As a key initiative of the UP-ON Performance Art Archive, the UP-ON International Live Art Festival has, since its inception in 2008, adhered to four core principles: non-profit, international, academic, and public. It actively promotes professional creative practices and academic research, and is dedicated to building an international platform for live art exchange.
To date, the festival has been held thirteen times, with a total of 286 artists from around the world participating. It has become a festival widely recognized and highly regarded within the international performance art community. During the UP-ON International Live Art Festival, in addition to artists’ live performances, numerous themed lectures and workshops are held to provide public educational resources to the community. This is a vital component of building a healthy artistic ecosystem.
In June 2026, the UP-ON Performance Art Archive began operating under a dual-city model in Chengdu and Shanghai. Several new projects focused on archival research and exhibition have been launched successively, and the Archive’s systematic drive in creative practice, theoretical research, and the collection, organization, and exhibition of materials will continue to be strengthened. At the same time, based on an overall assessment of the archive’s healthy operation, the UP-ON International Performance Art Festival will temporarily adopt an alternating scale model, held in alternate years, with 2026 designated as a “small year.” This aligns with the original intent behind the archive’s establishment and opens up greater possibilities for its future development.
Festival Dates
October 12–21, 2026 (Arrival on the 12th – Departure on the 22nd)
Festival Venues
(Chengdu, China)
A4 Art Museum, Red Print Art Center
Jinyue Children’s Art Museum, Nongyuan International Art Village
Application Opens
June 1, 2026
Application Deadline
August 15, 2026
Notification of Selection Results
August 31, 2026
Submission Channel
Submit application materials via email to [email protected]
(Please include “Application for the 14th UP-ON Art Festival + Your Name” in the subject line)
Selection Process
All application materials will be submitted to the festival’s selection committee, which will collectively vote on the works; those receiving the most votes will be selected.
Call for Artists
The 14th UP-ON International Live Arts Festival plans to invite 12 artists (6 Chinese artists + 6 international artists) to engage in professional academic exchange and creative inspiration through workshops, lectures, live performances, and other formats. We are now accepting open applications from Chinese artists!
Eligibility Requirements:
Have not previously participated in the UP-ON International Live Arts Festival Possess at least three years of experience in live arts (performance art, contemporary dance, sound art, physical theater, or experimental theater)
We Provide:
Accommodation and meals during the festival (October 12–21): Standard double-occupancy room and daily meals.
Round-trip transportation subsidy from mainland China: Reimbursement based on the lower of the second-class high-speed rail fare or the airfare.
Materials expenses for works: Reimbursement up to RMB 300; please retain receipts. (Per person or group) Opportunities for exchange and collaboration through high-quality creative platforms, workshops, and lectures: During the festival, in addition to live performances at art institutions and public spaces, there will be various other professional exchange activities. Personal accident insurance during the festival (Note: Except for the items listed above, any other expenses incurred during the festival must be borne by the artist).
Application Materials:
A detailed, up-to-date personal resume: Content should include, but is not limited to, date of birth, current residence, educational background, and work experience.
As detailed a record as possible of significant past works: Submit a portfolio including images, text, or video, and clearly indicate the title, medium, creation date, and location of each work. Relevant critical reviews of the works may also be submitted.
Call for Researchers
Starting with its 10th edition in 2022, the UP-ON International Live Arts Festival established the role of “Commentator” to foster a healthy dialogue between creative practice and theoretical research. Each edition invites five to six professional critics with a long-standing interest in live arts to serve in this capacity. To expand research and criticism in the field of live arts, starting with the 13th edition, the festival has shifted from the original “critic” role to seeking “researchers” who have ongoing research in live arts and the ability to write, to participate in the festival’s live events. We are now opening an open call for applications!
Eligibility Requirements:
Researchers, writers, or critics with knowledge of and research interest in the UP-ON Art Festival;
Years of research and writing experience in the fields of performance art, contemporary dance, sound art, or experimental theater;
Ability to write a festival review or research article of at least 5,000 words within two months of the festival’s conclusion;
Ability to attend and observe all artists’ performances in person throughout the entire festival (October 12–21).
