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Header image courtesy of Affordable Art Fair
Looking for things to do this month? Here’s our rundown of the best events and things to do in Hong Kong this May. See what’s coming up this weekend.
Hong Kong is getting ready to welcome another exciting sports tournament—the Hong Kong Football Club Soccer Sevens will be celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary, with 24 teams taking part in the seven-a-side competition! Learn more here.
M+ is launching the inaugural edition of the Asian Avant-Garde Film Festival this May, an event supported by Chanel. From 30 May to 2 June, a multitude of screenings, exhibitions, workshops, panel talks with key players in the industry, and live performances revolving around Asian independent art filmmaking will be hosted at the modern museum located in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Learn more here.
Get ready for the first-ever edition of the Inspiring Girls Career Fair, which will be held in Quarry Bay on 18 May. Organised by Inspiring Girls Hong Kong, this local branch of the international non-profit has been actively fighting against gender stereotypes in the professional world and promoting socio-economic mobility for girls. For one day only, the Inspiring Girls Career Fair will bring together 500 girls already familiar with the non-profit’s activities, and is releasing an extra 100 tickets for girls aged 14 to 17 years old to join the interactive fair. Find out more here.
For a limited time only, Sri Lanka’s popular Ministry of Crab is popping up at Ozone at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong! Helmed by Japanese-Sri Lankan chef-restaurateur Dharshan Munidasa, the restaurant, recognised on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list, specialises in elevating the exceptional seafood found in the region, including the succulent mud crab, transforming bounties of the sea into delectable crustacean dishes. Learn more here.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board is holding more regular pyrotechnic and drone displays over Victoria Harbour. Get ready for the first drone show, which will debut near the Wan Chai promenade on 11 May, coinciding with Buddha’s Birthday celebrations and the Cheung Chau Bun Festival. Find out more here.
While other Asian shows of his international tour are already sold out in Taiwan and Japan, you can still get your hands on tickets to see FKJ in concert in Hong Kong. The French multi-instrumentalist, who is reinventing the house music genre one album at a time, will be performing for one night only on 29 May at AsiaWorld–Expo. Learn more here.
Face Productions will present four musical performances of The Wizard of Oz on 25 and 26 May at the Hong Kong Arts Centre. Face Academy, the production company’s stage school for young performers, has invited 10- to 16-year-olds to star in the show. For its biggest production of the year, the 2011 musical adaptation of the iconic 1939 fantasy film is reprised for the stage. Find out more here.
Lace up your trainers—the third and last race of the 2024 Action Sprint Trail Series is happening in Discovery Bay on Sunday, 19 May! Organised by Action Asia Events, the popular race has been gathering runners in Hong Kong for more than 20 years now. Discover more here.
Inspired by Venice’s iconic masks, TasteVino is hosting “Il Casanova,” a Venetian-themed masked rooftop wine party on Spiga’s lush rooftop. On 18 May, from 6 pm till midnight, come hidden behind your best Venetian (or any classy alternative) mask and enjoy the free-flow wine, Italian finger food, and DJ sets. Find out more here.
Debuting in May is the all-new Urban Jam Festival. Centred around urban culture, the programme is richly filled with music, cuisine, and lifestyle activations that will take over the Causeway Bay neighbourhood from 17 to 19 May and from 25 to 26 May. Find out more here.
The annual Books for Love @ $10 charity sale is coming up! Held in Taikoo Place from 9 to 12 May and from 16 to 19 May, more than 320,000 books donated by the general public will be available for purchase at only $10 each. Find out more here.
Coinciding with the recent opening of Anima Tokyo, the new 80,000-square-foot anime retail and entertainment destination in Tsim Sha Tsui, is the comprehensive “Fullmetal Alchemist Exhibition.” Dedicated to the same-named manga and anime, the exhibition takes visitors on a journey through manga artist Hiromu Arakawa’s enduring Fullmetal Alchemist series. Learn more here.
Japanese rock band Radwimps is coming to Hong Kong for one night only to perform at the AsiaWorld-Expo! Hailing from Kanagawa, the established group has released over 10 albums since forming in 2001, though film lovers may know the band best for its mesmerising work on the award-winning soundtracks to popular animated films by Makoto Shinkai. Find out more here.
The Hong Kong Science Museum is showing BBC Earth’s dome-show documentary Antarctica 3D, a 24-minute exploration narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch. Find out more here.
Held at the Hong Kong Observation Wheel & AIA Vitality Park, you’ll be dancing in front of the Victoria Harbour skyline and night lights to a “Nordic Night” theme, which means there’ll be a lot of Abba songs on the playlist. Find out more here.
The Doulos Hope, operated by non-profit GBA Ships, will be docked at Ocean Terminal at Harbour City from 4 till 26 May. The vessel brings with it a book fair of more than 2,000 books, souvenirs, as well as an international volunteer crew to exchange stories and knowledge with, some even delivering live cultural performances. Learn more here.
