The best Hong Kong events in July 2025

Joan Cornellà’s back in Hong Kong after a four-year break with a solo exhibition at The Fringe Club from July 11 to 27. Humorous, relatable, and kinda creepy, his artworks take a cheeky jab at life’s absurdities. This show’s packing over 100 original drawings on paper, each a satirical swipe at everything from selfie obsession to human hypocrisy. There will also be new limited-edition prints, quirky figures, T-shirts, and a fresh book to snag.

Renowned chef ArChan Chan has paired up with hospitality veteran Jonathan Leung to bring back the unpretentious, sizzling tastes that Hongkongers hold close to their hearts – with a limited-time dai pai dong pop-up. Savour street-side staples cooked over custom high-heat flame burners to deliver a true wok hei (that elusive ‘breath of the wok’). Some dishes of note include typhoon shelter corn, crispy egg omelette, black bean and chilli clams, crispy pork ribs with mayonnaise, moreish pork lard rice, and of course the iconic stir fry king. Pop the cap off a Blue Girl beer and kick back to the neon lights, Cantopop from the 80s to the 00s, and classic Hong Kong drinking games.

The Next Wave Beach Festival returns to Discovery Bay for two days of sun and tunes. The lineup includes K-pop girl group Itzy headlining, along with Hong Kong’s own Kaho Hung, Taiwanese king of romantic ballads Eric Chou, Korean rock band Dragon Pony, relatively new South Korean-Taiwanese girl group Genblue, and experimental pop group I’mdifficult from Taipei. Mark your calendars for July 5 to 6, kicking off from 3.30pm at Discovery Bay.

LMO Freshly Baked is collaborating with one of Hong Kong’s most distinguished culinary destinations, The Chairman, to present three time-limited offerings that are an homage to Cantonese flavours, and exclusive to this pop-up. This is the first time that The Chairman has ever translated their award-winning food into a casual, grab-and-go format – and a great opportunity to try out offerings from a Michelin-starred restaurant for under $100! Hit the button below to see what food they’ve whipped up.

Bookworms, get ready as the annual Hong Kong Book Fair returns this year in mid-July. The fair is themed around food culture and future living, and will feature plenty of food literature. Don’t leave without stopping by the exhibition of eight tables by different artists, each exploring themes like food and healthy living, surplus and the future, table and etiquette, culture, music, and art. You’ll probably walk out of the fair physically hungry but mentally satiated.

Pro tip: Visitors born in 1990 – the year the Book Fair first started – will gain free entry with valid identification.

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the legendary Carmen from French composer George Bizet, The Peninsula Hong Kong is presenting a brand-new adaptation of his 1875 opera – only it’s set in a Hong Kong bar in the 60s and 70s instead of 1800s Seville. And where else should Les Amours de Carmen Wong be held but within The Peninsula Hong Kong’s beautiful fine dining spaces? Head to Gaddi’s on July 21 to experience the performance accompanied by culinary offerings specially created for the occasion.

South Korean alternative music collective Balming Tiger is coming back to Hong Kong for their first headline performance. On July 14, the group will bring their rap- and metal-tinged exuberance to the Kitty Woo Stadium for one night only. Concertgoers can expect an energetic mix of hip-hop, rap, electro, R&B, synth, and K-pop. 

Celebrate the artistic romanticism of Hong Kong’s neon sign heritage at this special exhibition in PMQ. Six interactive neon sculptures stand as a tribute to this glowing part of Hong Kong’s legacy. What makes this exhibition even more special is that it is a cross-generational showcase of talents – artist Jerry Loo has collaborated with his grandfather Wong Kin-wah, who is one of Hong Kong’s most senior neon tube-bending craftsmen. Together, they’ve reinterpreted our city’s beloved neon signs, blending traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary vision and aesthetic.

Returning to the original site that inspired it all, the Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey movie set exhibition showcases the incredible details and efforts that went into creating the award-winning film Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In. Visitors will be taken back to the 1980s of the infamous Kowloon Walled City, where they can literally immerse themselves in another world and explore meticulously recreated shops and scenesfrom the movie.

Check out our guide for everything you need to know about the exhibition, from dates and opening hours to highlights not to be missed.

