The 2026 North Bund Snooker Carnival opened recently at the Grand Halls in Hongkou District, bringing together top-level snooker exhibition matches, specialty food, cultural and creative products and fan activities in an effort to boost consumption along the North Bund waterfront business district.
The weeklong event uses snooker as its centerpiece while integrating sports, culture, commerce and tourism into a summer festival along the Huangpu River.
They officially launched the carnival alongside five leading snooker players: Zhao Xintong, Wu Yize, Si Jiahui, Mark Allen and Jack Lisowski.
Speaking on behalf of the participating players, Zhao said competing at the Grand Halls, with views overlooking the Huangpu River and Shanghai's Lujiazui skyline, was a rare and memorable experience in his professional career.
Over the following two days, Zhao and the other four players are scheduled to compete in five high-level exhibition matches for fans. He also said he looked forward to the accompanying food and cultural markets and expressed hope that the carnival would encourage more young people to discover and enjoy snooker.
The carnival is jointly organized by the Hongkou Overseas Friendship Association and the Hongkou District Sports Bureau, with extensive support from Donghu Group.
Events are being staged across two landmark venues, the Grand Halls at North Bund and Hongkou Gymnasium. In addition to the exhibition matches featuring the five international stars, visitors can explore a carnival market featuring about 30 interactive booths.
The market is organized around three themes — classic cuisine, arts and cultural creativity, and sports interaction.
Well-known brands, including hotels operated by Donghu Group, are participating with offerings spanning food and beverages, sporting goods, cultural and creative merchandise and lifestyle products.
During the carnival, several nearby hotels, including the Broadway Mansions, Hyatt on the Bund and Regent Shanghai on the Bund, are offering themed snooker suites. Xijiao State Guest Hotel and Hongqiao Jin Jiang Hotel are also participating with special accommodation packages.
Organizers said the coordinated promotions are designed to connect hotels and attractions along the waterfront into an integrated consumption corridor, creating a model that links core event venues with surrounding commercial areas and cross-sector businesses to stimulate spending throughout the North Bund.
Snooker has developed a strong following in China and has expanded rapidly in recent years. Young Chinese players including Zhao, Wu and Si have won multiple championship titles and delivered strong performances on international tours, raising China's profile in the sport.
Last year, with support from the Shanghai-Macau Friendship Association, Hongkou hosted a high-profile Snooker Legends tournament at the Bellagio by MGM Shanghai. The event provided residents with a major outdoor sporting and cultural attraction while helping to promote snooker to a wider audience.
Building on that foundation, Hongkou has again partnered with the Shanghai-Macau Friendship Association to launch the 2026 North Bund Snooker Carnival. This year's event expands beyond elite competition by integrating sports with culture, commerce, tourism and exhibitions to generate new momentum for regional consumption.
The carnival also continues Hongkou's broader strategy of promoting the integrated development of culture, commerce, tourism, sports and exhibitions.
The district has hosted a series of major public events this year, including an F1 Carnival, the Shanghai International Coffee Culture Festival, which attracted more than one million visitors, and the 2026 Shanghai International Yachting Week. Officials said the addition of the snooker carnival brings fresh vitality to the North Bund waterfront.
Hongkou said it will continue hosting internationally influential sporting and cultural events that appeal to the public, further raising the profile of the North Bund and strengthening the district's overall competitiveness.