The National Arts Centre in Ottawa has decided not to host a controversial Chinese performance group in the upcoming year due to concerns over potential backlash related to Shen Yun’s treatment of audience members with disabilities and alleged breaches of contract terms. Emails obtained through an access to information request revealed that discussions about this decision had been ongoing for several months, with at least two Members of Parliament inquiring about the possibility of a Shen Yun show in 2026.
Shen Yun, based in New York, has ties to the Falun Gong spiritual movement, which is banned in China and has a history of conflict with the Chinese government. The NAC’s executive producer for music and variety programming, Heather Gibson, recommended discontinuing the relationship with Shen Yun in 2026 citing ongoing issues related to contractual agreements, particularly regarding the box office.
Previous reports by The New York Times had raised concerns about Shen Yun’s treatment of its performers, alleging emotional abuse, long working hours, and financial impropriety. Shen Yun has denied these allegations, stating that the accusations are unfounded and that positive testimonials from performers were omitted from the reporting.
The decision to not host Shen Yun next year was supported by the NAC’s CEO, Christopher Deacon, who viewed it as a programming decision. The move was prompted by complaints from NAC staff about Shen Yun’s conduct during their performances, including setting up their own box office against the contract, taking photos of patrons without consent, and asking a patron with disabilities to leave the hall during a show.
Despite criticism from some MPs and a local Shen Yun organizer, the NAC maintained its stance, emphasizing that its artistic programming decisions are made independently. The decision aligns with Montreal’s Place des Arts, which also opted not to book Shen Yun for the following year, leaving Vancouver as the only Canadian city on Shen Yun’s 2026 performance schedule.
Human rights lawyer David Matas has urged the NAC to reconsider its decision, arguing that denying Shen Yun a platform goes against Canadian values of human rights and diversity. Matas criticized The New York Times for allegedly being a tool of the Chinese government’s repression against Falun Gong, a sentiment echoed by Shen Yun and the movement itself.