The best upcoming events you can buy tickets for right here
The best concerts, films, comedy shows and more on Time Out Tickets
With amazing stage shows, bands, DJs, artists and so much more happening in Beijing for you to enjoy, we're making it a bit simpler for you by rounding up the best tickets you can get right now. Just extract the QR code below each event to be taken to the English-language ticket page and book now, enjoy later.
Jim Gaffigan
Super Theatre. Mar 14. 280-680RMB.
Jim Gaffigan is a Grammy-nominated comedian, actor, New York Times best-selling author, top touring performer, and multi-platinum-selling father of five. Known for his self-deprecating wit on the subjects of parenthood, laziness, eating and being American, Gaffigan has also released nine comedy albums, earning him Grammy nominations in 2013 and 2015. He's performed for Pope Francis – and is one of only ten comics in history to sell out Madison Square Garden. #Blessed? He comes to Beijing as part of his Quality Time tour and we're eager to see if he can sell out here as well.
National Geographic: A New Age of Exploration 2.0
Beijing World Art Museum. Mar 23-Jun 23. 80-210RMB; 70-180RMB (early bird).
Covering 130 years of the landmark magazine's stunning history, this exhibition brings to life photos taken from all corners of the earth and elaborates on the often haunting stories behind them. After doing so well the last time this exhibition was in town, it returns again with over 100 classic Nat Geo images.
2019 Beijing Invitational Craft Beer Festival
TRB Copper. Mar 29-31. 228RMB (per person, per session); 628RMB (three sessions, one each day); 1,028RMB (all sessions).
After the success of its previous instalments, Great Leap Brewing's Beijing Invitational Craft Beer Festival returns for a fifth year. No less than 20 craft breweries from around the world have been invited to participate, bringing with them only the choicest of brews for your sampling pleasure. Ladies and Gentlemen, let there be beer.
2019 Formula One Grand Prix in Shanghai
Shanghai International Circuit. Apr 12-14. 860-2,760RMB.
Head down to Shanghai to catch the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix. As the third Formula One race of the 2019 season, it's sure to be an interesting start to the new championship. Located just outside of the city in Anting, the Shanghai Audi International Circuit is 5.451km long, so, with 56 laps, racers will travel a total distance of 305.066km – in case you were wondering. The racetrack was designed in shape of the character '上' of 'Shanghai' with the current track record of 1:32.238 minutes held by Michael Schumacher.
Dragon Burn 2019
Anji. May 1-5. 350RMB.
You've probably heard of Burning Man. Dragon Burn is China's regional Burn event; a collaborative five days of art, performance, music, workshops, community and more. This sixth edition of Dragon Burn will see participants return to the bamboo-forested mountains of Anji in Zhejiang province, for a 100 percent non-profit event that allows no money on site. The community ethos of Burn events promotes the idea of sharing and giving – take your shelter, food, drink and other needs, share with others, and leave nothing behind.
Glades
Kodaline
Tango. Feb 18. 520RMB; 450RMB (presale).
Kodaline's distinct alternative folk sound has brought them awards and fame around the world. With platinum albums and top hits, including 'All I Want' and 'High Hopes', gracing the background of many films and TV shows, their success has continued to soar. They head to Beijing in support of their latest album Politics of Living – which hit number 1 in Ireland, perhaps to no one's surprise.
Craig David
Beijing Exhibition Center. Feb 24. 480-880RMB.
The one, the only, the man of a generation's dreams. Or some people at least. Craig David heads to Beijing in February to play a DJ set under his TS5 guise, dropping R&B classics alongside hip-hop, house, dub, reggae and hopefully some of the classic noughties hits he made his name with. David burst onto the UK garage scene after releasing the banger that is 'Re-Rewind', and followed it up with softer R&B hits 'Fill Me In', '7 Days' and 'Walking Away' on his 2001 debut Born To Do It. He's now based out of Miami, where he spins at some of the city's most exclusive pre-parties – for one night only, maybe he can bring that vibe to the grand, Communist-aesthetic setting of the Beijing Exhibition Center.
Chris Botti
Century Theatre. Feb 28. 380-980RMB.
For over two decades, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and composer Chris Botti has amassed a variety of honours, including multiple gold and platinum albums, as well as a spot on People's coveted 50 Most Beautiful People (of 2004). He's played with some of the best names in music – we're talking Sting, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Yo-Yo Ma, Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Andrea Bocelli – blending pop and jazz into his own unique take on modern instrumental music.
