Your ultimate guide to Hong Kong

Hong Kong's 2026 public holiday calendar is officially out, and with some clever planning, you can turn those 17 days off into some well-deserved vacation time – so we've done the math for you. This guide will show you exactly which days to take off, so you can enjoy a longer break while using fewer leave days. Whether you're planning a long Christmas vacation or simply want to squeeze out every possible long weekend, here's how you can make the most of every upcoming holiday in 2026. Christmas & New Year 2025/26  Public holidays: Dec 25-26 & Jan 1 Take leave on: Dec 29-31 & Jan 2 (four days) Total days off: 11 days (Dec 25-Jan 4) Chinese New Year 2026  Public holidays: Feb 16-18 Take leave on: Feb 16 & 20 (two days) Total days off: 9 days (Feb 14-22) Easter & Ching Ming Festival 2026 Public holidays: April 3-6 Take leave on: April 8-10 (three days) Total days off: 10 days (April 3-12) Labour Day 2026  Public holidays: May 1 Take leave on: April 27-30 (four days) Total days off: 9 days (April 25-May 3) Buddha's Birthday 2026  Public holidays: May 25 Take leave on: May 26-29 (four days) Total days off: 9 days (May 23-31) Dragon Boat Festival 2026  Public holidays: June 19 Take leave on: June 15-18 (four days) Total days off: 9 days (June 13-21)  HKSAR Establishment Day 2026  Public holidays: July 1 Take leave on: July 2-3 (two days) Total days off: 5 days (July 1-5)  Mid-Autumn Festival & National Day 2026  Public holidays: Sept 28 & Oct 1 Take leave on: Sept 28-30 & Oct 2 (four days) Total days off: 9 days (Sept 26-Oct 4) Chung Yenug Festival 2026  Public holidays: Oct 21 Take leave on: Oct 20-23 (four days) Total days off: 9 days (Oct 17-25) Christmas holiday 2026  Public holidays: Dec 25-26 Take leave on: Dec 21-24 (four days) Total days off: 9 days (Dec 19-27) Final tips for maximising leave in 2026 Best for longest breaks: Christmas/New Year, Easter Least leave needed: Chinese New Year – only two leave days for nine days off) Plan ahead: Book your flight and accommodation early for peak holiday seasons like Chinese New Year, Christmas, and Easter Photograph: Shutterstock | Guilin Long weekend trip ideas Even if you're not going away for a big vacation, there are plenty of short-haul destinations that are perfect for long weekends. Check out these reads below: 5 best cities in China for a quick weekend getaway 11 must-see historic landmarks in Macau Hong Kong to Shenzhen: complete transport & customs guide The 11 best cafes and coffee shops in Macau Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Lin Heung Tea House to open new 24-hour location in Tsim Sha Tsui Chinese fashion brand Urban Revivo opens first Hong Kong store Hong Kong’s first Goose Island Taproom opens in Central

Hong Kong's iconic Lin Heung Tea House (Lin Heung Lau), a century-old dim sum institution, is opening its first-ever branch outside Central – and it's going 24-hour. The new location is set to debut at the end of May, bringing its beloved pushcart dim sum service to the bustling hub of Tsim Sha Tsui (TST). Photograph: Joshua Lin The new TST branch will occupy a 9,000 sq ft space across two floors along Kimberley Road in the Cheung Lee Commercial Building (next to the steep slope that leads to Knustford Terrace – the 'LKF' of Kowloon). With plans to operate around the clock, closing only for a brief daily cleaning period, the new branch is sure to welcome plenty of late-night revellers, local foodies, and tourists seeking authentic Hong Kong-style yum cha. Photograph: Ann Chiu After its closure in 2022, the Wellington Street flagship reopened under new management in April 2024. The return of veteran staff, signature dim sum cart service, and the added new element of bubble tea and hand-shaken drinks were welcomed with open arms by nostalgic patrons and curious new diners alike.  The new Tsim Sha Tsui branch will stay true to its heritage with traditional teaware, classic dim sum items, dim sum trolleys, and other features that make this place the legendary establishment that we all know and love. Lin Heung Tea House Tsim Sha Tsui Address: 1-2/F, Cheung Lee Commercial Building, 25 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui   Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Chinese fashion brand Urban Revivo opens first Hong Kong store Visitors can now experience the Ten Courts of Hell at the Haw Par Mansion again Uma Nota and Bedu to shut down in Hong Kong this summer Hong Kong’s first Goose Island Taproom opens in Central

