iQIYI Unveils 350 New Titles and AI Strategy
iQIYI iJOY Conference 2026 unveiled 350 new titles, a hybrid AI drama and a three-year Scream Night residency in Macao.
iQIYI has unveiled more than 350 titles for its 2026 to 2027 slate, alongside new AI production and marketing initiatives announced at its iJOY Conference in Shanghai. The online entertainment platform’s plans span long-form drama, short-form series, animation, variety programming and AI-generated content. Its first full-length hybrid AI multi-season drama, Immortals Over Mortal Love, is due to premiere in the fourth quarter of 2026 with 16 episodes of around 20 minutes each. iQIYI also confirmed that its 2026 Scream Night will be held at Galaxy Arena in Macao on 5 December.
Creator Focus and Content Slate
Founder and CEO Yu Gong set out three priorities for the company’s AI agenda: applying the technology to premium live-action and long-form AIGC production, supporting a healthy creator ecosystem, and developing new formats enabled by emerging technologies. The company has introduced seven creator service programmes designed to make the platform “a community for film and television creators and audiences”.
Chief Content Officer Xiaohui Wang identified broad creative participation, more niche audience demand and a premium on emotional value as key shifts affecting China’s film and television industry. iQIYI’s new slate includes contemporary, historical, romance, suspense and sci-fi dramas, alongside horizontal-screen short-form offerings across three branded theatres.
Its vertical-screen micro-drama and animation plans will draw on established long-form intellectual property, talent and AIGC tools. The platform is also continuing returning variety franchises and original programming, including a co-investment programme with Douyin for creator-produced variety content.
Hybrid AI Drama Launch
iQIYI used the conference to debut a trailer for Immortals Over Mortal Love, which combines studio-grade technology from its NadouPro platform with live-action performances by professional actors. The production is positioned as the company’s first full-length hybrid AI multi-season drama.
Yu GONG, Founder and CEO at iQIYI, said:
“This series will open a new chapter for iQIYI and the broader industry. This is not only a technological breakthrough, but a paradigm shift in content creation. AI is empowering our content creation across the board, enhancing the efficiency of premium live-action production, expanding the boundaries of long-form AIGC, improving content creation efficiency, enriching the ecosystem, and delivering more diverse entertainment experiences to users.”
Announcement of 2026 iQIYI Scream Night taking place on December 5 at Galaxy Arena in Macao.
The company reported that the first two instalments of its The Ferry Man series recouped production costs within their first week of release. The series generated more than RMB 8 million, approximately US$1.19 million, in cumulative platform revenue-sharing earnings during its first month.
Feature Length AIGC Projects
Several feature-length AIGC films from the “Peter Pau • iQIYI Film Theater” were also presented at the event. The projects cover adventure, suspense, action, romance and animation, with the initiative intended to advance AIGC work from experimental short films to feature-length productions.
iQIYI selected nine projects for production from more than 100 global submissions. Academy Award-winning cinematographer and director Peter Pau is providing guidance to the selected projects.
IQIYI Founder and CEO Yu GONG on the company's three AI strategic priorities.
Marketing and Scream Night
The company has launched what it describes as the industry’s first big-data marketing system for household terminals, with an emphasis on long-term family needs and life stages rather than individual behaviour. iQIYI also co-published the “Content Touchpoint Value Research Report” with Miaozhen Systems, examining the relationship between brand advertising and sustained business growth.
Onsite, iQIYI and Galaxy Arena confirmed a three-year residency for iQIYI Scream Night from 2026 to 2028. The annual event, which celebrates content and creators from the year, will return to Galaxy Arena on 5 December 2026.
A Wider Entertainment Ambition
Across content production, creator programmes and commercial tools, iQIYI is assembling a broader AI-enabled entertainment offering. Its 2026 to 2027 slate signals continued investment in premium formats while expanding the role of AIGC in development, production and advertising.
