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| Diliraba’s Mermaid Moment Becomes Highlight of CCTV Spring Festival Gala 2026. (Photo: CCTV/Weibo) |
Chinese superstar Dilraba Dilmurat delivered one of the most talked-about performances at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala 2026, transforming into a breathtaking “mermaid guardian” during the Sichuan Yibin branch show and instantly becoming the night’s standout moment.
The annual Spring Festival Gala is known for its scale, spectacle and cultural symbolism, but this year’s celebration — welcoming the Year of the Horse — leaned heavily into environmental storytelling. Dilraba’s stage combined dance, visual art and ecological messaging, turning what could have been a simple performance into a layered artistic statement.
In a segment titled “Guardians of the River’s Source”, staged in Yibin, Sichuan, Dilraba embodied a guardian spirit of the Yangtze River. Draped in a shimmering gradient blue gown detailed with scale-like textures, she glided across the stage like a mermaid rising from water.
The flowing silhouette, paired with underwater-inspired choreography, quickly earned her nicknames online such as “Mermaid Princess” and “Yangtze River Dolphin Fairy.”
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| CCTV |
The concept wasn’t just aesthetic. The performance centred on the theme of Yangtze River ecological preservation, a decade-long environmental initiative in Yibin.
Her movements — from aerial spins to subtle underwater glances and formations resembling schools of fish — reinforced the message of harmony between humanity and nature. It was elegant, fluid and quietly powerful.
Technically, the stage design elevated everything. Advanced water curtain effects blended seamlessly with traditional Sichuan opera face-changing elements, while bamboo forest visuals paid tribute to Yibin’s local identity.
The mix of cutting-edge stage tech and cultural artistry gave the performance a cinematic quality rarely seen outside large-scale productions.
One of the most emotional highlights came when residents on both sides of the stage raised small lights that gradually formed a “sea of stars”.
The image symbolised collective hope and the tangible results of environmental efforts over the past decade. It was a subtle but moving reminder that the performance wasn’t just about visual beauty — it carried purpose.
Behind the viral “mermaid look” was renowned make-up artist Wang Yafei, Dilraba’s long-time collaborator. He confirmed on Weibo that he personally designed and executed the “mermaid princess make-up” for the CCTV stage.
dilraba's stage at yibin branch venue of spring festival gala was truly as beautiful and graceful as a mermaid🧜♀️#dilraba #dilireba pic.twitter.com/ZXMAc0eyz0
— 𝗱𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗸𝗶• (@antdinski) February 16, 2026
Inspired by the underwater dance concept and the role of a “Yangtze dolphin spirit”, the beauty design leaned into cool blue pearl tones to mimic rippling water reflections.
The technical detailing impressed industry insiders. Shimmering blue eyeshadow recreated the sparkle of moving water, while fine crystal accents beneath the eyes symbolised dolphin scales.
High-shine textures were carefully chosen to maintain structure and dimension under misty lighting conditions during night filming. The result was luminous yet refined — artistic without overpowering the performance narrative.
The topic related to Wang Yafei creating Dilraba’s mermaid look reportedly surpassed 100 million views in a single day.
Many fans praised the balance between stage practicality and artistic depth, calling it “a look that breathes with the performance.” Others described it as one of Dilraba’s most ethereal gala appearances to date.
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| CCTV |
That said, reactions weren’t entirely uniform. While a large portion of viewers applauded the environmental storytelling and visual execution, some netizens debated whether the ecological theme overshadowed the festive New Year atmosphere typically expected from the Spring Festival Gala.
A few felt it leaned more towards art performance than celebratory variety show. Still, even critics acknowledged the production quality and Dilraba’s undeniable stage presence.
Large-scale CCTV gala segments traditionally blend cultural heritage, national messaging and star power. Audiences anticipate intricate choreography, symbolic storytelling, and technically advanced stage effects.
Was this her most iconic Spring Festival Gala moment yet? Did the environmental theme elevate the show, or did you prefer something more festive?