Hong Kong-American comedian and actor Jimmy O. Yang visited our city for a short trip back in March and got a good deal of attention for his videos on food, experiences, as well as meetings with local stars Dayo Wong and Chow Yun-fat. Fans were in his comments clamouring for a Hong Kong leg on his tour, and O. Yang has now finally confirmed his first stand-up show in our city.  Has Jimmy O. Yang added another date to his Hong Kong show AGAIN? Yes, he has! With both pre-sales and general sales for his shows selling out in minutes, O. Yang has very graciously appeased his Hong Kong fans by adding another two more shows on Sunday, June 15, at 3pm and 8.15pm. Are there going to be pre-sales again for this round of additions? No, there will no longer be any pre-sale sessions for this final round of additional shows. All tickets will go on sale at 10am on Tuesday, May 20 – so let’s all take a deep breath before diving into the horror of online ticketing queues again. How much are tickets to Jimmy O. Yang’s comedy show in Hong Kong? As with the releases before, tickets are priced at $380, $580, and $780.   Photograph: Courtesy Jimmy O. Yang / Creative Artists Agency When and where will Jimmy O. Yang perform in Hong Kong? After several rounds of teasing, pre-sales, and sold-out ticket drops, the 37-year-old comedian is confirmed to take the stage at the Hong Kong Coliseum on June 13, 14, and 15, with the shows starting at 8.15pm, plus a 3pm matinee session on June 15. What’s going to be special about Jimmy O. Yang’s show in Hong Kong? Jimmy O. Yang Live In Hong Kong marks O. Yang’s first-ever show in Asia – in fact, our city is the only Asian stop on his North America-centric tour as he moves on to London and Amsterdam afterwards. There’s a cultural connection here for him, as O. Yang was born in Hong Kong and grew up here until the age of 13, before moving with his family to the US. Fans who follow him on social media will know that the multicultural funnyman can speak Cantonese, Shanghainese, and Mandarin Chinese, but does his professional comedy in his most fluent language, English. However, O. Yang has promised that for his homecoming Hong Kong show, he will be performing some of his bits in Cantonese, and we’re looking forward to relating to his personal stories, cultural humour, and musings on the immigrant experiences, delivered in his iconic sharp wit. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Visitors can now experience the Ten Courts of Hell at the Haw Par Mansion again Uma Nota and Bedu to shut down in Hong Kong this summer Hong Kong’s first Goose Island Taproom opens in Central

With over 400 stores worldwide, Chinese fast-fashion brand Urban Revivo (UR) finally made its way to our city with its first Hong Kong outlet in Harbour City. Spanning across an 813 sqm space, the shop features a large-scale floral art installation inspired by the Bauhinia flower, with its roots designed to resemble a Möbius strip to symbolise UR's "infinite vitality in Hong Kong’s fashion landscape". Offering a curated selection of nearly 1,000 products, shoppers can browse through the latest collections of womenswear, menswear, footwear, as well as a range of accessories like bags, hats, and sunglasses.

