On August 11, the press conference for theThe Future of Ceramics2026 Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale was held at Jingdezhen Ceramic University. Speeches were delivered by Liu Changbing, Level-Two Inspector of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and Zhang Long, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jingdezhen Municipal Committee and Head of the Publicity Department. Oriol Calvo Vergés, President of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC), addressed the event via video. Lyu Pinchang, Deputy Party Secretary and Acting President of JCU, President of the Jiangxi Artists Association, and Chief Curator of the Biennale, together with Zheng Xiuquan, Deputy General Manager of China Arts and Entertainment Group, and Professor Jin Wenwei, Executive Curator of the Biennale, answered questions from the press.The conference was hosted by Gao Xiang, Member of the Party Leadership Group of the Jingdezhen Municipal People’s Government and Full-time Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of the National Ceramic Culture Inheritance and Innovation Pilot Zone in Jingdezhen.
The Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale is China’s most important academic exchange platform for ceramic art on the world stage. It aims to promote the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese ceramic culture in a global context, and to showcase China’s contribution to the advancement of world ceramic art. Since 2021, we have successfully held two consecutive editions of the Biennale, themedThe Spirit of CeramicsandThe Journey of Ceramics, which have attracted worldwide attention from the ceramic art community, earned high recognition from academia and the international community, and effectively supported the construction of the Jingdezhen National Ceramic Culture Inheritance and Innovation Pilot Zone, while building a platform for international cultural exchange.
In order to thoroughly implement the important instructions delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his inspection tour of Jiangxi, and to further enhance the reputation of Jingdezhen as the“Millennium Porcelain Capital,”the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the Jingdezhen Municipal People’s Government, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC), and China Arts and Entertainment Group have once again joined forces to co-host theThe Future of Ceramics2026 Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale. The exhibition will be held in Jingdezhen at the end of June 2026.
Liu Changbing noted that“in recent years Jiangxi’s culture and tourism system has thoroughly implemented Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and his important discourse on tourism development, adhering to the development concept of‘integrating culture with tourism and highlighting culture through tourism.’This has boosted high-quality cultural and tourism development, successfully transforming regional culture into a global narrative. In this process, ceramics—one of the most representative cultural symbols of Jiangxi—has played an irreplaceable role. Since its inception, the Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale has carried the important mission of promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of Jingdezhen’s ceramic culture in a global context. Today, by joining hands with all parties to launch the 2026 BiennaleThe Future of Ceramics,we aim to explore the infinite possibilities of ceramic art in the new era with higher ambitions, broader perspectives, and more innovative approaches. This is both a concrete practice of implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions and an important window to showcase to the world the innovative achievements of Chinese ceramic art in the new era, to tell Jiangxi’s story, and to share the brilliance of Chinese civilization. I believe the 2026 Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale,The Future of Ceramics,will become a new platform to support the building of a culturally strong Jiangxi, to tell the story of our region culture, and to showcase the unique charm of Jiangxi.It will also serve as a new bridge for innovative international cultural exchange, further civilizational dialogue, and the global reach of Chinese culture.”
Zhang Long remarked that “Jingdezhen was born of porcelain, flourished through porcelain, and became famous for porcelain, and is increasingly becoming China’s cultural salon and a renowned city of international cultural exchange. The successful staging of two consecutive Biennales has built a high-level international stage and academic platform for artists worldwide to present their innovative achievements, while effectively promoting exchanges and mutual learning among different cultures and art forms. It has received broad attention and wide recognition from the global ceramic art community. In 2026, Jingdezhen will host the 52nd International Academy of Ceramics Congress. During the congress, the 2026 Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale, themedThe Future of Ceramics,will also be on view. These two major international events—of the highest standards and greatest influence—will provide authoritative interpretations ofThe Future of Ceramicsfrom different perspectives and further promote the creative transformation and innovative development of millennia-old ceramic culture. We look forward to ceramic artists around the world participating and contributing innovative and exquisite works to next year’s Biennale. We warmly welcome ceramic art enthusiasts worldwide to gather in Jingdezhen, to witness this artistic and cultural feast, and to explore and reflect onThe Future of Ceramics.We also sincerely hope that our friends in the media will continue to focus on, support, and promote Jingdezhen and its major cultural events, including the Biennale. Let us work together to polish the calling card of ‘Millenium Porcelain Capital’”.
