Bubble Planet Hong Kong has officially closed less than a month after opening

Live in Hong Kong long enough, and you eventually become completely immune to the sting of the word ‘closure’. Still, even by our local standards, few exits have been quite as swift as this one. Less than a month after transforming Kai Tak Cruise Terminal into a pastel-tinted wonderland, Bubble Planet Hong Kong has officially shut down for good.

The sprawling 27,000-sq-ft exhibition landed in the city on June 29, featuring 11 themed rooms filled with giant balloon pits, interactive installations, VR experiences, inflatables, and visual illusions. Originally slated to run throughout the summer, the globe-trotting attraction was heavily promoted as one of the summer’s marquee family destinations.

However, the experience quickly hit a rough patch. Shortly after opening, several parents voiced concerns over hidden hazards, citing injuries to children caused by hard structural bases hidden beneath balloons, sharp exposed edges, and uneven flooring in dimly lit areas. After a string of reported injuries, the organisers briefly hit pause earlier in July to install extra protective padding, fix the flooring, and add warning signs, promising to close every Tuesday and Wednesday for “ongoing maintenance and security improvements”.

Unfortunately, the mid-week tune-ups were not enough to save the day. On July 29, an official statement published on the event’s website confirmed that the exhibition had permanently closed its doors as of July 28, citing “technical issues” that had affected the exhibition’s continued operation. Ticket holders for future dates are advised to contact ticketing platforms Klook or Fever, or the event’s official website for a full refund.

Following the abrupt shutdown, local lawmakers have weighed in, calling on authorities to tighten regulations and introduce clearer operational requirements for temporary pop-up venues across the city. This means future large-scale events in the city might come with a bit more red tape – and hopefully a lot more padding.

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