The 2020s started with an extraordinary overture, as COVID-19 hit the whole world, altering the way we live. Humanity was facing a daunting test, not only of health and safety, but of values, ethics, governance, and ideology. Our fundamental understanding of "humanity" was challenged. However, for artists and designers, this crisis was a unique opportunity for growth and development; for all of us, it was a rare chance to strengthen ourselves. The pandemic was a universal experience, affecting us all deeply and reminding us of the interconnectedness of all human beings — as great Chinese writer Lu Xun put it, "Looking at the boundlessness of the distant horizon and thinking of the multitude of people, with whom I am connected." Thus, our theme, "Being with You in the World", came into being.

On June 28, 2020, the Second Zhijiang International Youth Art Festival & China Academy of Art Graduation Season, comprised five segments: "Being with You in the World" Documentary, Space Opera Costume Show, Exhibition Site Aerial Photography, Digital Live Exhibition, and Sci-Fi Forum.

The 2020 edition of the online graduate exhibition showcased works under the theme, "Being with You in the World." The online gallery was designed to be an artistic universe, where each of the 20 beams of light corresponds to a different unit of the festival. Upon entry, visitors pass through a time and space tunnel, traveling through nebulae. There, each student is an independent planet gathering and moving together, forming a collective of life and creativity. The offline exhibition was held from June 28 to July 4 at the China Academy of Art, Xiangshan Art Commune, and Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, displaying more than 3,000 works by 2,265 graduates of CAA from the Class of 2020. With an exhibition area of some 35,000 sqm, it was the largest graduation exhibition in the world.

The second edition of the festival was "Being with You in the World" amidst the pandemic. As the world's largest art school graduation exhibition, it affirmed the national determination to win the fight against the pandemic and commended the heroes in the battle. It demonstrated the cultural reflections, creative achievements, and spirits of young artists.