Artistic Advisor to the China Shanghai International Arts Festival (CSIAF) A New Chapter with a Global Perspective
Following the conclusion of his tenure as Executive and Artistic Director of Lucerne Festival, Michael Haefliger embarks on an exciting new chapter beyond Switzerland. On 1 January 2026, he assumes the role of Artistic Advisor to the China Shanghai International Arts Festival (CSIAF), one of the world’s most diverse and dynamic international arts festivals.
Held annually throughout October and November, the festival presents more than 1,000 performances spanning theatre, ballet, opera and symphonic music. “Together with Festival President Li Ming and his dedicated team, I look forward to contributing to the festival’s future artistic direction,” says Haefliger.
Haefliger’s relationship with China has developed over many years. It began with the landmark residency of Claudio Abbado and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing in 2009, followed by major residencies with Riccardo Chailly at Shanghai Symphony Hall in 2018 and 2019. These collaborations have steadily expanded his artistic network throughout China.
“After more than 35 years dedicated to Switzerland’s cultural landscape, it is an inspiring challenge for me to contribute to one of the world’s most dynamic cultural capitals,” Haefliger says of his new role.
The China Shanghai International Arts Festival (CSIAF) is a state-supported international arts festival presented by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and organised by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. Widely regarded as the most influential arts festival in the Asia-Pacific region, the CSIAF was established in 1999 under the motto: ‘An Arts Festival, a Festival for All.’
Guided by the vision of “connecting hearts and bringing the world together through the universal language of art,” the festival has earned an outstanding international reputation for its artistic excellence, openness, innovation and strong public engagement. Over the past two decades, it has welcomed more than 750 national and international cultural institutions and over 50,000 artists from more than 80 countries and regions, reaching an audience of over 70 million people worldwide.
Today, the CSIAF serves as a major cultural hub, bringing outstanding international productions to Shanghai, fostering contemporary artistic creation, and providing a leading platform for cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world. At the same time, it plays a key role in strengthening Shanghai’s position as a global cultural capital while showcasing the city’s cultural diversity and quality of life.