Is The Lead coming back?

The Lead is currently airing on CCTV-1; the next episode airs 2026-05-12.

The show is a drama series that premiered in 2026. It tells the story of Yi Qin'e, a Qinqiang opera actress who was brought into her troupe by her uncle, Hu Sanyuan, by accident. Over nearly fifty years, she transformed from a shepherdess into a renowned star of Qinqiang opera. The series explores her personal journey amid the cultural and social changes that took place in China during this period, highlighting the emotional lives and destinies of ordinary people through the lens of traditional Chinese opera.

The show has a runtime of 47 minutes per episode and is currently airing its first season, which is scheduled to conclude on May 16, 2026, after 48 episodes.