Cover ‘Swire Symphony under the Stars’ by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, which is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of Desmond Chan and the HKPhil)
‘Swire Symphony under the Stars’ by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, which is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of Desmond Chan and the HKPhil)
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Halloween may be over and Christmas still weeks away, but November in Hong Kong is far from quiet. From immersive exhibitions to creative performances, here are 10 unmissable arts and culture highlights this month.
Halloween may be over and Christmas not quite here yet, but that doesn’t mean November’s calendar is lacking. Alongside the much-awaited Mama Awards at Kai Tak Stadium, the month offers a vibrant line-up of film, theatre, art, dance and music events.
In performing arts, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves and Japanese composer Ōtomo Yoshihide will perform in Hong Kong, while Mirror and Collar take the stage at the annual Freespace Jazzfest in West Kowloon. The Hong Kong Dance Company, meanwhile, will unveil a new production dedicated to Bruce Lee.
In the visual arts, David Zwirner Gallery presents works by Felix Gonzalez‑Torres, known for participatory installations that invite viewers to take part—literally. The exhibition extends beyond the gallery, as candy and paper stack works are also displayed across the city.
For family fun, explore an exhibition devoted to the Moomins—celebrating their 80th anniversary this year—or enjoy an original musical about online integrity, performed by young talents from the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation.
Read on for the full line-up of November’s cultural highlights.
1. ‘Engineered Reverie: Hong Kong Textile Futures’
Above ‘Engineered Reverie: Hong Kong Textile Futures’ (Image: courtesy of The Fabrick Lab)
‘Engineered Reverie: Hong Kong Textile Futures’ (Image: courtesy of The Fabrick Lab)
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When: Until November 26
Where: The Gallery, 1/F, DX design hub, 280 Tung Chau Street, Sham Shui Po
What: Elaine Yan Ling Ng celebrates The Fabrick Lab’s 10th anniversary with Engineered Reverie: Hong Kong Textile Futures, exhibited at the Hong Kong Design Centre. At its core is Reverie, a luxury knitted textile collection blending traditional weaving with digital production using materials like paper, copper, and lurex to achieve minimal waste. Collaborations include Nuovo’s reupholstered Italian furniture and designer Katerin Theys’ Reverie Skin wearable art. Drawing on local upholstery craftsmanship, Ng highlights sustainable design practices. A TED Fellow and 2025 Maison&Objet award winner, Ng has showcased her innovative textile work globally, including at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
2. Freespace Jazzfest
Above Dianne Reeves will be performing at Freespace Jazzfest, which is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of West Kowloon Cultural District)
Dianne Reeves will be performing at Freespace Jazzfest, which is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of West Kowloon Cultural District)
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When: November 6 to 9, 2025
Where: Art Park and Freespace, West Kowloon
What: West Kowloon’s annual Freespace Jazzfest returns for its seventh edition with four days of open‑air and indoor concerts blending jazz, pop and world sounds. Highlights include five‑time Grammy winner Dianne Reeves; British pianist Joe Webb, whose style bridges classic jazz with ’90s Brit‑pop energy; and Japanese avant‑gardist Ōtomo Yoshihide, famed for pioneering noise music. Representing the local scene are girl group Collar and Mirror’s Ian Chan, among others.
3. ‘Likes and Lies’
Above ‘Likes and Lies’, which is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of West Kowloon Cultural District)
‘Likes and Lies’, which is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of West Kowloon Cultural District)
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When: November 13 to 15, 2025
Where: The Box, Freespace, West Kowloon
What: The Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation stages Likes and Lies, its signature youth musical for the year. Written and directed by founder Lindsey McAlister with original music by multi‑disciplinary artist Amuer Calderon, the production explores friendship and deception in a digital‑first world where affection is measured by likes. Performed by young talents aged nine to 25, it offers a fresh and thoughtful take on online authenticity.
4. ‘The Beginning of the Moomins’
Above Tove Jansson with Moomin characters. ‘The Beginning of the Moomins’ is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of Moomin Characters™)
Tove Jansson with Moomin characters. ‘The Beginning of the Moomins’ is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of Moomin Characters™)
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When: November 14, 2025 to January 4, 2026
Where: 4/F, Kai Tak Retail Galleria Phase 2, Kai Tak Sports Park
What: Commemorating the 80th anniversary of Tove Jansson’s lovable Finnish characters, The Beginning of the Moomins celebrates timeless stories of courage, friendship and nature. Organised by Trendic International in collaboration with Rights & Brands Asia, the exhibition features the global premiere of a digital projection by Finnish creative studio Null and a faithful recreation of the iconic blue Mooninhouse for visitors to explore.
