The best events happening in Hong Kong this May

Each year, the French May Arts Festival takes over Hong Kong and brings with it a wide array of events spanning dance, music, visual arts, theatre and culinary experiences. To kick off the Francophone happenings, the festival is throwing a large-scale party at the Central Harbourfront Event Space on May 8, and they're inviting international star DJ Snake to headline. As his debut performance in the city, DJ Snake will shake up Hong Kong with signature electronic sounds and high-energy production, promising a night of pulsating beats and spectacular visuals. Plus, artists like Chinese rap group Higher Brothers, local DJ collective Cantomania, and DJ Wordy will be there on the evening to support and collaborate with the French DJ to create unique East-meets-West performances.

After nearly a century of serving authentic dim sum at its Wellington Street home, Lin Heung Lau will soon relocate to its new premises in Tung Ning Building on Des Voeux Road Central – and they’re going out with a bang. Hot on the heels of its recent dim sum rave, Lin Heung Lau is turning up the volume one last time for its official farewell party on May 9.

The event features a lineup of local talents, including DJ Yin, DJ Tak, DJ Bobo, DJ Etta, Ari, and KT, who will be spinning Canto-pop music and retro beats from 10pm until 2am. Early bird tickets have now sold out, but you can still get your hands on general admission tickets for $680 per person. Each entry includes a choice of drink – with options ranging from Heineken to a Kowloon Alcohol Tea Sour – paired with either a dim sum basket or a roast meat plate.

Get your tickets now via Eventbrite or WhatsApp 6802 9100.

Kerala-born hip-hop artist Hanumankind is performing in Hong Kong for the first time this May as part of his OTW Tour. In case you haven’t come across his works, the rapper catapulted to international virality during 2024 with his single “Big Dawgs”, which racked up over 37 million streams on Spotify, more than 111 million views on TikTok, and charted on the Billboard Hot 100 songs list. He'll be performing on May 9 at Tides, before touring in other Asian cities such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.  

Join Feuille’s consultant chef David Toutain and executive chef Joris Rousseau for an immersive half-day escape into the world of sustainable agriculture. This unique experience begins with a guided farm tour that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the local agriculture community. Following the tour, guests will be treated to an exquisite lunch crafted from the freshest, locally nurtured produce. 

Experience a six-hands dinner uniting chef Richard Ekkebus of the three-Michelin-starred Amber with Feuille's consultant chef David Toutain and executive chef Joris Rousseau. For one night only, this collaboration brings together two of Hong Kong's culinary forces, blending Amber's progressive gastronomy and distinct Asian sensibility with Feuille's nature-inspired French cuisine.

Calling all Laufey fans in Hong Kong – this is not a drill. We repeat, this is not a drill – the Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter is coming back to Hong Kong for another concert this year! Mark your calendars for May 12 at AsiaWorld-Arena for Laufey’s upcoming Hong Kong show, which will also be the official start of her Asia tour.

Laufey’s latest album, A Matter of Time, was released in August 2025, and the ethereal songstress has since then been touring extensively across North America and Europe to promote her dreamy new songs to sold-out stadiums and packed arenas. Fans can look forward to Laufey showcasing her multi-instrumentalist skills as she switches seamlessly between piano and guitar and cello; thematic set design and theatrical projections to whisk audiences off to an atmospheric wonderland with Laufey as the musical guide; bittersweet and intimate songs that pluck at heartstrings; and immaculate live renditions of her beloved songs, including ‘From the Start’, ‘Valentine’, ‘Silver Lining’, and more. 

Run, don’t walk, to get your tickets – Laufey’s shows have been known to sell out fast in the past. Priority access for ticket purchases will begin on March 9, and public sales will be made available on March 11 at 11am on Cityline. Costs range between $699 and $1,299 for general tickets, and $1,899 to $2,199 for VIP tickets.