Chicago's legendary craft brewery Goose Island has landed in Hong Kong with its first Asian taproom. The craft beer pioneer, known for its award-winning IPAs, has set up shop on Lyndhurst Terrace in Central – and it's ready to pour some seriously good brews. Photograph: Courtesy Goose Island Taproom Photograph: Courtesy Goose Island Taproom Bringing over a dozen of its best craft beers to Hong Kong, the taproom showcases Goose Island's most celebrated creations alongside monthly rotating specials. Beer enthusiasts can savour the six-time Great American Beer Festival champion Goose IPA, or the newly crowned 2024 World Beer Awards China Gold winner Thirsty Goose lager. Not sure what to try? Go for their Brewmaster's Choice Flight, offering 12 150ml pours of different house beers for $298. Photograph: Courtesy Goose Island Taproom Imbibers will also be able to enjoy some hearty American pub grub to go with their drinks. Think beer-battered fish and chips made with Goose 312 wheat ale, stacked burgers, and loaded nachos with a signature Goose IPA cheese sauce. Fun fact: The brewery got its name from a little manmade island on the Chicago River, where legend has it that flocks of geese used to stop there during their migration flights. Photograph: Courtesy Goose Island Taproom Goose Island Taproom is now open daily from noon until midnight (extending to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays) at Shop 1, G/F, 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central. For reservations and updates, call 6800 6634 or follow @gooseislandhk on Instagram. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: This new digital exhibition offers vibrant photo spots at the Hong Kong Palace Museum Clockenflap 2025 announces first lineup and early-bird tickets Crayon Shinchan takes over Kai Tak Mall with huge interactive exhibition Visitors can now experience the Ten Courts of Hell at the Haw Par Mansion again  

Staying afloat in Hong Kong’s food and drink scene is no easy feat. With steep rent prices, consumers travelling to Mainland China for affordable spending, and fierce competition between competitors, many local restaurants are bearing the brunt of high operational costs, leading them to make tough decisions. Unfortunately, after eight years of operating in Central, Uma Nota and Bedu by Meraki Hospitality are closing their doors on June 21. Founded by siblings Alex and Laura Offe in 2018, Meraki Hospitality has made its mark in Hong Kong’s culinary scene with its exciting eateries. According to the hospitality group, the decision to close both restaurants comes after the challenges of rising costs and the changing landscape of Hong Kong’s market. The founders also believe this pause will give them time to reflect, recharge, and introduce innovative concepts.    Photograph: Courtesy Bedu   “While closing these restaurants is bittersweet, the relationships and memories we’ve built together will always stay with us. We are deeply grateful to our community, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back with fresh ideas in the future.”, shared Alex. As Hong Kong’s first Brazilian-Japanese restaurant, Uma Nota opened its doors in 2017 and paid homage to Brazilian botecos – a hangout spot that serves alcoholic beverages and snacks. Following its success, Meraki Hospitality also launched Uma Nota’s concept in cities like Paris in 2018 and Manila in 2024. As for the latter of the two restaurants, Bedu opened in 2018 on Gough Street, offering innovative and modern takes on classic Middle Eastern fare, quickly becoming a neighbourhood mainstay.    Photograph: Courtesy Uma Nota So, what’s in store for Meraki Hospitality? The sibling duo are currently preparing to unveil Sabai, an elevated Thai restaurant in Manila. While the hospitality group has yet to share details of future endeavours in Hong Kong, they remain hopeful to return to the city’s dining scene. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Visitors can now experience the Ten Courts of Hell at the Haw Par Mansion again This new digital exhibition offers vibrant photo spots at the Hong Kong Palace Museum Clockenflap 2025 announces first lineup and early-bird tickets

