Chinese dramas and films

The 31st Magnolia Awards ceremony took place on 26 June at the Lingang Performing Arts Center in Shanghai. The television festival itself ran from 22 to 26 June. Under the official rules, this year’s competition covered Chinese dramas that premiered between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026.

The biggest surprise of the night was that the historical drama «Legend of Zang Hai» – which had become the highest‑rated project of 2025 on Youku and the most‑watched historical drama on CCTV‑8 in the past five years – went home empty‑handed, as did its lead actor Xiao Zhan. However, the series had already collected numerous awards at the end of 2025.

Read more:
4 dramas – leaders on Chinese platforms in 2025

Overall, this year’s awards clearly favoured iQiyi – all the main winners were its productions.

The “Magnolia in Bloom” (白玉兰绽放) ceremony was held for the first time in the new Lingang area. On the eve of the event, on 25 June, a concert of hit film and TV songs took place at Dishui Lake Square, culminating in a spectacular drone and fireworks show.

After the ceremony, a two‑day city carnival called “Drama Street” will feature interactive zones dedicated to famous series, live music, and open‑air screenings.

The awards evening opened with a performance by Zhang Linghe (festival ambassador) and Guan Xiaotong (Magnolia winner in 2023), who sang the song “Shine” (闪耀). They also served as the ceremony’s hosts.

The main theme of the show was “New Magnolia Radiance”, with an emphasis on youth, internationalism, and digital technology. The organisers aimed to create a spectacular event that reflects current trends in the television industry.

The red carpet and the hall were packed with stars. Among the guests spotted were Bai Yu, Guo Jingfei, Hu Ge, Xiao Zhan, Yu Hewei, Ren Suxi, Sun Li, Wu Yue, Yang Mi, and Yang Zi. In total, more than a hundred celebrities attended the event.

The ceremony was broadcast live on Dragon TV (东方卫视) and the Tencent Video platform, which showed both the red carpet and the awards presentation.

List of winners and nominees of the Magnolia Awards

Best Chinese TV Series

«Swords into Plowshares» (太平年, 吴越归宗之太平年, The Age of Peace), CCTV, iQiyi, Mango TV and Tencent Video

Nominees:

• «Silent Honor» (沉默的荣耀), iQiyi, CCTV
• «Legend of Zang Hai» (藏海传, 藏海戏麟, The Legend of the Hidden Sea, Tibetan Sea Opera), Youku, CCTV (read about the drama here)
• «Legend of the Magnate» (大生意人, The Tycoon), iQiyi (read about the drama here)
• «Man's Inhumanity to Man» (反人类暴行, 731), Youku
• «Uncle» (老舅), CCTV, Tencent Video and iQiyi
• «A Better Life» (蛮好的人生, 三十九二十八, 保险人生), Youku (read about the drama here)
• «Born to Be Alive» (生命树, Life Tree), CCTV, iQiyi (read about the drama here)
• «This Thriving Land» (生万物, This Thriving Land, 缱绻与决绝, All Things Born), CCTV-8, iQiyi (read about the drama here)
• «Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty 3: To Changan» (唐朝诡事录之长安, Horror Stories of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ, Strange Legend of Tang Dynasty 3), Beijing TV, iQiyi

Grand Prix of the Jury

«Silent Honor»

Best Director

Li Xue for «Born to Be Alive»

Nominees:

• Liu Jiacheng, Liu Yang for «This Thriving Land» 
• Yang Lei, Lu Beike for «Swords into Plowshares»
• Yang Yazhou for «Silent Honor»
• Zheng Xiaolong, Cao Yiwen for «Legend of Zang Hai» 

Best Actor

Yu Hewei for «Silent Honor»

Nominees:

• Xiao Zhan for «Legend of Zang Hai» 
• Bai Yu for «Swords into Plowshares» 
• Guo Jingfei for «Uncle»
• Hu Ge for «Born to Be Alive» 

Best Actress

Yang Zi for «Born to Be Alive». The actress could not hold back tears when accepting the award.

Nominees:

• Ren Suxi for «Endless Protection» (无尽的尽头), Tencent Video
• Sun Li for «A Better Life»
• Wu Yue for «Silent Honor»
• Yang Mi for «This Thriving Land»

Best Supporting Actor

Dong Yong for «Swords into Plowshares»

Nominees:

• Huang Jue for «Legend of Zang Hai» 
• Lin Yongjian for «This Thriving Land»
• Ni Dahong for «This Thriving Land» 
• Zhu Yawen for «Swords into Plowshares»

Best Supporting Actress

Chi Peng for «This Thriving Land»

Nominees:

• Lan Xiya for «Man's Inhumanity to Man» 
• Mei Ting for «Born to Be Alive»
• Qin Hailu for «This Thriving Land»
• Zhu Yuanyuan for «The Dream Maker» (小城大事, 造城者, Small Town Big Story, The City Maker, City Builder), CCTV, Tencent Video

Best Original Screenplay

«Silent Honor» 

Best Adapted Screenplay

«This Thriving Land»

Best Cinematography

«The Narcotic Operation» (扫毒风暴, 冬去春来), CCTV, Tencent Video

Best Art Direction

«A Love Never Lost» (人生若如初见), iQiyi