Under the theme “Arts & Action,” the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024 is an ensemble of cultural events taking place across the city to celebrate the city’s creative talents. The martial arts genre holds a special place in this year’s edition as Hong Kong commemorates the one-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Chinese wuxia novels giant Jin Yong. Learn more here.
Co-presented with the French May Arts Festival, Opera Hong Kong will host a French production of Roméo et Juliette by Charles Gounod with two evening performances on 10 and 11 May, respectively, and one afternoon show on 12 May. Learn more here.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s acclaimed Broadway musical The Sound of Music has come to Hong Kong! The much-loved production will be performed at Xiqu Centre from 15 April to 9 June with matinee and night performances. Find out more here.
As the brainchild of Ryotaro Muramatsu, the “Naked Flowers” project is part of the Japanese artist’s digital art installation portfolio that began with “Naked Garden One Kyoto” in 2022. Since then, the artist has presented countless immersive art experiences to global audiences. “Naked Flowers” at 1881 Heritage in Tsim Sha Tsui is composed of eight experiential zones. Read more here.
The biennial Hong Kong Games opened on 21 April with a grand ceremony held at the Hong Kong Coliseum. Ongoing until 9 June, the sports tournament involves participants from all 18 districts of Hong Kong. Fans who are interested to watch the competitions can tune into the finals of each competition on a live webcast, or catch a live broadcast on RTHK TV channel 32. Learn more here.
May in Hong Kong means the French May Arts Festival is back! French May has been around since 1993 and has become a cultural landmark, with hundreds of events on the programme happening over the course of a few months, covering performing arts, music, fine arts, food and drink, and so much more. Find out more here.
The Hong Kong Maritime Museum is hosting a special exhibition titled “Across Victoria Harbour.” Taking the city’s iconic harbour as its subject, the exhibition delves into the vibrant history of ferries, sampans, motorboats, and cargo ships that have sailed across the harbour since Hong Kong’s early colonial period. Learn more here.
Distressed Asset is a new English-language play by Candice Moore. Inspired by the shocking “Milkshake Murder” case, the cast of the play comprises Moore alongside Jacqueline Gourlay Grant, Russell Aranza, and Stephen Elting, and will be performed at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre Lecture Hall. Find out more here.
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As the brainchild of two creative giants in the musical industry, The Book of Longing is a performative collaboration between renowned contemporary composer Philip Glass and Canadian singer-songwriter-poet Leonard Cohen. Glass was inspired by Cohen’s work to compose an eponymous, lengthy score of music, image, and poetry based on Cohen’s lyrical verses. Click here for more information.
The Hong Kong Whisky Festival is returning for its sixth edition! Over the course of two days, spread across four floors of the InterContinental Grand Stanford, this festival is your chance to discover over 1,100 spirits, sample old and new flavours, and join a few masterclasses out of the 35 different ones on offer. All levels of whisky connoisseurs and casual appreciators are invited. Find out more here.
Concluding Hong Kong Ballet’s memorable 2023/2024 season—with crowds still raving about The Great Gatsby and The Nutcracker—is the world premiere of Swan Lake by San Francisco Ballet resident choreographer Yuri Possokhov. It will run from 31 May till 9 June with afternoon and evening performances. Learn more here.
Affordable Art Fair is an annual event that connects art lovers with accessible art. Join in on the annual hallmark event in May to encounter thousands of contemporary artworks under one roof, all to be had at affordable price points. Find out more here.
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“Chromaflux” is Sino Group’s large-scale digital art project with non-profit organisation HKWalls. It features a multimedia street-art exhibition that brings together local and international artists in a splendid harbourfront showcase, extending the fleeting beauty of street art to illuminate the Sino LuminArt Façade with a showcase of artistic talent from Hong Kong and beyond. Find out more here.
“Voyage with Van Gogh” has now taken over the Tsim Sha Tsui side of Victoria Harbour! Visit the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade at night to benefit from the large-scale visual and audio experience. At the chime of every hour, the Cycles film by Spanish artist Vritis of Visura Studio is played, projecting 3D elements of Van Gogh’s paintings onto the iconic Clock Tower, accompanied by an original soundtrack called “Rain or Shine” by local composer Leon Ko and producer Chiu Tsang-hei. Learn more here.
From now till 3 July, you can visit the Wan Chai Harbourfront Event Space to enjoy SummerFest @ Wan Chai. From 2 pm to 9 pm every day, come and relax in the sun, admire art, browse market stalls, enjoy music and sports, and try good food. A total of 26 outdoor events will run alongside the A-Maze-ing Harbourfront entertainment zone, providing stunning harbour views, easy access, and fun for all. Learn more here.
As the largest international ice hockey competition to be held in Asia, the Hockey 5s will welcome over 80 teams to Hong Kong to play over the course of two weeks. Catch the youth divisions tournament from 20 to 27 April, while the adult divisions will play from 29 April to 4 May. Learn more here.