Feuille continues its third-anniversary celebration with an exclusive six-hands collaboration dinner featuring chef Barry Quek of Whey, alongside Feuille's chef David Toutain and executive chef Joris Rousseau. This unique gastronomic experience marries the vibrant, exotic flavours of Singapore with the refined French cuisine of Feuille, all born from a shared passion for seasonal and sustainable ingredients. 

Feuille’s third anniversary celebration culminates in a six-hands dinner with chef Ricardo Chaneton of the Michelin-starred Mono, alongside Feuille's consultant chef David Toutain and executive chef Joris Rousseau. This unforgettable evening bridges continents, blending dynamic Latin American cuisine with elegant, produce-driven French gastronomy.

Event organiser Collective Minds announced on Instagram that Indonesian-Australian artist Baby J will be touring Asia throughout May and making a stop in Hong Kong. On May 15, Pier 1929 will transform into a pulsating hub, where the internationally renowned DJ will spin Jersey club, baile funk, and hip-hop beats throughout the night. Further details about supporting acts throughout the night have yet to be announced, but expect to be on your feet all night long as you groove to high-energy beats and nasty baselines. 

It’s been about 20 years since Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs graced our screens, but the sequel movie is finally about to be released! In honour of this modern classic, there’s a pop-up installation in Pacific Place dedicated to everything Runway. Field calls from Miranda at the magazine’s reception desk, take over Miranda’s own office, have your own fashion change montage at the New York subway entrance, and more.

Best of all, you can hop into a photobooth disguised as an elevator, snap a series of model-worthy poses, and have your favourite printed out into a magazine cover. The pop-up is free to enter and explore, while you can access the elevator by signing up to become an above member and spending $300 on the same day within the mall.

Chef May Chow celebrates the return of her famous Little Bao to Central with a one-night-only Baodown, collaborating with chef Gavin Chin from House of Culture. The pair will co-create a special menu just for this evening, so if either of these restaurants has been on your list for some time, here’s your chance to tick them both off in one go!

The night’s menu remains a surprise, but considering how Chow and Chin are both known for mixing Western flavours with Asian inflections to great effect, we are very excited to see what they’ll whip up for ravenous diners in Soho who can’t wait to bite into a bao again in their own neighbourhood.

The Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong joins hands with world-renowned samba school Viradouro to present this extravaganza dedicated to the vibrant spirit of Latin America. On May 8, 10, 15, 17, and 22, be dazzled by performances by Viva Dance, while a photo exhibition of samba and Brazilian culture will run until June 30.

The hotel has also prepared a Latin barbecue buffet for a hearty, unforgettable feast as well as special themed drinks like caipirinha and white sangria. Exclusive dining offers and VIP tickets to the carnival are also available for guests who book a stay during the festivities. Visit the official website or email fop.lighthouselounge@fullertonhotels.com for details and bookings.

After its successful debut last year, the first-ever Cantonese production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, presented by WestK Performing Arts and Motion 27, is returning to Freespace from May 15 to 31. This year’s run features 13 exclusive shows, with four additional performances added in response to overwhelming audience demand. Like the original Broadway classic – beloved for its unique drag artistry, raw rock score, and emotional queer storytelling – its Cantonese counterpart preserves its essence and energy while fusing local pop cultural elements.

Hongkongers can catch creative director Ivanhoe Lam’s adaptation of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which sees outstanding actor Jordan Cheng as the musical’s eponymous protagonist, who also undertook the translation of the script and lyrics. This year’s rerun further welcomes Cantopop singer-songwriter J.Arie, who joins the cast as Hedwig’s husband, Yitzhak. Before each performance, a DJ set will get the crowd hyped for the show’s boundary-breaking rock-and-roll energy. After the curtain falls, ticketholders are invited to join exclusive electronic music parties, where classic hits, Cantopop favourites, and pulsating dance tracks keep the fun going late into the night. 

Tickets range from $588 to $988 across three zones. Superfans shouldn’t miss the opportunity to snatch Sugar Parent Plus tickets, which include an intimate meet-and-greet with Hedwig herself!

