From May 17 to 31, 2026, violinist Ray Chen successfully completed his 2026 China tour. The tour began in Guangzhou and continued through Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Wuxi, before concluding in Beijing. Over the course of two weeks, Chen performed in seven cities, presenting a series of highly engaging concerts to audiences across the country.
During the tour, tickets for several performances sold out shortly after release, and additional seats were added in some cities in response to audience demand. The consistently full concert halls, along with ongoing discussions and shares on social media, reflected the strong interest and enthusiastic reception of the tour.
During the tour, tickets for several performances sold out shortly after release, and additional seats were added in some cities in response to audience demand. The consistently full concert halls, along with ongoing discussions and shares on social media, reflected the strong interest and enthusiastic reception of the tour.
Ray Chen first came to international prominence following his success at the 2008 Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition and the 2009 Queen Elisabeth Competition. Since then, he has performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia, collaborating with many of the world’s leading orchestras and cultural institutions. Widely regarded as one of the most influential violinists of his generation, Chen is active not only on the international concert stage but also across social media, where he connects with millions of followers worldwide. Through his exceptional musicianship and distinctive artistic personality, he has helped inspire a new generation of listeners to engage with classical music.
During the tour, violinist Ray Chen was joined by pianist Chelsea Wang, whom The New York Times has praised as“an outstanding young pianist.”Together, they performed a diverse program that included Mozart’s Violin Sonata in B-flat Major, K. 454, Grieg’s Violin Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 45, and selections from Bach’s Preludio-Loure-Gavotte en Rondeau from Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006. The program also featured Sarasate’s Playera, Op. 23 No. 1 and the virtuosic Carmen Fantasy, Op. 25.
The Beijing concert, which marked the final stop of the tour, featured Ray Chen in collaboration with the China National Symphony Orchestra. Together, they presented Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47 and Nielsen’s Symphony No. 3“Sinfonia Espansiva,”Op. 27, bringing the 2026 China Tour to a successful close.
