Cover ‘Ink Garden’ by Mizuki Nishiyama, whose exhibition ‘Where Life Meets, Once’ runs until January 2026 (Image: Instagram/@miznegi)
‘Ink Garden’ by Mizuki Nishiyama, whose exhibition ‘Where Life Meets, Once’ runs until January 2026 (Image: Instagram/@miznegi)
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Ring in the new year with an exciting line-up of arts and culture events in January: from Disney’s original Jasmine, Lea Salonga, returning to perform at Hong Kong Disneyland, to rare openings of historic heritage sites
Start 2026 with an inspiring line-up of artistic and cultural experiences across Hong Kong. From Broadway icons performing at the city’s first musical festival to rare openings of heritage landmarks like King Yin Lei, the new year offers a rich cultural calendar for art lovers. Expect immersive exhibitions, live performances, nostalgic tributes and even a cello crafted from rare huanghuali rosewood, all highlighting the creative pulse of Hong Kong’s ever-evolving arts scene.
Read on to find out what the new year has to offer.
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1. ‘Seven Paintings–The Art of Dining’
Above A bluefin tuna carpaccio dish inspired by Banksy, featured at ‘Seven Paintings–The Art of Dining’, an event that runs from January 2026 (Photo: courtesy of The Murray)
Above An interactive raspberry with Madagascar vanilla cream layer cake, featured at ‘Seven Paintings–The Art of Dining’, an event that runs from January 2026 (Photo: courtesy of The Murray)
A bluefin tuna carpaccio dish inspired by Banksy, featured at ‘Seven Paintings–The Art of Dining’, an event that runs from January 2026 (Photo: courtesy of The Murray)
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When: Until April 30
Where: Niccolo Room, 25/F, The Murray, 22 Cotton Tree Drive, Central
What: The Murray hosts an immersive dinner starting this month, where diners embark on a culinary journey featuring seven elaborate courses inspired by art masters and their iconic artworks across various periods: Picasso, Michelangelo, Van Gogh, Banksy, Pollock, Warhol and Dalí. This immersive experience blends gourmet cuisine with interactive elements, inviting diners to enjoy their meal while listening to stories, painting along and even solving creative riddles.
2. Fringe Festival
Above ‘Love & Loss’, featured at Fringe Festival in January 2026 (Image: courtesy of Fringe Festival and the artists)
‘Love & Loss’, featured at Fringe Festival in January 2026 (Image: courtesy of Fringe Festival and the artists)
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When: January 2 to February 15, 2026
Where: Fringe Club, Central
What: The city’s very own Fringe Festival returns with the theme “Breeding Bold. Breaking Boundaries”. More than 180 local and international artists explore fearless creativity across eight genres: from music and theatre to comedy and art tech. Around 70 site-specific programmes transform the Fringe Club’s historic spaces into an incubator of cross-disciplinary innovation, celebrating Hong Kong’s artistic diversity and creative resilience.
3. King Yin Lei heritage tours
Above King Yin Lei, a heritage building that will open to the public in January 2026 (Photo: courtesy of the Antiquities and Monuments Office)
King Yin Lei, a heritage building that will open to the public in January 2026 (Photo: courtesy of the Antiquities and Monuments Office)
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When: January 3 to 11, 2026
Where: King Yin Lei, Wan Chai
What: Built in 1937 originally for merchant Shum Li Po-lun, King Yin Lei is a rare architectural gem blending Chinese and Western influences. Declared a monument in 2008, the mansion now reopens under the Revitalising Historic Buildings Through Partnership Scheme. The Commissioner for Heritage’s Office offers guided tours for visitors to explore its exquisite craftsmanship, elegant interiors and the stories behind one of Hong Kong’s most treasured historical landmarks.
4. ‘Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey’
Above Yau Ma Tei Police Station will host a public film exhibition in January 2026 (Photo: courtesy of the Antiquities and Monuments Office)
Yau Ma Tei Police Station will host a public film exhibition in January 2026 (Photo: courtesy of the Antiquities and Monuments Office)
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When: From January 2, 2026
Where: Old Yau Ma Tei Police Station, Kowloon
What: This new film-themed exhibition blends architecture and cinema at Hong Kong’s iconic police station, featured in classics such as Infernal Affairs (2002), Election (2005) and Line Walker (2016). Curated by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, Yau Ma Tei Police Station: A Cinematic Journey opens the station to the public for the first time. The exhibition celebrates the creativity of local filmmakers and promotes film tourism as part of the city’s cultural preservation efforts.
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5. ‘In Colour’ by Chiu Wai Yee
Above ‘In Colour’ by Chiu Wai Yee, whose art exhibition will open in January 2026 (Photo: courtesy of the artist)
‘In Colour’ by Chiu Wai Yee, whose art exhibition will open in January 2026 (Photo: courtesy of the artist)
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When: January 6 to 12, 2026
Where: The Pao Galleries, Hong Kong Arts Centre
What: Esteemed Hong Kong artist Chiu Wai Yee presents her solo exhibition In Colour, her first major show in 11 years. A student of pioneering painter Irene Chou Lu Yun, who was a disciple of the legendary Lui Shou Kwan, Chiu continues the legacy of the New Ink Movement. The exhibition showcases 36 works that embody her evolution towards spiritual liberation through contemporary ink painting.
