist rule, during which atheism became widespread and traditional practices were lost.
Now, in the safety of America, Shen Yun artists are determined to go against the tide and restore that age-old culture as it was before communism.
With an all-new repertoire of choreography and original music each year, the production features a series of short dance pieces presented in classical Chinese, folk, and ethnic styles. Alongside live musical performances and story-based dances, the artists recount legends from ancient times to the modern day.
In his letter, Sen. Cornyn said that “celebrating this anniversary shows [Shen Yun’s] dedication to preserving and sharing classical Chinese dance, music, and tradition.” He encourages the artists to “continue pursuing excellence in the years to come.”
This year, the company will perform in 10 Texas venues across nine cities: Houston (Downtown), Austin, Dallas, Lubbock, San Antonio, Houston (Cypress), Victoria, McAllen, Midland, and El Paso.
