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| Hou Minghao Enters 2026 With Strong Momentum and Bigger Roles Ahead (Photo: Weibo) |
Neo Hou (Hou Minghao) is stepping into 2026 with serious confidence. After a solid 2025 run that proved his consistency across genres, the Beijing-born actor is now lining up four very different dramas that highlight a more mature, layered side of his acting. From high-stakes historical politics to wuxia mysteries and long-awaited modern romance, his upcoming slate feels like a calculated upgrade.
Born on 3 August 1997, Hou Minghao has steadily built his career without rushing the spotlight. His background alone reads like a drama plot: growing up in a three-generation military family, mastering the accordion from the age of four, training under SM Entertainment in South Korea, then returning to China to debut as part of Fresh Geek Youth before fully pivoting into acting. Since joining Hesong Media in late 2021, his career choices have become sharper, and 2026 looks set to continue that upward curve.
In 2025 alone, he starred in I Am Nobody, Love in Pavilion, Love in the Clouds, The Unclouded Soul, and Glory. All five projects performed well enough to expand his audience beyond genre fans, making viewers even more curious about what he will bring next.
Hou Minghao’s New Chinese Dramas Set for 2026
A closer look at what to expect from Hou Minghao’s 2026 dramas, each offering a very different flavour.
Key to the Phoenix Heart (雀骨)
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Set against a backdrop of rebellion and shifting power, Key to the Phoenix Heart positions Hou Minghao as Xiao Wu Yi, a cold and strategic commander of the Northern Army. This is not a soft romantic lead but a man shaped by war, authority, and long-term planning.
The drama leans heavily into political manoeuvring, arranged marriage tension, and slow-burn emotional development rather than instant chemistry.
Starring alongside Ai Mi, Ma Qiuyuan, Liu Lingzi, and Riley Wang Yilun, the series follows a marriage formed purely for survival and control. As Xiao Wu Yi and Xie Jia Yu are bound by royal decree, trust becomes a luxury neither can afford.
Viewers can expect layered dialogue, subtle shifts in power, and a romance that grows out of shared danger rather than sweet coincidence.
Fans who enjoy historical dramas with brains as well as feelings are already marking this as one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
Immortalis (碧血蝉)
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Immortalis taps into the darker side of wuxia storytelling, mixing mystery, moral ambiguity, and questions about the cost of immortality.
Hou Minghao plays Yang Wu Jian, a man living under a false identity while hiding his connection to the infamous Longevity Palace. This role pushes him into morally grey territory, far from the clean-cut hero image.
With Zhang Wenxin, Xu Zhenxuan, and Xuan Lu completing the main cast, the drama unfolds through investigations, secret alliances, and unsettling discoveries across the martial world.
Rather than relying on constant action, the story builds tension through secrets and unexpected partnerships. Netizens have pointed out that this project feels like a test of Hou Minghao’s internal acting skills, focusing more on restraint and psychological depth than physical spectacle.
The Monkey King 3 (好女无双)
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Fantasy meets chaos in The Monkey King 3, a visually ambitious wuxia drama that blends mythology with character-driven storytelling.
Hou Minghao takes on Jiang Liu Er, a gentle yet conflicted young man drawn into the mysterious Kingdom of the Daughters. The setting alone sets this drama apart, with its all-female nation hidden from the outside world.
Starring Bai Lu, Zhuang Haoquan, Zeng Li, and Hunt Liu, the series brings together multiple forces with clashing intentions, from demon kings to wandering martial artists.
Hou Minghao’s character is not a typical fearless warrior but someone emotionally driven, curious, and quietly brave. Fans expect this drama to highlight his softer expressions and emotional vulnerability while still delivering fantasy-scale storytelling.
Reading Class (阅读课)
Perhaps the most intriguing entry on the list is Reading Class, a modern romance filmed years ago but still awaiting broadcast.
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Hou Minghao stars as Lu Xing Chen, a celebrity forced to maintain a “good student” public image while secretly struggling with personal wounds. His partner, Wu Jia Shu, played by Song Zuer, becomes both his tutor and emotional anchor.
With Chen Bing, Zhu Aomeng, and Birgit Zhao Beier rounding out the cast, the drama leans into healing, growth, and human connection through literature.
Unlike his newer projects, this series captures Hou Minghao at a much younger age, offering fans a rare comparison between his early and current acting styles. Online discussions often describe it as a quiet, comforting drama that may resonate strongly once it finally airs.
Across social media and drama forums, reactions to Hou Minghao’s 2026 line-up are largely positive but varied. Some fans are most excited about Key to the Phoenix Heart, seeing it as his potential breakout historical role.
Others are drawn to Immortalis for its darker tone and character complexity. Meanwhile, long-time supporters are curious about Reading Class, calling it a “time capsule” of his early career.
There is also realistic discussion around scheduling, with many acknowledging that release dates remain flexible and could overlap closely. Rather than frustration, most viewers seem ready to binge whatever arrives first.
Whether you prefer political intrigue, wuxia mystery, fantasy adventure, or modern romance, his upcoming dramas seem designed to cover every mood.
So which one are you waiting for the most, and do you think 2026 could be his strongest year yet?