Hong Kong’s cabaret scene is about to dazzle like never before. This June, the inaugural WestK Cabaret Festival takes the stage at the Xiqu Centre with a nine-day carnival, blending international icons with homegrown talents. Broadway legend Patti LuPone headlines with her only Asian stop, Paris’ oldest and most historic Paradis Latin brings Parisian glamour overseas for the first time, and Irish-Australian showman Bobby Fox debuts in Asia. Beyond the mainstage spectacles, dive into cheeky surprise performances, late‑night dance parties, and free happy-hour pop-ups for an all‑out festival experience. For full programme details and tickets, visit WestK Cabaret Festival webpage.

M+ in West Kowloon Cultural District is honouring the late Ryuichi Sakamoto with a museum-wide programme from now until July. Comprising a site-specific installation, moving image works, a listening experience, and film, ‘Seeing Sound, Hearing Time’ celebrates the enduring legacy of the Japanese composer, producer, and artist.

‘Async–Immersion’ presents a three-dimensional, audio-visual representation of Sakamoto’s personal album, combining sonic experience with optical immersion. Nam June Paik’s ‘All Star Video’ explores Sakamoto’s influences and creative encounters, while ‘Vinyl Sessions with Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto’ allows visitors to engage with his compositions, alongside reflections on his work from three Hong Kong-based sound artists. Additionally, ‘Ryuichi Sakamoto: Music in Film’ will screen two films to allow for an intimate look into Sakamoto’s life, profound artistry, and innovative creative process.

Step into a world where imperial grandeur meets Impressionist beauty at ‘Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West, a massive new showcase at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Bringing together more than 100 sets of rare artefacts and paintings from the Palace Museum in Beijing, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Palace of Versailles, the exhibition explores how nature has been shaped and celebrated by kings, scholars, and artists alike.

The real highlight is the arrival of Claude Monet’s iconic Water Lilies (1906) and Water Lily Pond (1900), which are on loan from Chicago for a limited time. Alongside works by masters like Zhang Daqian and Wen Zhengming, visitors can wander through an immersive display and interact with virtual wine cups in a digital recreation of the famous Orchid Pavilion Gathering. Running until July 29 at HKMoA’s Special Gallery, the exhibition is completely free to enter – so there’s really no excuse not to visit.

To mark 85 years since Bruce Lee’s return to Hong Kong, this special exhibition brings the martial arts icon back to the very site of his childhood home in Jordan. The centrepiece of the showcase is ‘Be Like Water’, a new 1:1 scale permanent sculpture that captures Lee in a moment of philosophical stillness. Visitors can explore a dedicated gallery space, featuring a curated treasure trove of rare posters and previously unreleased private photographs that offer an intimate glimpse into his early life in Kowloon. Located at the Prudential Centre – the former site where Lee lived as a boy – this exhibition is free to enter and will remain open to the public daily until May 31.

Curated by architectural historian Charles Lai and product designer Kay Chan Wan Ki, this exhibition brings together architects, carpenters, filmmakers, and chefs to examine Hong Kong’s favourite diners from every angle. Highlights include the preserved neon sign of Wan Chai’s Sun Fung Kee, the original door of Sheung Wan’s demolished Hoi On Cafe, and a full-scale beverage station where you can suit up and try assembling orders at cha chaan teng speed.

The exhibition is now on view at Airside’s Gate33 Gallery and runs until July 31. Admission is free until March 31, after which tickets cost $20 (except for kids aged three and under).

M+ and Leeum Museum of Art are teaming up to present a comprehensive exhibition featuring the groundbreaking works of influential South Korean contemporary artist Lee Bul. More than 200 pieces will be shown, spanning the artist’s career from the late 1990s to the present to trace the evolution of Lee’s artistic approach. Split into three sections, ‘Lee Bul: From 1998 to Now’ interrogates ideas of utopian and dystopian existence, the relationship between body and technology, and Lee’s creative process.

