[People News] On February 14, 2026, the live broadcast of Henan TV’s Spring Festival Gala was suddenly interrupted, quickly becoming a major topic of online discussion. The program incorporated a large number of traditional Chinese cultural elements, such as Hanfu, scenes rooted in divinely inspired culture, and a collaborative dance performance titled “The Long Night Ends” linked with Tencent games “Arena Breakout” and “Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun.” Its theme, “The long night ends, mountains and rivers shine in moonlight,” was interpreted by some as an allegory for current turbulence in China’s political situation.

This occurred just weeks after Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, was announced on January 24 to be under investigation for serious disciplinary violations. The purge of senior military leadership drew widespread attention. Some observers connected the interruption of the gala to this event, speculating that the program’s content may have struck a nerve with top authorities — even “frightening” Xi Jinping.

The performance “The Long Night Ends” centered on traditional-style tactical armor and intangible cultural heritage elements, incorporating Northern Song–era Kaifeng scenes from “Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun,” along with lines such as, “Calling upon the generals to rise and restore our rivers and mountains.” While these elements promoted Central Plains cultural traditions, some netizens interpreted them as symbolic references to current “unstable military morale” and “political upheaval” — with “long night” suggesting a dark era, and “end” implying its conclusion, particularly in light of the military purge following the Zhang Youxia incident.

Additionally, the presence of divinely inspired cultural imagery (such as flying celestial beings and horned deities), combined with the complete absence of references to Party leadership, was said by some to conflict with the official atheist aesthetic. This reportedly led to large-scale complaints and the subsequent broadcast interruption.

(Author’s X account)
△