Ai Weiwei to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Ai fans. Speculation had been rife that Chinese dissident artist is about to announce his retirement from all public activities, at age 69, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 18/08/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an artist isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an artist-activist-architect just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouWeiwei

For a little while on Monday evening, #ThankYouWeiwei was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Ai Weiwei was unlike any other artist we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouWeiwei”
— @universalObserver, 17 Aug 2026

“I thought Ai Weiwei retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 17 Aug 2026

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