QUFU, China, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Confucius (551–479 BC) may have lived 2,500 years ago, but his ideas are drawing fresh global attention this autumn. The 2026 China International Confucius Cultural Festival and the 2026 Nishan Forum on World Civilizations both opened in Qufu, Jining, Shandong province, on Sept 28, bringing together scholars, officials, and visitors from nearly 60 countries and regions.
Jining, known as the hometown of Confucius, is a major cradle of Confucian culture and home to the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Confucius Cultural Festival, running from Sept 28 to Oct 7, is themed "Benevolence and Rituals for a World of Shared Harmony". The opening ceremony was held at the Confucius Research Institute, followed by a grand memorial ceremony. Activities include the "Follow Confucius" inbound study tour promotion, national instrumental music exhibition and performance along the Grand Canal, and a Confucius culture temple fair in the ancient city of Qufu. The festival also features study courses on Confucian rites and the six classical arts, alongside eight new cruise routes on the Grand Canal that connect Qufu’s heritage to the sea.
The Nishan Forum, first held in 2010, has become a major platform for inter-civilizational dialogue. This year’s theme is "Civilization, Order, Justice", with four sub-topics – the contemporary value of Confucianism, civilizational resilience and global governance, cross-cultural dialogue, and AI and universal harmony.
The AI session has drawn particular attention. "Technology is never just a tool; it is a key variable shaping future civilizations," said Liu Hao, deputy director of the Nishan World Center for Confucian Studies. Experts including Xue Lan from Tsinghua University explored how Confucian ideas such as benevolence can offer ethical guidance for global AI governance.
Over 200 scholars attended the forum, including around 100 from overseas. International Olympic Committee Honorary President Thomas Bach delivered a video address, and UNESCO representative Edmond Moukala gave a keynote speech.
Jining is also leveraging the events to boost cultural tourism, launching 18 study tour routes and over 60 new scenarios using AI and AR technologies.
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