iQiyi unveils dramatic mixture for next year of programming

The Chinese Netflix-like streaming platform iQiyi has announced a lineup of more than 400 new titles for the remainder of the year and 2026 as it seeks to build on its popular content across both long- and short-form, with AI-powered material gaining increasing prominence.

The company said that, as it evolves, it will continue to invest in its core long-form dramas while also accelerating the rise of vertical micro-dramas, which have become a key driver for audience growth.

"The blend of long- and short-form content, combined with AI's transformative impact, is fundamentally reshaping the entertainment world," Gong Yu, founder and CEO of iQiyi, said during the company's 2025 iJOY conference in Shanghai on Thursday.

"Our unwavering mission is to deliver emotional value to users at every touchpoint – both online and offline."

Gong also unveiled plans for the opening of a new iQiyi Land and highlighted AI's expanding role, saying "the moment when AI disrupts both long- and short-form content is imminent".

In the course of this year, iQiyi's content ecosystem has performed strongly across multiple formats. For instance, iQiyi's micro-drama library has grown to over 20,000 titles, while the company's original variety shows account for four of the top 10 programs by viewership market share to date. The film division also saw success, with summer hits like The Shadow's Edge surpassing 1.2 billion yuan ($168 million) at the box office.

During Thursday's event, Wang Xiaohui, iQiyi's chief content officer, noted that the company's success stems from a creative philosophy focused on developing unique intellectual property (IP), which has translated into a wide range of diverse, high-quality content across all genres and categories.

The company also detailed its upcoming content strategy across key formats, with the drama lineup including major long-form productions such as Strange Chronicles of Tang, as well as new titles from the beloved Theater suspense and romance brands, alongside a growing slate of micro dramas designed for mobile viewers.

For variety shows, the 2026 slate is organized into four main genres – gaming and entertainment, talent competitions, lifestyle shows, and opinion talk shows – supported by two additional lifestyle and emotional subgenres. The Blooming Journey 2 is set to be released, along with new originals.

In sports, iQiyi will continue to broadcast top-flight soccer league games from across Asia and Europe, major tennis and golf tournaments, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, supported by original programming such as the Unbiased Football Guide. The strategy also includes expanding iQiyi's IP ecosystem into films, animations, kids' programming and documentaries to cater to a wide range of audience interests.

The company is also expanding its IP into offline immersive experiences. Following Yangzhou in Jiangsu province and Kaifeng in Henan province, a new iQiyi Land is planned for Beijing's Wangfujing district, allowing fans to engage directly with their favorite shows and characters. The company's network of immersive theaters has also grown to 58 venues across 31 cities, enriching storytelling with multi-sensory experiences beyond the screen.

A highlight was the launch of the "Peter Pau × iQiyi AI Theater" by Wang Xiaohui and Oscar-winning cinematographer Peter Pau. The initiative invites creators from around the world to develop AI-driven films with the theme "Your Vision, The Next Dimension".

Fifteen exceptional projects will be selected for official production and are slated to premiere on iQiyi in early 2026.