Hongkongers of a certain age might remember the Haw Par Mansion and its adjoining Tiger Balm Garden, a green space built in the mid-1930s by a wealthy Chinese-Burmese family that was later open to the public as an amusement park. The grounds were filled with sculptures and dioramas of scenes and characters from Chinese mythology, but the pièce de résistance for many was its gory depictions of the levels of hell. Those who have experienced it will remember seeing artwork of grimacing sinners being fried in vats of boiling oil, climbing a mountain of blades, being tied to red-hot pillars, having their tongues ripped out, and more. The Tiger Balm Garden was eventually demolished in 2004, but now, a whole new generation of Hongkongers also gets to go through this traumatic lesson on karma!  The Haw Par Mansion guided tour is launching a brand-new exhibition titled ‘Virtual Reality: The ‘Ten Courts of Hell’ of Tiger Balm Garden’, which reconstructs the former fiery exhibit using a VR metaverse platform. Through VR headsets, visitors can explore the details of the old murals, as well as interact with them to learn about the cultural and historical contexts behind the Buddhist concept of hell. There will also be displays and video works to accompany this new exhibition. Interested visitors can sign up to join the guided tours of the Haw Par Mansion for free, held four times each day from Fridays to Sundays. This includes being brought through the private garden and the mansion’s interiors, with highlights on its history and architectural features, before moving on to the Ten Courts of Hell experience. Find out more and enrol for the tours on the Antiquities and Monuments Office website. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: This new digital exhibition offers vibrant photo spots at the Hong Kong Palace Museum Clockenflap 2025 announces first lineup and early-bird tickets Crayon Shinchan takes over Kai Tak Mall with huge interactive exhibition

Most people who’ve been in a museum will know that you’re not supposed to take pictures in these institutions because flash photography can be harmful to artefacts. However, this new exhibition at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) positively welcomes visitors and their selfies, specially creating rooms full of immersive photo spots inspired by Chinese art. ‘The Ways in Patterns’ is jointly organised by the HKPM and the Palace Museum in Beijing, themed around traditional patterns from the Palace Museum’s architecture, ceramics, and textiles. Instead of having artefacts, artworks, and historical objects on display, this exhibition features seven immersive spaces that burst into life with projections of colourful Chinese motifs like waves, clouds, florals, birds, and more. Make peaches and flowers bloom, observe crashing waves, see a dragon emerge from a caisson ceiling, and walk along the crimson-walled alleys of the Forbidden City (plus, look out for the resident cat). Don’t leave without creating your own bird or fish to let loose onto the digital canvas, where it will live on the walls of the exhibition. Photograph: Courtesy Hong Kong Palace Museum While fun to interact with, a closer look into these thematic spaces will reveal motifs and patterns that carry auspicious meanings and therefore are often used in Chinese designs. A great way to continue the art journey is to head into other exhibitions in the HKPM to see where else you can find these common patterns. ‘The Ways in Patterns: An Immersive Digital Exhibition from the Palace Museum’ will run from May 14 to October 13. Visitors can access the exhibition with a general admission ticket (from $70) or special exhibition ticket (from $150). Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Clockenflap 2025 announces first lineup and early-bird tickets Crayon Shinchan takes over Kai Tak Mall with huge interactive exhibition French Impressionism inspired this surreal, dream-like parade in Tai Kwun

Hong Kong’s favourite outdoor international music festival Clockenflap is gearing up for its return once again. Though the festival is always held towards the end of the year, they’ve just announced the first round of musical acts, and released a limited number of early-bird tickets. The initial lineup includes Indonesian rap star Rich Brian, legendary Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand, British singer-songwriter Jacob Collier, indie folk singer Passenger, and former Portishead frontwoman Beth Gibbons. Artists from closer to home include Taiwanese star Yoga Lin, Hong Kong’s own Panther Chan, Japanese indie pop group Chilli Beans, Thai indie singer Phum Viphurit, and more – as well as the return of local mythical post-punk legends, Bitter Tea of General Yeng, after 40 years away from the stage! Early-bird tickets are on sale right now, available until the end of the day on May 23. Three-day passes are available at the early-bird price of $1,790, while single-day tickets can also be purchased at $1,150 each. Festivalgoers under 18 years old can also get tickets at a discounted price. Keep an eye out for more lineup releases, news, and other Clockenflap details here! Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Crayon Shinchan takes over Kai Tak Mall with huge Interactive exhibition French Impressionism inspired this surreal, dream-like parade in Tai Kwun Jimmy O. Yang announces an additional night for his Hong Kong stand-up comedy show

