WHAM!’s historic 1985 visit to China is heading to the big screen in a new documentary, WHAM! 10 Days In China, which will receive a worldwide cinema release on 28 July 2026.
Announced by Sony Music Vision and Sony Music Entertainment UK, the feature-length film explores how George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley became the first Western pop act to perform in China, documenting a landmark moment in music and cultural history. The documentary will be distributed globally by Trafalgar Releasing as a special cinema event before later airing on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
WHAM!’s groundbreaking 1985 China tour revisited
The documentary focuses on WHAM!’s pioneering concerts in Beijing and Guangzhou, which took place during a period when Western popular culture had limited access to Chinese audiences.
The tour made international headlines at the time and helped establish the British duo as one of the world’s biggest pop acts. Beyond the music, the concerts represented a significant cultural moment, introducing large-scale Western pop performances to audiences in China under strict political conditions.
Rare archive footage and new interviews feature in the film
Directed by Mike Christie and produced by Supercollider, WHAM! 10 Days In China combines newly restored archive footage with fresh interviews from those involved in the historic tour.
The film features contributions from George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, alongside members of their management team and Chinese fans who witnessed the concerts firsthand.
Using previously unseen material, the documentary offers a detailed look at the planning, challenges and impact of a tour that helped expand WHAM!’s global reach while capturing a pivotal moment in China’s cultural evolution.
A story where music, politics and history intersect
Rather than focusing solely on the band’s success, the documentary examines the wider significance of the China tour and its place in both music and political history.
The film explores how two young British pop stars found themselves at the centre of a major cultural exchange during a period of transformation in China, creating a legacy that continues to resonate more than four decades later.
BBC broadcast planned after cinema release
Following its worldwide theatrical run, WHAM! 10 Days In China will make its television debut later this summer.
The documentary is scheduled to air on BBC Two and will also be available to stream via BBC iPlayer, giving fans another opportunity to experience the story after its cinema screenings.
Tickets now available worldwide
Tickets for the one-night-only global cinema event are available now through the documentary’s official ticketing platform – www.wham10daysinchina.com
