'Pursuit of Jade' and 'Midnight Temptation' lead iQIYI surge
iQIYI International's global viewership jumped 130% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, led by historical drama Pursuit of Jade and microdrama hit Midnight Temptation. The overseas streaming arm credited a dual-engine strategy pairing premium long-form Chinese series with fast-paced short-form shows as international appetite for Asian storytelling keeps climbing.
Key Takeaways
- Pursuit of Jade ranked first across every iQIYI International content category in H1 2026.
- Midnight Temptation topped the platform's global microdrama chart.
- All 10 leading Chinese dramas on the chart were iQIYI in-house productions.
- Localization — including subtitles in 13 languages and expanded dubbing — fueled regional growth.
- The company launched its Global Trending Content tracker in January to map worldwide viewing patterns.
Why did iQIYI International viewership surge 130% in H1 2026?
In a report published July 13, iQIYI International said total viewership on its overseas platform rose 130% compared with the first half of 2025. The company pointed to what it calls a dual-engine approach: flagship Chinese dramas that anchor audiences, plus microdramas built for mobile-first, bite-sized viewing.
That combination helped the streamer convert curious first-time viewers into repeat customers across Southeast Asia, East Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. For more context on how global platforms are shifting, see our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
How did 'Pursuit of Jade' become iQIYI's top global title?
Historical epic Pursuit of Jade did not just lead the Chinese drama chart — it ranked first across every content category on iQIYI International during the period. Variety reports the series has topped Google search volume among Chinese historical dramas worldwide since 2025, a standing iQIYI attributed to its female-growth narrative and eastern aesthetic.
Every title on the platform's top 10 Chinese drama list for H1 2026 was produced in-house, spanning historical epics, contemporary romance and coming-of-age stories. Three dramas from iQIYI International's 2025 annual top 10 — Fated Hearts, The Best Thing and Speed and Love — returned to the chart, underscoring the long-tail pull of premium originals.
What role did 'Midnight Temptation' play in the microdrama push?
Microdramas are increasingly the front door for international viewers discovering Chinese content, according to iQIYI. Their high emotional intensity and rapid pacing suit fragmented, phone-based viewing habits.
Midnight Temptation ranked as the top microdrama globally, built around themes of personal growth and a woman's push for equal standing. The rest of the top 10 microdrama chart leaned on class-reversal arcs, female empowerment and contemporary romance — story engines that mirror the audience iQIYI is chasing abroad.
How is localization driving iQIYI's overseas expansion?
Subtitles are now available in 13 languages, alongside dubbing and a fan engagement program called the iQIYI Starship Project, which sends actors from hit titles to markets including Thailand and Malaysia for live events. Thai-language dubbing alone helped push seven Chinese dramas into Thailand's local top 10 during the period.
Regional tastes diverged: Southeast Asian viewers favored premium Chinese dramas and localized content; in Japan and South Korea, microdramas accounted for half of the 10 top-trending titles. Expanded Spanish- and Portuguese-language dubbing widened reach in Latin America, while Middle East audiences gravitated toward realism and military-themed premium dramas.
iQIYI International launched its Global Trending Content initiative in January to track viewership patterns across its footprint. The company said it remains focused on building out Asian dramas, animation, films and variety programming for global audiences, according to Variety.