Poster for the 2026 Nantong Culture and Tourism Carnival. [Photo/WeChat account: ntwgx6]

Nantong is set to host a seven-day culture and tourism carnival along the Yangtze River waterfront from Oct 1 to 7, marking the fourth consecutive year the city has staged the event during China's National Day holiday.

The 2026 Nantong Culture and Tourism Carnival will take place at Nantong Yangtze River Sports Park, featuring 10 themed exhibition zones, eight special activities, and a closing lineup of nightly drone shows. The opening ceremony on Oct 1 will include the release of an autumn-winter tourism consumption promotion package and a special gift program for first-year university students.

The carnival spans music, technology, esports, theater, and sports to appeal to different age groups and consumer segments. Each evening, 2,000 drones are expected to perform 3D light formations over the river.

Among the highlights is a basketball event featuring players from the Jiangsu Kendia team of the Chinese Basketball Association, who will participate in pickup games and dunk exhibitions. A food area is poised to bring together nearly 40 vendors offering Taiwan street food, such as oyster omelets and sausage wraps, alongside local Nantong specialties, with the motorcycle brand ZXMOTO providing a display.

The carnival is also scheduled to stage dozens of local items of intangible cultural heritage, including brocade, redwood crafts, and handmade sachets. Hands-on workshops are set to allow visitors to try blue calico dyeing, pottery making, and guqin playing. Seven counties and districts within Nantong will present their own cultural offerings, from Hai'an tie-dye and Rugao morning tea to Rudong shrimp roe flatbread and Qidong's Tang Dynasty (618-907)-themed performances.

A wellness zone organized by the Nantong Traditional Chinese Medicine Culture Museum and local pharmaceutical firms will offer expert consultations, herbal tea tastings, and demonstrations of elderly care equipment. 

The carnival's music and performance program ranges from a symphony concert by Nantong University to street dance and rap. Esports and anime-themed events include cosplay parades, celebrity gamer signings, and an all-day market for anime merchandise. Live broadcasts of Nantong's football team matches will be shown on large screens, depending on the team's schedule.