Read more: The Art of Collecting: Daphne King-Yao on carving space for contemporary Chinese art in Hong Kong
6. ‘Disney Legend Live in Concert presents Lea Salonga’
Above Broadway star Lea Salonga will be performing at Hong Kong Disneyland for one night in January 2026 (Photo: Instagram/@
sixbroadway and @sixustour)
Broadway star Lea Salonga will be performing at Hong Kong Disneyland for one night in January 2026 (Photo: Instagram/@ sixbroadway and @sixustour)
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When: January 10, 2026
Where: The Castle of Magical Dreams, Hong Kong Disneyland
What: Broadway and Disney legend Lea Salonga returns to the Disneyland stage for a one-night-only concert celebrating the resort’s 20th anniversary. Joined by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Disneyland Band led by Maestro Gerard Salonga, the night revisits beloved Disney classics from Aladdin (1992), Mulan (1998) and more, with live appearances from six Disney Princesses and a Queen.
7. Hong Kong MusicalCon 2026
When: January 11 to February 8, 2026
Where: Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon
What: The city’s first large-scale musical festival, Hong Kong MusicalCon 2026, brings Broadway flair to the West Kowloon Cultural District. Featuring more than 60 performances by nearly 100 artists, highlights include Lea Salonga’s appearance with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and local production Café I Do—The Musical. Expect international showcases, competitions, and masterclasses celebrating musical theatre in all its exuberant forms.
8. ‘Xi Xi’s Room Boxes: Beginning with Teddy Bears’
Above ‘Xi Xi’s Room Boxes: Beginning with Teddy Bears’, an exhibition that runs until January 2026 (Photo: courtesy of The Xi Xi Foundation)
‘Xi Xi’s Room Boxes: Beginning with Teddy Bears’, an exhibition that runs until January 2026 (Photo: courtesy of The Xi Xi Foundation)
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When: Until January 31, 2026
Where: The Xi Xi Space, Foo Tak Building, Wan Chai
What: A poignant tribute to Shanghai-born, Hong Kong-based literary icon Xi Xi, this exhibition reimagines her To Kwa Wan living room through a recreation of her beloved furniture and handmade teddy bears. Visitors step into the writer’s domestic world, discovering her playful spirit and intimate reflections woven into every detail. It is a poetic glimpse into the creative inner life of one of the city’s most beloved authors.
9. ‘The World’s First Huanghuali Cello’ exhibition
Above ‘The World’s First Huanghuali Cello’, an exhibition which will be held in January 2026 (Image: courtesy of Liang Yi Museum)
‘The World’s First Huanghuali Cello’, an exhibition which will be held in January 2026 (Image: courtesy of Liang Yi Museum)
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When: January 16 to 28, 2026
Where: Liang Yi Museum, Sheung Wan
What: Witness the making of a cello crafted from rare huanghuali (fragrant rosewood)—a collaboration between Liang Yi Museum, a private museum of design, craftsmanship and heritage, and violin dealer J & A Beare. Created by luthier Robert Brewer Young, the instrument symbolises a dialogue between Eastern and Western craftsmanship. The exhibition pairs this new creation with historic violins by Stradivari and Guarneri del Gesù, exploring centuries of musical artistry.
10. ‘Where Life Meets, Once’
Above ‘Poppies’ (2025) by Mizuki Nishiyama, whose exhibition ‘Where Life Meets, Once’ runs until January 2026 (Image: Instagram/@miznegi)
‘Poppies’ (2025) by Mizuki Nishiyama, whose exhibition ‘Where Life Meets, Once’ runs until January 2026 (Image: Instagram/@miznegi)
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When: Until January 24, 2026
Where: Boundless Art Collective, Central
What: Hong Kong-based artist Mizuki Nishiyama’s new solo show draws from the Japanese concept Ichigo Ichie, which means “one time, one meeting”. Each painting celebrates the ephemerality of encounters and the resonance between East and West. Melding European Expressionism with the meditative calm of Eastern aesthetics, Nishiyama’s vivid colours and layered imagery evoke the stillness and vitality that define her artistic voice.
Zabrina is the Senior Editor, Arts and Culture of Tatler Hong Kong. She specialises in performing arts, visual art and film. Her wanderlust was first fuelled by the Mighty Rovers Antarctica Expedition 2010. Over the years, she has interviewed A-list artists and filmmakers, including Oscar winners Chlóe Zhao and Tim Yip, Golden Horse winner Sylvia Chang, In the Mood for Love cinematographer Christopher Doyle, Pachinko author Min Jin Lee, and Coachella’s first Chinese solo singer Jackson Wang. She won gold at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards for her 2021 feature on the waves of hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.