Hong Kong's first large-scale Crayon Shinchan interactive exhibition has landed in Kai Tak Sports Park from now to August 31. Spanning over 10,000 square feet, this playful experience lets you join Shinchan and the 'Kasukabe Defence Force' on a thrilling time-travelling rescue mission. The exhibition features nine immersive zones, including recreations of Shinchan's living room, a UFO spaceship, a futuristic city, and a ninja village. Visitors can enjoy interactive games, AR missions, and plenty of photo opportunities with 3D characters. There's also a special museum section showcasing 35 years of Crayon Shinchan history, complete with original artwork and movie memorabilia. After the adventure, be sure to stop by the pop-up shop to browse over 200 themed merchandise items or grab a snack at the themed food stall. Tickets start at $108 and are available on INCUTix, K11 Experience, and KKday.

Do you remember an exhibition last summer that displayed miniature scenes of the Central and Western districts in Pacific Place? In case you missed it, the Joyful Miniature Association (JMA) is back once again, this time with more incredibly detailed dioramas of life in Hong Kong, including seven brand-new miniatures that have never been seen before. The 24 art pieces will highlight some of Hong Kong’s famous landmarks, cultural customs, and unique lifestyles. Peek into painstaking recreations of Sunday dim sum at Maxim’s Palace in City Hall, chaotic nighttime revelry along Lan Kwai Fong, the customs of worship and pin wheel buying at Man Mo Temple and Wong Tai Sin Temple, a moving model of the fifth generation of the Peak Tram funicular railway, views of Victoria Harbour complete with boats sailing and fireworks, and more.  Photograph: Courtesy Joyful Miniature Association The new miniatures at this show include the Kai Tak Sports Park, the legendary old Kowloon Walled City, night scenes of Temple Street, horse racing, aquatic animals on sale at one of the many shops along Goldfish Street, the cable car at Ngong Ping 360, and Hong Kong’s transhipment history at the Insta-famous Western District Pier. The JMA brings together over 100 Hong Kong artists who collectively integrate the traditionally European craft of miniatures with our distinctly local culture using cutting-edge technology. If there’s one way to stroll through the most iconic sights and experiences of Hong Kong in just a few steps, this exhibition is definitely it. ‘Hong Kong: Through the Looking Glass Miniature Exhibition’ will be on display at The Peak Tower from April 25 to June 23 – JMA’s longest exhibition in the city. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox Recommended stories: Hong Kong ranked as the 10th most walkable city in the world; 1st in East Asia Hong Kong Airport Express proposes fare increase of 9.4 percent The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is hosting a carnival this Sunday

We sit down with artist and designer Joe Foti before his new exhibition in Hong Kong

March in Hong Kong is not complete without a trip to the Wanchai Convention Centre to spend a day or two at Art Basel. This year’s fair gathers 240 global galleries, with large-scale installations, paintings, sculptures, digital art, live performances, video works, and more to see!

From a world without colours to her love of big city metros, we caught up with British artist Monster Chetwynd for a round of quick-fire questions while she's in town for her new installation at Pacific Place! 

Free on Tuesdays? Head over to Hugo's in TST for their unlimited steak and frites night, which also come with Caesar salad, a dessert, and plenty of tipples – just remember to wear loose pants.

G'day foodies! Renowned chef Shane Osborn has just opened a laidback Aussie-style cafe inspired by Australian pit stops. Perfect for a casual meal when in Central.

This arts month, don't miss Hong Kong's first ASMR exhibition that will give you all kinds of tingles.

This ‘Picasso for Asia’ exhibition is the first time that masterpieces from the Musée national Picasso-Paris are being shown alongside works from an Asian museum collection. Find out what makes the Spanish master of Cubism so influential – you have until mid-July!

These cool (and just a tad creepy) faceless sculptures are here for the whole of Hong Kong Arts Month, so make time in your diary to visit this month

What is villain hitting and why are old ladies beating paper with a shoe for $50? Of all the weird and wonderful traditions we have in Hong Kong, this one is definitely up there.