American artist Ken Kelleher, better known as Anchorball, is collaborating with Airside for an exciting art project. On show from now till 5 May, visitors will find a series of large-scale sculptures, inflatable installations, and digital art displayed around the mall, each boasting Anchorball’s signature characters. Find out more here.
From now till mid-July, the Wan Chai Harbourfront Event Space is transformed into a maze-themed entertainment zone complete with art, entertainment, and plenty of photo-taking opportunities. Learn more here.
“TeamLab: Continuous” is a large-scale outdoor installation showing from now till 2 June at Tamar Park. Hundreds of egg-shaped art sculptures light up at night, with colours and sounds changing according to visitors’ interaction with the art. Open from 6.30 pm till 11 pm every day, admission is free but entry is limited, so to secure a ticket, you must pre-register your attendance. Find out more here.
K11 Musea’s annual art festival returns for another exciting edition! Art Karnival 2024 takes traditional and contemporary Chinese and Asian art as its focus and offers visitors an exhibition of masterpieces by international and local artists, including large-scale installations and interactive artworks. Paired with a series of art-inspired food offerings at its dining outlets and artistic pop-ups, art enthusiasts will definitely be impressed by this year’s programme. Learn more here.
The Peninsula Hong Kong’s afternoon tea collaboration with Hong Kong Star Ferry is back by popular demand. Locals and visitors alike can look forward to a one-of-a-kind high tea experience while sailing along the Victoria Harbour.
From now till June, the extraordinary “Afternoon Tea on the Harbour” voyage will depart from the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry Pier, and those aboard the iconic vessel can savour the latest seasonal afternoon tea set by the Peninsula Hong Kong, presented alongside soulful live music and stunning views. Learn more here.
Featuring a rich programme with music, dance, and theatre performances as well as film screenings led by international and local talents, “No Limits 2024” aims to showcase a wide variety of human perspectives, addressing topical and everyday-life issues faced by those living with disability. Learn more here.
M+ is launching an exhibition dedicated to photography for the first time since its opening, featuring more than 270 black-and-white photographs from the Bibliothèque Nationale de France and M+’s collections to mark the opening of the French May Arts Festival. Spanning a century of works, it is the first time some photographs by Man Ray, Diane Arbus, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and more are coming to Asia. Learn more here.
Hong Kong Palace Museum has launched an exhibition for those interested in Chinese history! “Yuan Ming Yuan—Art and Culture of an Imperial Garden-Palace” is centred around Yuanmingyuan, the old Qing imperial garden palace. Visitors can learn about its spatial planning, the ceremonial rituals and seasonal customs performed at the garden, interactions between landscaping and Chinese painting, stories about the Chinese imperial family, as well as the transformation and preservation of the ruins. Learn more here.
Ben Brown Fine Arts is presenting an exhibition by artists Gerhard Richter and Sean Scully. “Celestial Mechanics: Form and Future in the Work of Gerhard Richter and Sean Scully” features 19 large-scale paintings in a comprehensive presentation of both artists’ careers from their formative years to the present. Visitors can view the exhibition at Asia Society Hong Kong Centre or the gallery. Learn more here.
“A Path to Glory—Jin Yong’s Centennial Memorial” is a six-month event celebrating the one-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Chinese literary giant Jin Yong.
“The World of Wuxia” takes place at Edinburgh Place and features 10 sculptures by Chinese artist Ren Zhe, each depicting one of Jin Yong’s iconic characters; a yurt inspired by the film The Eagle-Shooting Heroes (1993), and other scene and costume recreations immersing visitors into the world of battle and glory of Jin Yong’s stories.
For those looking for a more artistic experience, visit the sculpture exhibition at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum on show until 7 October. Visitors will find 22 sculptures of Jin Yong’s characters by Ren alongside sculptural manuscripts, immersive experiences, and a series of seminars and talks. Find out more here.
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Wynn Palace in Macau has recently opened the Illuminarium immersive space. Currently on show is “Wild,” a totally immersive experience that plunges visitors into the African savannah. The safari experience is a face-to-face affair with the most beautiful and awe-inspiring fauna of the region, with many animals—elephants, lions, zebras, giraffes, and more—filmed in their natural habitat. Read more here.
The celebrated Harry Potter-themed touring exhibition has set up shop in The Londoner Macao. For its Asia-Pacific premiere, “Harry Potter: The Exhibition” is now just a ferry ride away for Hongkongers! Learn more here.
Multimedia artist Gary Card is currently exhibiting his work at Oi! Street Art Space. It is Card’s first major solo show in Hong Kong, and it will run until 28 July. Named “People Mountain People Sea,” the indoor and outdoor immersive exhibit stays true to Card’s out-there, colourful style. Find out more here.
Eternal and forever dazzling, Anita Mui was and still is one the biggest Hong Kong stars. The late superstar is at the centre of an exhibition by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum: “Timeless Diva: Anita Mui.” Commemorating the two decades since her untimely passing, it displays records, movie posters, stage costumes, awards, film memorabilia, and pop-culture products while looking back on her impressive career. Learn more here.
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