The Confucius Institute at the University of Southampton (UoS CI) proudly supported the 2026 Chinese New Year (Year of the Horse) Concert, which took place at Turner Sims Concert Hall on 20 February 2026, drawing nearly 300 audience members to celebrate the festive season.

The concert was initiated, organised, and performed by students from the University of Southampton Music Department, highlighting strong student leadership and collaboration. A total of 71 students were involved across performance, production, and stage management, with participants from China, the UK, Thailand, Japan, and other countries. Among the 42 performers, 37 were Chinese students and 5 were British students, reflecting a genuinely international cultural exchange. Working closely from programme planning and rehearsals through to live performance, students from diverse cultural backgrounds deepened mutual understanding and cultural appreciation through music.

The programme presented a rich dialogue between Chinese and Western musical traditions. Classic Chinese works such as Jasmine Flower and Wujiapo showcased the depth of traditional Chinese culture, while Huo Yuanjia and Fallen Leaves Return to Their Roots blended traditional Chinese musical elements with contemporary arrangements. Western hits such as Girl on Fire were reinterpreted by the international student ensemble, creating a vibrant cross-cultural musical exchange.

The concert concluded with the well-loved Chinese festive song Better and Better, with the audience joining in the final chorus, bringing the celebration to a joyful close. UoS CI will continue to host or support diverse cultural activities, building a solid bridge for Sino-British cultural exchange and foster friendship and mutual understanding among young people from China and around the world.