Several world-renowned American and European music stars performed some of their classic hit songs during the China Media Group`s (CMG) 2026 Spring Festival Gala as audiences celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Horse on Tuesday.

The hours-long gala had began earlier on Monday evening on the eve of the Chinese New Year, with a carefully curated line-up of performances and variety acts guiding viewers towards the new year.

As the clock ticked past midnight, U.S. singer John Legend performed his chart-topping hit "All of Me", before he teamed up with French actress and singer Helene Rolles as the duo delivered a touching rendition of the main theme song of the classic Disney movie "Beauty and the Beast".

Meanwhile, Irish pop group Westlife gave an entertained with their iconic ballad, "My Love".

U.S. singer Lionel Ritchie was among the international stars who appeared in an earlier segment of the gala.

The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, is the most important traditional holiday for the Chinese people, and watching the Spring Festival Gala, also known as "Chunwan," is a cherished part of the celebrations every year in hundreds of millions of Chinese homes.

Since first being broadcast in 1983, the gala has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the most-watched annual television program on the planet.

The Spring Festival itself was inscribed on UNESCO`s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2024.

The 2026 Spring Festival falls on Tuesday this year, ushering in the Year of the Horse.