We Provide:
Accommodation and meals during the festival (October 12–21): Standard double-occupancy room and daily meals. The UP-ON Art Festival is a non-profit organization, a honorarium of 500 RMB as a token of appreciation, and opportunities for in-depth exchange and collaboration with domestic and international artists. Outstanding articles will be published in the “UP-ON Performance Art Archive” column of *Huakan* magazine. Priority will be given to candidates for residency as research experts in the archive’s documentation project, with opportunities to expand support for related research. Upon final submission of the article to the festival and confirmation of its selection, the festival will reimburse the researcher’s travel expenses and provide the honorarium. (Round-trip transportation subsidy for Mainland China: Reimbursement based on the lower of the second-class high-speed rail fare or the airfare)
Application Materials:
A detailed, up-to-date personal resume: Content should include, but is not limited to, date of birth, current residence, academic background, and work experience. Please submit as much detail as possible regarding previous significant research articles.
About This Year’s Art Festival
Organizer
UP-ON Performance Art Archive
Co-organizers
A4 Art Museum Red Print Art Center Jinyue Children’s Art Museum Nongyuan International Art Village
Supporting Organizations
Donglai Art Swiss Arts Council Shanghai Office
Special Thanks to
Deng Le, Dongnu Ren Diao, Tang Yong (Mike), Shi Xiaodong, Wang Yanxin, Yedi Chanyu, YES FAITH (Yesi Feishi)
Media Support
Art Journal Humanities & Arts Yixin Yiyi
* All organizations and individuals are listed in alphabetical order by pinyin. Note: UP-ON welcomes interested supporting organizations and media outlets to contact us to join the festival and move forward together!
List of Artists from the 1st through 13th Art Festivals
*Listed in alphabetical order
International Artists (110)
Adina Bar-On / Alan Schacher / Alastair MacLennan / Alex Conway / Andrea Salzmann / Anguezomo Mba Bikoro / Arai Shinichi荒井真一 / Areumnari Ee / Aye Aye Ko / Bartolomé Ferrando / BBB Johannes Deimling / Beate Linne / Beatrice Didier / Ben Puah潘家定 / Bill William Aitchison / Boris Nieslony / Brian Patterson / Brigitte Wilfing / Carlos Llavata / Clelia Baumgartne / Chia ChuYia谢秋霞 / Cai Qing蔡青 / Conny Zenk / Daniel Aschwanden / Dariusz FODCZUK / Deej FABYC / Daisuke Takeya / Delphine Richer/ Duan YingMei段英梅 / Elvira Santa Maria / Eric Scott Nelson / Evangelia Basdekis / Evamaria Schaller / Futoshi MOROMIZATO / Franziska Siegrist / Gisela Hochuli / Graciela Ovejero Postigo / Helinä Hukkataival / Lisa HINTERREITHNER / Hilario Alvarez / Hiromi Shirai / Inari Virmakoski /Ioana Georgescu / Irene Pacini / Joseph BAAN / Juyoung PARK / Jacques Van Poppel / Janusz Baldyga / Jason Lim李荣华 /Jeremy Hiah / John Boehme /Jian Dai 戴剑/ John Court / Joakim Stampe / Jorn j. Burmester / Julie Monot / Kai Lam 林凯烈 / Katja Schenker / Kari Meiner / Keike Twisselman /Luc HÄFLIGER / Lala Nomada / Lee Wen李文 / Liu Lushan刘璐珊/ Lenka Klodova / Loana Georgescu / Lucia