In his remarks, Oriol Calvo Vergés extended warm congratulations tothe city ofJingdezhen and Jingdezhen Ceramic University. He noted that“the Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale is China’s most important ceramic exhibition to the world, and also one of the key exhibitions in which theIAChas long participated as a co-organizer. It has become a major international platform for cultural and artistic exchange in ceramics, attracting wide attention from the global ceramic art community and exerting a profound influence. China is the birthplace of porcelain, and Jingdezhen is both China’s porcelain capital and the world’s ceramic center. For thousands of years, its unbroken ceramic industry has made a great contribution to the prosperity of human civilization, carrying the past, present, and future of human cultural development. As the most important global organization in the ceramic field, theIACwill hold its next Congress in Jingdezhen, which will further deepen and strengthenourlong-standing and far-reaching relationship. I look forward to personally attending the Biennale during next year’s Congress. Once again, congratulations on the launch ofThe Future of Ceramics2026 Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale—an event that will surely continue to inspire thought, passion, and responsibility toward ceramics.”
Responding to questions from journalists, Lyu Pinchang remarked that the Biennales themedThe Spirit of CeramicsandThe Journey of Ceramicsdrew worldwide attention from the ceramic art community, won strong recognition from academia and the international community, built an effective platform for cultural exchange, and contributed meaningfully to the development of the Jingdezhen National Ceramic Culture Inheritance and Innovation Pilot Zone. Today, with science and technology advancing at lightning speed and the digital era fully upon us, in the midst of unprecedented global changes, we must ask:What is the future of ceramics?How can we forge deep connections between tradition, the present, and future development? How should traditional craftsmanship find its place in the age of AI? These have become urgent and vital questions for our time.
“Last September, a Chinese delegation jointly organized by the Jingdezhen Municipal People’s Government and Jingdezhen Ceramic University attended the 51st International Academy of Ceramics Congress in Portugal, where they successfully secured the hosting rights for the 52nd Congress. As an integral part of the Congress, the Biennale will shoulder the important mission of presenting the latest achievements in global ceramic art. We believe that artists from home and abroad will deliver outstanding works at the Biennale, and that Jingdezhen will truly become a global hub where Chinese and international ceramic artists engage in exchange, mutual learning, and collaborative development.”
Zheng Xiuquan, in response to journalists’ questions, stated that“China Arts and Entertainment Group, as a leading national cultural enterprise, plays a pivotal role in China’s international cultural exchange and cultural trade efforts. Guided by the mission of telling China’s story well and spreading China’s voice effectively, the Group actively contributes to strengthening China’s international communication capacity and building a higher-level, multidimensional global cultural outreach framework. Together with the Jingdezhen Municipal People’s Government and Jingdezhen Ceramic University, China Arts and Entertainment Group co-initiated the Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale, which has consecutively held two editions under the themesTheSpirit of CeramicsandThe Journey of Ceramics. Throughout this process, we have witnessed the enthusiastic participation and heartfelt feedback from ceramic artists and international institutions worldwide, demonstrating China’s commitment to promoting the global prosperity of ceramic culture. Today, we are once again joining forces to launch the third edition,The Future of Ceramics2026 Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale, sharing the story of ceramics with the world, amplifying the influence and appeal of China’s outstanding traditional culture, and contributing China’s wisdom and Jingdezhen’s strength.”
Jin Wenwei, responding to journalists, noted that this edition of the Biennale has invited and confirmed 46 distinguished professors, experts, scholars, institutional representatives, ceramic region representatives, and internationally renowned magazine representatives from 11 countries and regions to form the Art Committee. The work submission categories continue the five major categories from previous editions. In addition to existing awards such as theJinglan Prize,Kaolin Prize, andDowstone Art Prize, the 2026 Biennale adds theGuozhong Emerging Artist Prizeand increases the proportion of awards for young artists. During the 2026 Biennale, parallel activities will continue, including the signature Guest Country Exhibition projectsChina Contemporary Ceramic Art Academic Invitational Exhibition,Intangible Cultural Heritage into Campus, and theInternational Ceramic Film Screening.
More than 20 media outlets attended the press conference, including People’s Daily Online, China.com, Hong Kong Business Daily, Greater Bay Area Times, Jiangxi Daily, Jiangxi TV, Jiangnan Metropolitan Daily, Jiangxi Education TV, Phoenix Online, Artron Art Network, Sina, Baidu, Dajiang.com, Jiangxi News Client, Jingdezhen Daily, and Jingdezhen TV.
Prior to the start of the press conference, guests and journalists watched the promotional video forThe Future of Ceramics2026 Jingdezhen International Ceramic Art Biennale.