Plini
Mao Livehouse Wukesong. Mar 2. 180RMB.
Heralding from Sydney, indie solo artist Plini writes, records and produces all of his own music, straight out of his house. His instrumental rock has seen him gain acclaim around the world, especially after the release of his debut album Handmade Cities. One critic described his first album as 'one of the finest, forward-thinking, melodic, rhythmically and harmonically deep... records I have ever heard'. Big praise indeed.
Allman Brown
Dusk Dawn Club. Mar 8. 100RMB; 80RMB (presale).
Ah, the soft, dulcet tones of this Hong Kong-raised, London-based heartthrob. Brown rose to Spotify prominence after the release of 'Sweetest Thing', a hit song that saw him enter the world of stardom across the globe. He's gone on to create further smashing singles, as well as his debut album 1000 Years.
Paul Draper
Omni Space. Mar 12. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale).
Paul Draper, aka former frontman of rock band Mansun, heads to China for his first-ever tour of the Mainland. Accompanied by his regular guitarist Ben Sink, Draper comes east to perform acoustic sets, with maybe even a sneak preview of his forthcoming album set to follow up his debut Spooky Action.
The Underground Youth
Omni Space. Mar 16. 150RMB; 120RMB (presale).
The Underground Youth, a British band hailing originally from Manchester, creates music that brings dark, cinematic themes to psychedelic soundscapes alongside garage rock. Hear their moody, raw music this March as they play Omni Space.
Honne
Tango. Mar 18. 360RMB; 320RMB (presale).
The Engish electronic duo, consisting of James Hatcher and Andy Clutterbuck, create music that's been described as 'futuristic soul destined to reinvent babymaking music'. They're also named after a Japanese word for inner desires, which seems a good fit for their lusty, yet tasteful, shag anthems.
Wild Nothing
Omni Space. Apr 12. 360RMB; 280RMB (presale).
The mastermind behind Wild Nothing, American Jack Tatum, brings his iconic intimacy and human touch to the sonic soundscapes of their latest album Indigo. Expect a unique blend of technology and humanity as he brings his synthy, dream pop songs to Beijing.
Mozart, L'Opera Rock
Tianqiao Performing Arts Centre. Feb 22-Mar 10. 180-1,180RMB.
Original songs and Mozart classics combine in this dazzling show that follows a dramatisation of Mozart's life, exploring the music and the man that became immortal. Original songs include 'Le bien qui fait mal' ('The good thing that hurts') and 'Tatoue-moi' ('Tattoo me'), mixing the composer's melodies with a dramatic rock twist.
Murray Perahia
NCPA. Feb 27. 80-580RMB.
In the more than 40 years he has been performing on the concert stage, American pianist Murray Perahia has become one of the most sought-after and cherished pianists of our time, performing in almost every major international music hall and alongside countless orchestras.
London Philharmonic Orchestra
NCPA. Mar 14. 280-1,680RMB.
Ever watched The Lord of the Rings trilogy? Good, then you've heard the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Ever since they first performed at Southbank Centre's Royal Philharmonic in 1951, the London Philharmonic Orchestra has become one the most reputable orchestras in the world. Join them as they perform a programme of Brahms, Strauss and Mendelssohn.
School of Rock
Tianqiao Performing Arts Centre. Mar 22-24. 180-1,180RMB.
If you loved Jack Black's hilarious performance in the hit film School of Rock, this might just be the perfect musical for you. And even if you haven't seen the film – or didn't love it, that's okay too – this still might be the musical for you. With a new score from Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, a book by Julian Fellowes and an incredible cast, School of Rock hits all the right notes. The story follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a bit of extra cash by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band.
Cats
Century Theatre. Jul 3-6. 180-1,180RMB.
One of the longest-running shows on both Broadway and the West End returns to Beijing this summer after its highly successful run last year. Since its premiere in 1983, Cats has received seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has been performed in over 30 countries. Its over-the-top set, hit songs and eye-catching choreography make Cats a musical not to be missed.
The Three-Body Problem II
Poly Theatre. May 29-Jun 3. 180-880RMB.
The Lotus Lee drama studio performs the second part of Liu Cixin's trilogy, The Three-Body Problem. Their multimedia performances of the famous science fiction book bring the page to the stage as they reinvent the future created in the books. As Earth comes under threat from predators across the universe, a small band of humans, who make up the Wallfacer Project, must save the planet. Chinese language with English subtitles.
Nothing here take your fancy? No worries. Just head online by hitting 'Read more' below and find our complete list of tickets to buy.
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