Bricco / Phoebe-Lin Elnan 刘斐琳/ MEZZETT / Manuela Macco/ Marcel Sparmann / Martin Zet / Micheel Pöllinger / Miyaki INUKAI / Monika Gunther & Ruedi Schill / Myriam Laplante / Nicoleta Auerspeng / Nopawan Sirivejkul / Osamu Adachi 安达修/ Peter Baren / Ralf Berger / Robert Brian Connolly/ Robert Catalusai / Roi Vaara / Rokko Juhasz / Rolf Hinterecker / STRASZEWSKI / Sam Trubridge / Sakiko Yamaoka山岗佐希子/ Seiji Shimoda霜田诚二 / Seiko Kitayama 北山圣子/ Megumi Shimizu 清水惠美 / Sophia Kidd / Tamar Raban / Thomas Goddard / Tomas Ruller / Tomasz Szrama / Tomasz Vollmann / Tran Luong陈龙 / Vichukorn TANGPAIBOON / Vera Bourgeois / Veronika Srek Bromova / Waldemar Tatarczuk / Wilem Wihelmus / Xie Rong / Yeonjeong 缘定 / Yoshinori Niwa / Yuzuru Maeda / Yoshiya YOSHIMITSU / Zygmunt Piotrowski
Domestic artists (175)
艾忠亮 / 白小墨 / 苍鑫 / 陈建军/ 陈梦曦 / 陈式森（三木） / 陈宇飞 / 陈铿 / 崔陶梦 / 常践 / 戴光郁 / 杜躍 / 董金玲 / 董洁 / 邓上东 / 邓震 / 打劫小组（谢静&张琼）/ 二打六小组 (黄海清、刘奎纬、黄秋霞、潘学成、林超文) /丁澪 / 东奴 / 付尧 / 高小兰 / 高元 / 郭强 / 韩萧寒 / 和丽斌 / 何成瑶 / 何利平 / 何玲 / 何锐 / 何雨 / 何悠 / 黑月·季胜利 / 洪伟 / 胡佳艺 / 胡懿菲 / 胡燕子 / 黄怡馨/ 黄文亚 / 黄幻 /胡应超 / 贾茜兰 / 焦鹏飞/ 江坤瑾 & 江坤颖 / 黎之阳 / 黎佳仪 /临时演出（HT&PL）/ 廖樱泽 / 李艾筱 / 李朝琉 / 李钰君 / 李易城 / 李心沫 / 李勇政 / 李锐 / 李怒 / 李琨 / 李珂 / 李鹏鹏 / 李尧瑶 / 李琳茜 / 梁琬苑 / 刘傲 / 刘宾 / 刘成英 / 刘东东 / 刘利斌 / 刘纬 / 刘南茜 / 刘青 / 刘小妤 / 刘香林 / 刘翔捷 / 刘吟韬 / 刘珂 & 晃晃 / 林其蔚 / 林熠星 / 李多 / 李言增 / 刘辉 / 刘哲立 / 毛竹 / 马乌 / 梅 Shu suns/ 莫倪健 / 木芫 / 普耘 / 彭湘 / 钱泓霖 / 邱文青 / 荣涛 / 任前 / 倪卫华 / 彭靖 / 萨子SAZ / 沙玉蓉 / 身场游击队（唐晨、管鸿杭、郭姿杏）/ 邵也 / 时永华 / 石梦霞 / 失物招领工作室（陈濛婕 & 高亢）/ 孙海力 / 孙玮 / 宋兮 / 松朗 / 辛鑫 / 唐果 / 唐冠华/ 童文敏 / 万巧 / 魏铭苡 / 王丹丹 / 王楚禹 / 王孟楠 / 王曦悦 / 王溪曼/ 王彦鑫 / 王楚雯 / 王挺 / 丸仔 / 文鹏 / 文皆俊杰 / 武军龙 / 吴承典 / 吴方洲 / 吴芸芸 / 响 / 相西石/ 肖胜杰 / 萧勍 / 徐美玉 / 徐娜娜 / 徐立霜 / 小绵羊 / 幸鑫 /余玉苓 / 严振韬 / 严可可/ 严颖嘉 / 颜峻 / 闫佳萌 / 闫城 / 叶彩宝 / 杨钦地 / 杨辉 / 杨俊峰 / 杨德忠 / 杨景 / 杨然 / 周诗瑶 / 伊凡 / 宇中怡 / 于名晶 / 张羽 / 张维 / 张潇月&孙震宇/ 张可 / 郑诗隽 / 郑之孩 / 郑确 / 曾群凯 / 朱心韵 / 朱发东
Ai Zhongliang / Bai Xiaomo / Cang Xin / Chen Jianjun / Chen Mengxi / Chen Shisen (Sanmu) / Chen Yufei / Chen Kang / Cui Taomeng / Chang Jian / Dai Guangyu / Du Yue / Dong Jinling / Dong Jie / Deng Shangdong / Deng Zhen / The Robbery Squad (Xie Jing & Zhang Qiong) / The 2-vs-6 Squad (Huang Haiqing, Liu Kuiwei, Huang Qiuxia, Pan Xuecheng, Lin Chaowen) / Ding Lei / Dong Nu / Fu Yao / Gao Xiaolan / Gao Yuan / Guo Qiang / Han Xiaohan / He Libin / He Chengyao / He Liping / He Ling / He Rui / He Yu / He You / He Yue·Ji Shengli / Hong Wei / Hu Jiayi / Hu Yifei / Hu Yanzhi / Huang Yixin / Huang Wenya / Huang Huan / Hu Yingchao / Jia Qianlan / Jiao Pengfei / Jiang Kunjin & Jiang Kunying / Li Zhiyang / Li Jiayi / Temporary Performance (HT&PL) / Liao Yingze / Li Aixiao / Li Chaoliu / Li Yujun / Li Yicheng / Li Xinmo / Li Yongzheng / Li Rui / Li Nu / Li Kun / Li Ke / Li Pengpeng / Li Yaoyao / Li Linqian / Liang Wanyuan / Liu Ao / Liu Bin / Liu Chengying / Liu Dongdong / Liu Libin / Liu Wei / Liu Nanqian / Liu Qing / Liu Xiaoyu / Liu Xianglin / Liu Xiangjie / Liu Yintao / Liu Ke & Huang Huang / Lin Qiwei / Lin Yixing / Li Duo / Li Yanzeng / Liu Hui / Liu Zheli / Mao Zhu / Ma Wu / Mei Shu Suns / Mo Nijian / Mu Yuan / Pu Yun / Peng Xiang / Qian Honglin / Qiu Wenqing / Rong Tao / Ren Qian / Ni Weihua / Peng Jing / Sa Zi SAZ / Sha Yurong / Body Field Guerrilla (Tang Chen, Guan Honghang, Guo Zixing) / Shao Ye / Shi Yonghua / Shi Mengxia / Lost and Found Studio (Chen Mengjie & Gao Kang) / Sun Haili / Sun Wei / Song Xi / Song Lang / Xin Xin / Tang Guo / Tang Guanhua / Tong Wenmin / Wan Qiao / Wei Mingyi / Wang Dandan / Wang Chuyu / Wang Mengnan / Wang Xiyue / Wang Ximan / Wang Yanxin / Wang Chuwen / Wang Ting / Wanzi / Wen Peng / Wen Jiejunjie / Wu Junlong / Wu Chengdian / Wu Fangzhou / Wu Yunyun / Xiang / Xiang Xishi / Xiao Shengjie / Xiao Qing / Xu Meiyu / Xu Nana / Xu Lishuang / Little Lamb / Xing Xin / Yu Yuling / Yan Zhentao / Yan Keke / Yan Yingjia / Yan Jun / Yan Jiameng / Yan Cheng / Ye Caibao / Yang Qindi / Yang Hui / Yang Junfeng / Yang Dezhong / Yang Jing / Yang Ran / Zhou Shiyao / Ivan / Yu Zhongyi / Yu Mingjing / Zhang Yu / Zhang Wei / Zhang Xiaoyue & Sun Zhenyu / Zhang Ke / Zheng Shijun / Zheng Zhihai / Zheng Que / Zeng Qunkai / Zhu Xinyun / Zhu Fadong
THE FOUR POINTS OF THE UP-ON INTERNATIONAL LIVE ART FESTIVAL
● Non-Profit UNCOMMERCIAL: The festival operates on a non-profit basis. Except for receiving the same subsidies as artists during the event, the staff works without pay at all other times. Financial records are made public two weeks after the festival concludes.
● Internationalization: From its inception, the festival has positioned itself as a professional platform for international exchange. We extend broad invitations to artists from around the world, ranging from pioneers who have been engaged in live art since the 1970s to adventurous emerging artists.
● ACADEMIC NATURE: The festival strives to invite outstanding artists with extensive creative experience from both China and abroad, facilitating close, professional academic exchanges and sharing, and engaging in dialogue and discussion on the most cutting-edge topics in performance art on an international scale.
● PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT During the festival, in addition to creating works, artists will host a variety of activities—including lectures and workshops—at art institutions, community centers, and universities to promote and enhance public awareness of performance art.
As a professional, non-profit event, the UP-ON International Live Art Festival has reached its 14th edition thanks to the sustained support of many like-minded individuals over the years. This includes the dedicated creative work of artists from home and abroad, the tireless efforts of volunteers and the organizing team, the advice and encouragement from industry professionals, and the support from numerous partner organizations in terms of funding, venues, and personnel—not to mention the active participation of the public. Having grown through the support and blessings of many, the UP-ON International Live Arts Festival recognizes that it must maintain a mindset of walking on thin ice, scrutinize itself with an international perspective, and tirelessly improve its professional standards to live up to everyone’s support. The road ahead is long; let us forge ahead together with our peers.