M+ Cinema will also screen a number of Lee’s performance works during the exhibition period. ‘Lee Bul: From 1998 to Now’ opens on March 14 and will be commemorated with a talk at the Grand Stair; Lee herself will be present to speak about her artistic vision.

Tucked inside Oi! Glassie, Hong Kong artist Chan Wai‑lap presents Jeremy’s Bathhouse – a dreamy, ceramic bathhouse as an extension of his ongoing ‘Swimming’ series. Inspired by love, connection, different bathing cultures, and the 2016 viral story of Jeremy, the left-spiral snail, the exhibition features a heart-shaped pool installation made with more than 1,200 handcrafted ceramic tiles designed by Chan.

Visitors will also find a set of shower cubicles lined with casts of real soap bars that Chan has collected from bathhouses around the world, and every so often, timed release of mist drifts through, softening the edges and shifting the whole atmosphere from crisp clarity to a dreamy haze.

In a landmark collaboration between the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) and the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) of Egypt, 250 treasures and relics from the land of the Pharaohs will be on display in Hong Kong for nine and a half months. Named ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled’, this exhibition is the largest, most comprehensive, and longest-running display of ancient Egyptian artefacts Hong Kong has ever seen, displaying archaeological finds loaned straight from Egypt, many of which are being shown outside of their home country for the very first time.

Some of our favourite highlights include a set of canopic jars used to store internal organs in the mummification and burial process; statues of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut and Rameses II; painted coffins of wood and stone; a Book of the Dead papyrus scroll; and even an ancient Egyptian toilet seat.

Swing by the gift shop to find a wide range of Egypt-related merch, including an adorable series of blind box plushies created by HKPM which depict pharaohs, canopic jars, mummies, and more.

The stylish restaurant and bar Felix on the top floor of The Peninsula Hong Kong hotel has launched a brand-new event series that focuses on DJs spinning tunes on vinyl records. Every Thursday, from 8pm to 11pm, a rotation of highly respectable DJs such as Brahms, Roy Malig, Johnny Hiller, and NeeNo will spotlight their own distinctive styles with curated playlists of both mellow tracks and upbeat grooves. This is a great opportunity to experience some deep cuts from each DJ’s extensive record collections, with genres ranging from soul and jazz to Mediterranean Balearic and funk.

There are also special drinks and snacks that take inspiration from the 80s and 90s to go with the tunes. See details about this weekly music series at The Peninsula here. 

Hong Kong football fans are in for a treat this May as the FIFA Museum makes its large-scale debut at Times Square. Kicking off on May 28, this six-month residency offers a deep dive into the history of the beautiful game, featuring The Rainbow installation of 211 member association jerseys alongside original trophies and artefacts from both the men’s and women’s World Cups. Beyond the glass cases, visitors can also catch screenings of short films or uncover unique stories from Asia and Hong Kong.

Tickets go on sale April 16 at 6pm via the Arena-Tix platform, with standard entry priced at $180 and concessionary tickets for $140. Limited VIP packages with guided tours and exclusive souvenirs are also available.

The golden age of Hong Kong cinema saw the production of blockbuster titles like A Better Tomorrow (1986), The Conman (1998), and Infernal Affairs (2002). Packed with action, suspense, and good ol’ “nonsense” humour, these iconic crime films not only offer gripping stories but also capture the essence of life in 70s and 80s Hong Kong. Now, cinephiles can relive their favourite scenes from these classics at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station. ‘Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey’ delves into local cop film classics through reconstructed sets, collectibles, original scripts, and much more. 

This nostalgic exhibition is now open at the Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, 627 Canton Road, Yau Ma Tei. Tickets are priced at $30 per person, with concessionary tickets available at $10 per person. Children aged six or below can enter the exhibition for free. Make sure to book your tickets online at cultural.cityline.com, as there will not be tickets onsite. Find out more at fpf.ccidahk.gov.hk.