The 2026 Waterside Melodies, one of the Yangtze River Delta's standout music events, will take place during the upcoming May Day holiday, bringing top-tier singers and immersive outdoor performances to Qingpu District.

To boost cultural, tourism, agricultural, commercial, sports and exhibition integration across the district, Qingpu authorities will launch a total of 15 million yuan (US$2.20million) in integrated consumption vouchers. The first batch of cultural and tourism vouchers worth 4 million yuan will be released at 10am on April 18 through Trip.com.

The vouchers cover hotel stays, scenic spot tickets and customized travel routes across Qingpu. Visitors can save up to 30 percent of local accommodation, popular attractions and themed travel itineraries throughout the spring travel period.

This year's festival features a fully upgraded performance lineup covering pop, rap and rock genres. Zhang Liangying and Ma Siwei will headline the first day on May 2, joined by Wang Yitai and Li Jialong for a full evening of live music along the water shore. On May 3, rising idol Huang Minghao will deliver an energetic stage show, with Jam Hsiao closing the main performance schedule. Other singers including Wang Xi, Huang Lige, Duan Yi and Skim will appear for nonstop live entertainment.

The 115,000-square-meter outdoor venue offers open lawns and waterfront views with no fixed seating. Attendees may walk freely, interact with fellow music fans and enjoy live shows amid natural riverside scenery, blending traditional Jiangnan cultural heritage with contemporary urban music culture.

Beyond musical performances, the festival site will host four themed exhibition zones on local tourism, waterfront vitality, rural specialties and lifestyle in Qingpu. A themed market will showcase intangible cultural heritage crafts, regional food specialties and trendy lifestyle products, highlighting the district's industrial strengths, cultural resources and vibrant lifestyle.

The event will be held at Shangda River Central Park's South Park and is expected to draw a total of 50,000 audiences.

To ensure convenient travel, Qingpu will provide 16,000 free public parking spaces near the venue during the event period.