Ho Chi Minh City's culture and sports department reports receiving, assessing and approving 1,064 performing-arts dossiers in the first nine months of 2026, including 944 for arts and theatre programmes. Other applications concerned fashion shows and competitions. Drama, cai luong and hat boi continued to produce new work through public companies and private businesses. The administrative figures describe applications and programmes, rather than audience attendance or a measured total of ticket sales.