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| Liu Haocun Joins Yang Zi to Lead Hundred Flowers Awards 2026 Celebrations in Beijing. (Sohu) |
The 38th Hundred Flowers Awards has officially unveiled two of China's biggest stars as the faces of its 2026 celebration, with Yang Zi and Liu Haocun taking on ambassador roles ahead of the prestigious film event's long-awaited return to Beijing. The announcement immediately caught attention across Chinese entertainment circles, not only because of the pair's growing influence in the industry, but also because the awards ceremony is returning to the capital for the first time in 31 years. Safe to say, Beijing is preparing for a cinematic homecoming rather than just another awards night.
Organisers confirmed that Yang Zi has been appointed as the Beijing Promotion Ambassador, while Liu Haocun will serve as the Beijing Cultural Ambassador for this year's festivities.
The 38th edition of the Hundred Flowers Awards will run from 7 to 10 August 2026, bringing together filmmakers, actors and cinema lovers from across China before culminating in a spectacular closing ceremony at the National Speed Skating Oval, better known as the iconic Ice Ribbon.
In her official message, Yang Zi reflected on the emotional significance of the awards returning to her hometown. She described Beijing as the birthplace of Chinese cinema, the original home of the Hundred Flowers Awards and the place where countless filmmakers have realised their dreams.
"The 38th Hundred Flowers Awards has returned to my hometown, Beijing. It has returned to the birthplace of Chinese cinema, the birthplace of the Hundred Flowers Awards, and the place where generations of filmmakers have fulfilled their dreams," she said.
She continued with a poetic reflection that quickly spread across social media, adding, "Wherever the Hundred Flowers bloom, there is always a spring that countless people look forward to together."
The statement perfectly captured the spirit organisers hope to celebrate, presenting cinema not simply as entertainment but as a shared cultural memory connecting generations of audiences and filmmakers.
The appointment also arrives just weeks after Yang Zi secured one of the biggest milestones of her career by winning Best Actress at the Magnolia Awards, making the ambassador announcement feel like another major vote of confidence from China's film industry.
Many fans joked that 2026 seems determined to keep Yang Zi permanently booked, while others pointed out that having one of the country's most recognisable actresses represent a public-voted film award feels like an obvious choice.
Meanwhile, Liu Haocun shared a thoughtful message focused on the responsibility carried by younger performers. "As actors of the new generation, we are the ones looking towards the future while standing on the shoulders of those who came before us," she said.
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"As we take on the heavy expectation of helping Chinese cinema continue to grow, we hope even more strongly to repay every audience member's attention with our most sincere performances."
She added that every role performed on screen represents an answer handed back to audiences. "Every character we play will become our answer sheet to the people watching us."
Her speech highlighted the importance of preserving Chinese cinema while continuing to bring fresh stories and perspectives to modern audiences, reinforcing why organisers selected her as the event's Cultural Ambassador.
The organisers also revealed fresh details about the highly anticipated closing ceremony on 10 August, which will welcome more than 10,000 audience members, filmmakers and industry guests to the National Speed Skating Oval.
The evening will centre around an ambitious stage production titled "Hundred Flowers", described as a "big movie" celebrating the past, present and future of Chinese cinema. Rather than following a traditional awards format, the production will blend multiple storytelling styles into one theatrical experience.
Suspense-inspired moments will build anticipation before the final winners are announced, while comedy sequences, musical performances and dramatic recreations of iconic Chinese film moments aim to create a celebration that feels more like a living history of Chinese cinema than a conventional awards ceremony.
One of the night's biggest highlights will see representatives from all 37 previous editions of the Hundred Flowers Awards reunited on stage for an unprecedented group photograph, bringing together decades of award-winning filmmakers and actors in what organisers describe as a once-in-a-generation family portrait of Chinese cinema.
Documentary shorts, personal stories from veteran performers and live stage performances will also spotlight lesser-known moments behind some of the country's most influential films.
C-netz reactions have been largely enthusiastic, although opinions naturally vary. Many praised Yang Zi's appointment, saying her recent success and popularity make her an ideal ambassador capable of introducing the spirit of the public-voted awards to wider audiences.
Others welcomed Liu Haocun's selection, believing her youthful image can help bridge the gap between traditional cinema and younger film fans. Of course, no entertainment announcement would be complete without debates over who else could have represented the event, because apparently every awards ceremony now comes with its own unofficial casting committee in the comment section.
With Beijing once again becoming the centre of China's biggest public film celebration, expectations are already rising for what could become one of the most memorable editions in the award's history.
Between a hometown return, an ambitious closing spectacle and two of the country's most recognisable actresses leading the celebrations, the stage is set for a landmark event. What do you think of Yang Zi and Liu Haocun as the official ambassadors? Are they the perfect choices, or would you have picked someone else?