5. ‘Romeo Castellucci: The First Hong Kong Film Retrospective’
Above ‘Romeo Castellucci: The First Hong Kong Film Retrospective’, which is one of the arts events in November (Photo: Instagram/@thy_lab_
and @iic_hongkong)
‘Romeo Castellucci: The First Hong Kong Film Retrospective’, which is one of the arts events in November (Photo: Instagram/@thy_lab_ and @iic_hongkong)
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When: November 19 to 29, 2025
Where: Thy Lab, 135 Yu Chau Street, Sham Shui Po
What: Avant-garde Italian theatre director and playwright Romeo Castellucci is celebrated for his intensely visual and enigmatic productions, which are characterised by their striking imagery, conceptual depth and exploration of complex themes surrounding faith, history, myth and the human condition.
Supported by the Italian Cultural Institute Hong Kong, Thy Lab Theatre will put on on-screen presentations of some of the director’s most iconic and visceral works, including The Divine Comedy, the epic cycle Tragedia Endogonidia and the hauntingly intimate performance Ma; the programme will be concluded with Theatron, a documentary about Castellucci.
6. ‘Felix Gonzalez-Torres: Somewhere Better Than This Place/Nowhere Better Than This Place’
Above ‘Untitled (Couple)’ (1993) by Felix Gonzalez-Torres. ‘Somewhere Better Than This Place/Nowhere Better Than This Place’ is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of Estate of Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Felix Gonzalez-Torres Foundation, Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York and David Zwirner)
‘Untitled (Couple)’ (1993) by Felix Gonzalez-Torres. ‘Somewhere Better Than This Place/Nowhere Better Than This Place’ is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of Estate of Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Felix Gonzalez-Torres Foundation, Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York and David Zwirner)
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When: November 19, 2025 to February 14, 2026
Where: David Zwirner, 5‑6/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central
What: Cuban‑born American artist Felix Gonzalez‑Torres (1957–96) transformed everyday materials—from light bulbs to candies—into poetic reflections on love, loss and temporality. His works, which often invite participation from the public, who can take away pieces of the installations, challenge notions of ownership, value and permanence.
Extensions of his candy and paper stack works will also appear at public spots around the city, exploring the blur between private and public space.
7. ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums’
Above A seated statue of Anubis from the Late Period (664–332 BCE) in ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums’, which is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of The Supreme Council of Antiquities of the Arab Republic of Egypt)
A seated statue of Anubis from the Late Period (664–332 BCE) in ‘Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums’, which is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of The Supreme Council of Antiquities of the Arab Republic of Egypt)
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When: November 20, 2025 to August 31, 2026
Where: Hong Kong Palace Museum, West Kowloon
What: Featuring 250 artefacts from major Egyptian museums and the Saqqara archaeological site, Ancient Egypt Unveiled is the most comprehensive presentation of Egyptian antiquities ever shown in Hong Kong. Highlights include a 2.4-metre pharaoh statue, mummified cats and objects from Tutankhamun’s tomb, blended with multimedia installations for an immersive museum experience.
8. ‘Swire Symphony Under the Stars’
When: November 26, 2025
Where: Central Harbourfront
What: The HKPhil’s free annual outdoor music extravaganza returns. This year’s programme, to be conducted by Tan Dun, is nature-inspired and features iconic pieces from The Wolf and the Swan and the 2000 action-romance feature Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The evening will culminate in the resounding cannon blasts of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, accompanied by spectacular fireworks.
9. ‘Kung Fu Artistry: Bruce Lee’s No Way as Way’
When: November 27 to December 7, 2025
Where: Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
What: To mark the 85th anniversary of Bruce Lee’s birth, the Hong Kong Dance Company presents Kung Fu Artistry: Bruce Lee’s No Way as Way, a dance drama that honours the martial arts icon’s philosophy and legacy. The company’s dancers underwent eight years of kung fu training to achieve Lee’s distinctive blend of power and fluidity. Music by local composer Patrick Lui and art direction by Man Lim-chung add further depth to this tribute to Hong Kong’s most enduring legend.
Don’t miss: Hong Kong Arts Festival 2026: 10 concerts, operas, dance and theatre shows you cannot miss
10. ‘The Silly Elephant’
When: November 28 to 30, 2025
Where: Hong Kong Cultural Centre
What: Ronin Theatre reimagines Hong Kong literary icon Xi Xi’s novella The Silly Elephant as a tender puppet production. The story, which addresses the author’s exploration of love, loss and life, follows a young man tasked with animal euthanasia. The theatre’s version takes the perspective of his girlfriend. Crafted with newly designed puppets by puppeteer Yeung Fai, this adaptation honours Xi Xi’s existential themes through lyrical movement and emotion.
11. Standard Chartered Arts in the Park
Above Standard Chartered Arts in the Park, which is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation and Standard Chartered)
Standard Chartered Arts in the Park, which is one of the arts events in November (Photo: courtesy of Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation and Standard Chartered)
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When: November 29 and 30, 2025
Where: Causeway Bay
What: Marking its 25th anniversary, Standard Chartered Arts in the Park takes inspiration from Carlo Collodi’s classic novel The Adventures of Pinocchio. Expect a vibrant daytime carnival, evening parades and a grand finale where larger-than-life puppets, school troupes and professional dancers fill the streets with spectacle and storytelling.
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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.
