The UK–China Cultural Exchange Programme is a premier international music and arts initiative connecting the next generation of musicians across cultures. Launching in 2025, this unique summer festival brings together over 150 young performers from China’s most prestigious schools with leading UK institutions and communities, using the universal language of music to foster understanding, creativity, and international friendship.
Backed by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, the Chinese Embassy, the CBSO ,the BCU Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and other civic and educational partners, the programme offers students world-class performance opportunities, elite training, and rich cultural immersion across four UK cities.
The programme is structured in two phases:
Phase One (2025): Brings top youth music groups from China to the UK for performance, masterclasses, and cultural exploration.
Phase Two (2026–2027): Supports UK musicians in travelling to China and Europe, promoting British music and culture abroad and expanding cross-continental artistic exchange.
This cultural exchange is more than a celebration of music — it is a bridge of friendship built by the youth of China and the UK through the power of the arts. It stands as a lasting contribution to mutual understanding, educational cooperation, and the nurturing of the next generation of global cultural leaders.
