05-03-2025
While Planning My Next Trip To Hong Kong, I Discovered These 21 Festivals And Events That I Need To Share With You
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The last time I was in Hong Kong was in 2016 and I desperately miss shopping the markets, slurping up noodles, and getting swept up in the buzz of this incredible city.
My wanderlust is so strong that I've been doing a ton of research on Hong Kong and I've found so many awesome events and festivals. And because I don't gatekeep, I'm sharing all of them with you so you can have the most incredible Hong Kong vacay while you're there. Here's the lowdown on some must-not-miss fests happening throughout the year.
1. June: Catch the excitement of modern dragon boat racing where the sport was born! The top-tier races you'll want to watch? The Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races, which take place in Victoria Harbour. Take in the exhilarating action of thousands of athletes competing in the vibrant boats to the beat of traditional drums.
2. July: If you've always got your nose buried in a book, then the hottest ticket in town for you is the Hong Kong Book Fair. Featuring hundreds of exhibitors from several dozen countries, along with seminars and exhibitions, the fair celebrates all things literature and reading.
3. More into anime, cosplay, manga, and gaming? Then add Ani-com & Games Hong Kong (which actually started off as part of the Book Fair) to your calendar now. It's the city's version of Comic-Con for enthusiasts like you (Psst: you can get a sneak peek of upcoming game and comic book releases here too!).
4. August: Things might feel a little eerie if you visit during the Hungry Ghost Festival! It happens during the seventh lunar month, which is believed to be when heaven, hell, and the realm of the living blend together and, according to folklore, ghosts and spirits wander the earth during this time. You'll find that Hong Kong locals pay respect to the dead during this festival — with parks adorned with offerings, burning incense and fake money, and preparing elaborate meals placed on altars for the spirits to enjoy in the afterlife. Plus, there are opera performances, which celebrate the good deeds of the dead, that you can check out during the festival.
5. Pack a pair of forgiving stretchy pants along with your appetite because the HKDTC Food Expo delivers a heavenly cornucopia of tasty goodies to fill your belly with. No matter what you're craving, there's a zone for you — the expo, which features just shy of 1,000 exhibitors, is divided into Asian Cuisine, Western Delicacy, Sweet Delight, Green Palate and Coffee Avenue. Bon appetit!
6. September: September is for stylistas! A few hundred brands and buyers from around the world hit up Centrestage: Asia's Fashion Spotlight each September with the latest designs. And as always, the Young Designers Contest rounds out the four-day fashion fair with the best of emerging local fashion talent showcasing their creative collections.
7. October: Considered by many in Hong Kong as the premier festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival brings families together to celebrate the full moon and you can expect dazzling lantern displays around the city, a magnificent fire dragon dance that includes an impressive 67-metre dragon made of incense sticks parading through the streets in Tai Hang, and an array of delicious mooncakes (from salted egg yoke to lotus seed paste) to indulge in.
8. Foodies unite at the annual Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival — the five-day affair gives you the opportunity to delight your taste buds with delicious eats (including everything from street food to Michelin-starred bites) and fine vinos from some of the top winemakers. Even better news for your Hong Kong foodie getaway: beyond the five-day fest, all month long you can eat gourmet offerings around the city thanks to the festival's Taste Around Town program.
9. November: Catch the top women's tennis players on the court at the outdoor stadium at Victoria Park during the Hong Kong Tennis Open 's singles and doubles matches. Elite athletes including Venus Williams and Jelena Jankovic have all played here and, tennis fans, guess what? During the first few days (when it's the qualifying stages of the Open), entry is totally free.
10. Get set to sip some deliciousness at the HKDTC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair, where the options range from classic wines to trendy new tipples. Sommeliers will share their top selections if you're looking for some expert guidance. And don't worry, there are tasty snacks on-site so that you're not drinking on an empty stomach.
11. December: Your heart will race when you catch all the action at the Hong Kong International Races, made up of four prestigious horse races, which takes over the Sha Tin Racecourse every December. In 2024, the total prize money purse rang in at a cool HK$126 million.
12. Hong Kong sparkles even more than usual during Hong Kong WinterFest. Victoria Harbour turns into Christmas Town with a gorgeous tree and the joyful decorations. The sky over West Kowloon also comes alive at night with pyrotechnics. On New Year's Eve, the fireworks display is taken up a notch, with the pyrotechnics launched off of rooftops of Hong Kong Island's iconic skyscrapers. You'll be ringing in January under the most brilliantly illuminated sky.
13. February: Put all of that training with your run club to good use and challenge yourself with the Hong Kong Marathon, the city's biggest 42.2-kilometre race. Not ready to go the marathon distance? There's a half-marathon and a 10k distance, too.
14. Hong Kong goes all out when it comes to celebrating Chinese New Year. The week leading up to it, flower markets pop up with pretty blooms and tasty treats. Then the celebration officially kicks off with the Chinese New Year Night Parade, featuring dazzling floats and fun performances. The celebrations don't stop there, though: there's an exhilarating horse race at Sha Tin Racecourse, blessings for good fortune at temples, and local traditions such as making a wish at the Wishing Tree in the village of Lam Tsuen. Talk about ringing in a new year to the next level!
15. March: Art and design lovers, March in Hong Kong is your month. You'll have to make some tough decisions on what to check out during the Hong Kong Arts Festival — featuring more than 1,000 artists in more than 100 performances, from music and Chinese opera, to dance and multimedia.
16. Meanwhile, outside in the Central and Western Districts, walls are transformed by local and international street artists into large scale murals in the HK Walls Street Art Festival.
17. Last but not least, there's Art Basel. Like the Miami edition, this preeminent art fair features modern and contemporary art from both established and emerging artists on the rise. It's heaven for arts and culture vultures.
18. April: Legend says nine dragons sprayed baby Buddha to bathe him at birth, so for the Birthday of the Buddha, those who celebrate go to Buddhist temples (including Po Lin Monastery). There, they bathe statues of Buddha, which is said to help purify your soul, in addition to eating bitter cookies (a symbolic ritual of enduring a bit of hardship before you move onto better times.)
19. The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), which kicks off in March and wraps up in April, puts the spotlight on exceptional movies from local, Chinese and Asian filmmakers in venues across the city. With actors and directors in attendance, film fest audiences get the chance to hear firsthand about the making of the movie (and, yes, maybe even get a selfie or two with them.)
20. May: Held on the island of Cheung Chau, the Cheung Chau Bun Festival includes traditional rituals (such as lion and dragon dances and the burning of paper effigies and incense) and quirkier fun. For one, children dress up as legendary heroes and take part in a parade suspended in a frame above the crowd, making it appear as though they're gliding over everyone. And there's a Bun Scrambling Competition, during which athletes climb to the top of a bun-covered tower to snatch the doughy treats.
21. Enjoy a bit of France while in Hong Kong? Mais oui! The French May Arts Festival brings a little of that signature French joie de vivre to the city so that you can delve into some French culture — from art and design, to music, dance, and film — in the spring. Not to mention the opportunity for epicurean indulgences through the festival's French GourMay program.
