Cover The State Ballet Company of Astana Opera Theater—L’Arlésienne and Carmen by Roland Petit (Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Art Festival)
The State Ballet Company of Astana Opera Theater—L’Arlésienne and Carmen by Roland Petit (Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Art Festival)
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From avant-garde theatre icon Robert Wilson and cutting-edge 3D arts technology to timeless classical ballet and heritage vocal recitals, the productions in the 55th Hong Kong Arts Festival are a compelling mix of international masterworks and local innovation to the city. Here are five essential, high-impact performances to book tickets for.
Next year’s Hong Kong Arts Festival marks its 55th anniversary, and the milestone edition will bring an exciting mix of music, theatre and dance by both local companies and international groups.
This year’s programming includes orchestral collaborations honouring musical masters from Bach and Strauss to Shostakovich, while acclaimed pianist Yuja Wang will appear in hologram form, and ancient vocal traditions will be celebrated by women from China’s Guizhou province and Bulgaria. Companies from Germany, Kazakhstan and Argentina form a dance line-up alongside Canada’s multidisciplinary theatre artist Robert Lepage. There’s an ancient Greek classic, Shakespeare and a new take on Chinese literature legend Ah Q, plus puppetry, animations and 3D technology.
Whether you want to catch top international talents or see exciting local debuts, here are five must-watch shows to book.
"Ubu" by Robert Wilson
Above by Robert Wilson and Charles Chemin, with texts by Eli Troen, inspired by Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi (Photo: courtesy of Luca Rocchi)
Above by Robert Wilson and Charles Chemin, with texts by Eli Troen, inspired by Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi (Photo: courtesy of Luca Rocchi)
by Robert Wilson and Charles Chemin, with texts by Eli Troen, inspired by Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi (Photo: courtesy of Luca Rocchi)
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Dates: March 11-14, 2027
Venue: Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Groundbreaking American director and visual artist Robert Wilson was known for his experimental approach to theatre, dance and art. That signature style is on display in his company’s Ubu, a production that sits between drama and art that, fittingly, was premiered at a modern art museum in Mallorca in 2022. The 55-minute production blends striking lighting, puppetry and absurd comedy, and draws from Alfred Jarry’s 1896 satirical play Ubu Roi, a wild critique of power and tyranny, pairing the narrative alongside the playful surrealist art of Joan Miró.
Read more: The best arts and culture experiences in Hong Kong this November
"Shift" by Ulf Langheinrich (Jockey Club InnoArts Series)
Above "Shift" (Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Art Festival)
"Shift" (Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Art Festival)
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Dates: March 18-19, 2027
Venue: Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
Making its world premiere in Hong Kong, Shift takes arts technology to the next level. Co-created by audiovisual artist Ulf Langheinrich alongside local associate choreographer Mao Wei—a graduate of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts who has toured internationally, from Vienna to São Paulo—this high-energy performance pairs five dancers with giant LED screens, 3D projections and intense strobe lighting. It is a complete sensory experience designed to transform how you watch live dance, by an artist who has spent the last three decades exploring how technology can alter our perception of the world.
"Darkness for a While" featuring Alison Lau & Stan Geudens
Above Alison Lau & Stan Geudens (Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Art Festival)
Alison Lau & Stan Geudens (Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Art Festival)
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Date: February 21, 2027
Venue: Xiang Hai Xuan, Nan Lian Garden
Set inside the traditional wooden architecture of Xiang Hai Xuan at Nan Lian Garden by Diamond Hill’s Chi Lin Nunnery, this intimate concert showcases Hong Kong soprano Alison Lau. Joined by Belgian musician Stan Geudens, who plays the theorbo, a Baroque-era lute, the programme spans quintessential Baroque composer Henry Purcell to 20th-century activist musician Pete Seeger.
Read more: How the Cannes Film Festival evolved from a post-war film event into a global cultural institution
"Spartacus" by The State Ballet Company of Astana Opera
Above Astana Opera’s State Ballet performs Yuri Grigorovich’s Spartacus (Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Art Festival)
Astana Opera’s State Ballet performs Yuri Grigorovich’s Spartacus (Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Art Festival)
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Dates: March 19-21, 2027
Venue: Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Chosen as the grand finale of the 55th Hong Kong Arts Festival, Yuri Grigorovich’s legendary production of Spartacus is a production of cinematic scale and raw athletic power. Performed by the State Ballet Company of Astana Opera Theatre, this high-powered ballet tells the story of a gladiator who defied the Roman emperor, and features dramatic staging and impactful, often male-only choreography. Created in 1968 for the Bolshoi, the ballet was scored by Aram Khachaturian; that music will be performed live in the pit by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, adding to the majesty and potency of this festival’s ultimate production.
"Another World" at Deep Space Hong Kong
Above "Another World" at Deep Space Hong Kong (Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Art Festival)
"Another World" at Deep Space Hong Kong (Photo: Courtesy of Hong Kong Art Festival)
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Dates: February 24, 25 and 28; select dates through March 2027
Venue: The Lab, East Kowloon Cultural Centre
Deep Space Hong Kong is a series of experiences created in partnership with Austria’s Ars Electronica at Hong Kong’s new cultural district. It uses massive 8K 3D projections to create immersive virtual-reality environments in which a range of arts and sciences, from Renaissance masterpieces to galactic phenomena, can be explored. We’re most excited about the screenings of homegrown animated hit Another World—winner of Best Animated Feature at the Golden Horse Awards: the programme allows you to walk right into its mythical world and interact with its characters.
Kiko Tse is the Arts and Culture Editor at Tatler, where she brings the region's dynamic creative scene into focus. Leveraging years of experience across leading art institutions, she seamlessly merges deep industry expertise with cultural journalism. Driven by a passion for contemporary art, her coverage spans the full spectrum of arts and culture across Hong Kong and Greater Asia.
