2026 China Science Fiction Industry Report Released: Total Revenue Reaches 126.1 Billion Yuan as Industry Embarks on a New Era of High-Quality Development

On March 27, the 2026 China Science Fiction Convention officially opened at Shougang Park in Shijingshan District, Beijing. At the opening ceremony, the China Research Institute for Science Popularization unveiled the highly anticipated 2026 China Science Fiction Industry Report, which comprehensively analyzes the current state of China’s sci-fi industry and charts a course for its future development.

Key data from the report shows that the total revenue of China’s sci-fi industry in 2025 reached 126.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15.7%. Having firmly surpassed the 100-billion-yuan mark for three consecutive years, this signals that China’s sci-fi industry has moved beyond extensive growth and officially entered a new phase of high-quality development characterized by structural optimization and upgraded growth drivers.

This year’s report focuses on five core sectors: sci-fi publishing, sci-fi film and television, sci-fi games, sci-fi衍生品 (merchandising and derivatives), and sci-fi cultural tourism. It also adds two new observation dimensions — sci-fi technology and equipment, and industry search popularity — to present a comprehensive picture of new industry trends and provide direction for future growth.

All five core sectors gained momentum, building a new foundation for industry growth.

• Sci-Fi Publishing: Annual revenue reached 5.19 billion yuan, marking eight consecutive years of steady growth. Digital publishing contributed 3.73 billion yuan, with online sci-fi literature emerging as a key driver of growth as the digital reading ecosystem continues to improve.

• Sci-Fi Film & Television: Annual revenue totaled 8.16 billion yuan, up 21.6% year-on-year. The film market is steadily recovering, while domestic sci-fi series and animation are gaining influence. The rapid rise of AIGC-powered short and medium-form videos is injecting new digital vitality into the film and TV industry.

• Sci-Fi Games: As the industry’s largest pillar, sci-fi games generated 77.91 billion yuan in revenue, up 8.5% year-on-year. Mobile games dominate the sector, and domestic sci-fi games — driven by high-quality content — have made a strong impact in overseas markets, becoming a key vehicle for the global expansion of Chinese sci-fi.

• Sci-Fi Merchandising & Derivatives: Annual revenue surged 179.4% to 7.07 billion yuan. Original IP has become the core market driver, while innovative products such as AI-powered toys and collectibles are unlocking new consumer potential in the derivatives market.

• Sci-Fi Cultural Tourism: Annual revenue reached 27.77 billion yuan, up 13.8% year-on-year. Theme parks contributed the majority of revenue, while locally developed attractions continue to expand. New scenarios such as VR large-space experiences, immersive exhibitions, and script-based entertainment are constantly pushing the boundaries of sci-fi experiences.

New dimensions highlight emerging momentum, with boundless possibilities for the future of sci-fi.

The report introduces two new observation dimensions that underscore the sci-fi industry’s technological attributes and global influence:

• Sci-Fi Technology & Equipment generated 24.74 billion yuan in annual revenue, forming a cross-sector application landscape centered on digital content production technology, led by AI, and characterized by immersive experiences.

• Search popularity for Chinese sci-fi surged 203.3% year-on-year, as iconic IPs continue to expand their overseas audiences and significantly enhance their international reach.

On the regional development front, Beijing — as the nation’s hub for technological innovation and culture — has seen its sci-fi industry revenue grow at over 20% annually for many years. Shijingshan District, in particular, has played a leading role, spearheading the clustered development of the sci-fi industry across the country.

Looking ahead: Chinese sci-fi sets sail for the stars and embarks on a new journey of global integration.

China’s sci-fi industry has now formed a multi-dimensional development pattern featuring coordinated growth across five sectors, deep integration of technology and culture, and a dual-circulation dynamic linking domestic and international markets. With continued enhancement of original IP capabilities, deep empowerment by digital technologies, and ongoing innovation in consumer scenarios, Chinese sci-fi will break through existing boundaries and continue to make breakthroughs in content creation, technology application, and international communication.

In the future, Chinese sci-fi — with a more open attitude and stronger innovative drive — will advance to the forefront of global cultural and technological integration, transitioning from a large industry to a powerful industry, and write a new chapter of Chinese sci-fi across the vast universe.