[category]
[title]
If you’ve ever watched the midnight scramble at the Cheung Chau Bun Festival and wondered whether you could make it up that bun-covered tower without sliding straight back down, this could be your moment. Applications for the 2026 Bun Scrambling Competition – one of Hong Kong’s most iconic (and slightly mad-looking) traditions – are opening on February 23, and if you think you’ve got the grip, the nerve, and maybe a touch of luck, here’s how you can throw your hat in the ring.
How to apply to the Cheung Chau Bun Scrambling Competition?
You’ll need to be 18 years old or above and in reasonably fit physical shape – so even though you don’t have to be a climber or athlete, you do need to be able to handle the tower safely. There are no entry fees and the whole process runs through the Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s SmartPLAY system. If you’re new to it, download the My SmartPLAY app, head to smartplay.lcsd.gov.hk, or use a Smart Self-service Station to register and verify your identity. Once that’s sorted, submit your e-ballot application before the deadline on March 6, 2026. Up to 200 participants will be selected by blind ballot, with priority going to people who live, work, or study on Cheung Chau.
Full rules and the application links are available on the LCSD’s dedicated Bun Carnival page.
What happens when you get selected?
Getting through the ballot is just the beginning. All successful applicants must attend mandatory safety training on April 12, which will cover things like climbing techniques and fall prevention. Then, on April 26, there’ll be a timed selection exercise to sort out the strongest contenders.
The real test then comes on April 26 with the selection exercise. Contestants will have to climb in a preliminary round, and the top 24 contestants with the fastest times will advance to the semi-final held on the same day. From there, 12 finalists will be chosen to compete in the main event on the evening of May 24 at the soccer pitch beside Pak Tai Temple.
The Bun Scrambling Competition finale
The grand finale takes place on the evening of May 24. The 12 finalists will race against the clock and each other to grab as many buns as possible from the towering structure. Trophies are awarded to the top three contestants in the men's division as well as the champion in the women's division. The contestant who collects the highest number of buns within the time limit wins the ‘Full Pockets of Lucky Buns’ prize. Anyone who has claimed the title three times since 2016 can earn the prestigious ‘King of Kings’ or ‘Queen of Queens’ honour with a special trophy.
While the scramble grabs the headlines, the Cheung Chau Jiao Festival (more commonly known as the Bun Festival) has much older and deeper origins. According to local legends, Cheung Chau was devastated by a plague in the late Qing dynasty. To dispel the disaster, residents invited Taoist priests, set up a sacrificial altar near the Pak Tai Temple, performed rites to repent and comfort departed souls, and paraded deities through the streets. When the plague lifted, the community continued the rituals annually to express gratitude to Pak Tai for peace and protection. In 2011, the festival was officially inscribed onto the national list of intangible cultural heritage. So, whether you are climbing for glory or just heading over on the ferry for the buns and the buzz, it is well worth being part of.
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:
The footbridge connecting IFC to Central Ferry Pier has closed after 19 years
This 80-year-old cha chaan teng in Wan Chai is closing down in March
Jimmy O. Yang’s sold-out comedy show from last June will be screened in Hong Kong cinemas