Digital technologies are increasingly embedded in cultural content production, industrial organization, cultural consumption, and governance practices, progressively reshaping the modes of production and organizational forms of cultural industries. Developments in digital performing arts, embodied intelligence, digital cultural heritage, and related technological and cultural practices continue to generate new applications and new issues concerning industry, policy, and governance.

The year 2026 marks the opening year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. The National Cultural Digitization Strategy continues to advance, and the digital and information-based transformation of cultural development is being further promoted. The Third Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Macao Special Administrative Region (2026–2030) has entered into implementation, placing cultural and artistic development and related talent training within a new planning cycle. The annual talent training project “Macao Digital Performing Arts Management and International Communication,” funded by the China National Arts Fund and undertaken by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at City University of Macau, was officially launched in July 2026. The Faculty is also one of the implementing institutions of the Major Project of the National Social Science Fund of China, “Research on the Policy Support System for Building a Strong Cultural Nation.”

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at City University of Macau will convene Lin Fong International Cultural Forum 2026 under the theme “Transformation and Innovation of Cultural Industries in the Digital Age.” The forum will focus on technological applications, industrial practices, policy and governance, regional coordination, and international comparison in the digital transformation of cultural industries. It will facilitate academic exchange across disciplinary perspectives, research methods, and regional experiences.

Experts and scholars, early-career scholars, postdoctoral researchers, and currently enrolled doctoral students from universities, research institutions, and related fields worldwide are invited to submit abstracts. Submitted abstracts will undergo peer review by subject-area experts convened by the Forum Organizing Committee. Authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to attend the forum and present their research.

Topics of Interest

1. Technological Pathways and Application Scenarios for Cultural Digitization during China’s 15th Five-Year Plan Period
2. Policy Systems and Governance Innovation in Digital Cultural Industries
3. Digital Cultural Management and Talent Development in Building Macao as a “City of Performing Arts”
4. Industrial Practices and Case Studies in Culture and Technology Integration
5. Institutional Transformation and Normative Studies of Digital Cultural Governance
6. Coordinated Digital Development and International Communication of Cultural Industries in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
7. International Comparative Research on Digital Cultural Industries

Submission Guidelines

Submitted abstracts should address a clearly defined research question and clearly state the subject of inquiry and central argument. Empirical studies should specify their principal data sources and research methods. Submissions must be based on the authors’ original research and comply with established academic standards.

The forum accepts abstracts in Chinese or English. Chinese abstracts should be 500 to 800 Chinese characters, and English abstracts should be 300 to 500 words. References are excluded from the word count. Each abstract should include the paper title, author name, institutional affiliation, academic title or status, and contact information. Authors of accepted abstracts are required to complete the full paper before attending the forum and to present the completed research at the relevant parallel session. Abstracts should be submitted to the designated forum submission email: H26092100193@cityu.edu.mo. The email subject line should follow the format: “Submission + Author Name + Paper Title”

The forum will include an Outstanding Paper selection process. Detailed eligibility criteria and full paper submission requirements will be announced with the abstract acceptance notification. Outstanding papers selected through the review process may be recommended, subject to thematic relevance and journal scope, to Journal of Shenzhen University (Humanities & Social Sciences), The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society, Arts & Communication, and other academic journals. All recommended manuscripts will remain subject to the standard peer review and editorial procedures of the respective journals.

Important Dates

Abstract Submission Deadline: 15 November 2026

Abstract Acceptance Notification: Authors will be notified by email upon completion of the review process.

Forum Registration Deadline: 4 December 2026

Forum Dates: 8 and 9 December 2026

Forum Schedule

Participant Check-in and Registration: 8 December 2026

Opening Ceremony, Keynote Session, and Parallel Sessions: 9 December 2026

Viewing and Discussion of an Original Digital Musical from Macao and Related Cultural Exchange Activities: Evening of 9 December 2026

Registration and Participation

The forum will be held primarily in person, with limited online participation options available. The in-person venue will be the Taipa Campus of City University of Macau. Detailed venue and check-in arrangements will be announced before the forum. The registration fee is MOP 1,000 per participant and MOP 500 for currently enrolled doctoral students. Payment instructions will be provided with the acceptance notification. Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses. Working lunch and refreshments will be provided during the forum.

Organizers and Supporting Organizations

Organizer: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, City University of Macau

Under the Guidance of: China National Arts Fund, Cultural Development Fund

Supporting Academic Journals: Journal of Shenzhen University (Humanities & Social Sciences), The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society, Arts & Communication

Supporting Organizations: Macao Confucius Research Association, Macao Humanities and History Research Association

Forum Committee

Forum Chair: Professor Zhong Wang, Associate Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, City University of Macau

Forum Convener: Associate Professor Daibo Xiao, Programme Coordinator of Cultural Industries Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, City University of Macau

Forum Secretary-General: Professor Ming Ma, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, City University of Macau

Forum Contacts: Wei Li, Yuqiao Wang, Jingdan Liang

Contact Information: Phone number+853 65849267, +86 13966804164 ; (WeChat ID: leekwinzz); Email: H24092105299@cityu.edu.mo

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, City University of Macau

Research Group of the Major Project of the National Social Science Fund of China

“Research on the Policy Support System for Building a Strong Cultural Nation”

China National Arts Fund

Project Team for “Macao Digital Performing Arts Management and International Communication”

30 September 2026