Hong Kong’s largest Japanese online mall Yaichi opens the first-ever Cheese Wonder pop-up store from now to July 14. Following its online sell-out success, Cheese Wonder brings its signature desserts to Hysan Place, offering the No-bake Cheese Cake ($246/six pieces) – which can be enjoyed frozen, semi-thawed, or fully thawed for varied textures – made with a rich soufflé base, smooth mousse, and crisp almond cookie.  Also available is the Wonder Sand double cheese cream sandwich cookie ($182/six pieces), featuring Hokkaido mascarpone and cheddar cream between crunchy almond cookies. For a tasty twist, use leftover chocolate crisps from the tin as a topping for milk or ice cream. These treats are available in limited quantities at the pop-up store, so don't miss out! Visit yaichi.co for more details or to purchase online. 

From now to July 13, Airside is hosting ‘The World of ASMR’ exhibition that was at London’s Design Museum. This immersive experience delves into the crackles, pops, feather brushes, whispers, and tappy noises that have become a whole culture and community around the world.

The highlight of the show is a sculpture of wavy, bendy pillows woven together to form over a kilometre of squishy comfort, where visitors can lounge while watching various ASMR-related videos. There’s even an entire room dedicated to Bob Ross, who many in the community dub the ‘Godfather of ASMR’. Don’t forget to try your hand at creating your own ASMR noises before you leave! 

The internationally acclaimed Cirque du Soleil is in town on the first stop of their Asia tour – this will be the troupe’s first appearance in Hong Kong since 2018. Expect to see high-flying acrobatics and whimsical characters amidst gorgeous sets, highlighted by the lavish costumes and powerful music that Cirque du Soleil has always been known for. This new production also includes a solo aerial silk performance, a repertoire of Icarian games, and a high-octane diabolo act with a triple world champion – all never seen before in Hong Kong. 

Since there has been overwhelming demand, the Cirque du Soleil has extended Kooza’s run for an additional three weeks, so the show will be in town until July 13.

Visit this special exhibition at M+ to see more than 60 masterpieces by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso spanning from the late 1890s to the early 1970s. By placing Picasso’s work in dialogue with Asian contemporary art – approximately 80 works by more than 20 Asian and Asian-diasporic artists – the master’s enduring influence on art to this day is highlighted. See how Picasso became the quintessential modern 20th-century artist before this exhibition leaves mid-month.

From now to July 31, Rosewood Hong Kong's Butterfly Patisserie is bringing its highly sought-after Hokkaido custard flans to a limited-time pop-up at Lane Crawford in IFC. Made with premium Hokkaido milk, vanilla, and a deep amber caramel, the Hokkaido custard flan is available in two flavours: the original classic flavour ($98) and a new exclusive taro flavour ($108). Only 150 flans are available each day (100 taro and 50 classic), and each customer is limited to purchasing a maximum of two pieces. We heard the flans sold out in less than half an hour after opening, so get there early if you're looking to try one.

British designer Anya Hindmarch opens Hong Kong's first Anya Life pop-up at Lane Crawford in IFC. Open from now to July 30, the time-limited shop showcases a fun lifestyle collection featuring everything from ceramic items and travel accessories to candles, homeware, and other home essentials. Take home a set of cute linen pyjamas embossed with the beloved nylon 'eyes'; have a whiff of a soy sauce or ketchup candle; and get accessorising with cereal pouches, Fruit Pastilles keychain, and more. Products will be available online after a two-week exclusive in-store period.

Sweettooths are in for a treat as Japanese dessert brand Mr. Cheesecake is hosting a time-limited pop-up at IFC Mall from now to August 21. Apart from its signature Mr. Cheesecake classic box, known for its melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich flavours, customers will also be able to try this season's newly launched Basque cheesecake, along with two Hong Kong-exclusive takes on the classic: Matcha, made with Yame Matcha from Yame City (Fukuoka prefecture, and milk tea, a combination of Uva tea and Yunnan tea.

Head to Hysan Place between now and July 14 to check out the Anteprima Wirebag Summer Market. Taking you to a cheerful summer market on Capri Island in Italy, the pop-up offers an array of rainbow-hued wirebags, the Twist Wirebag in mini size (available in 11 summer colours and pre-launching at the pop-up for two weeks), and an array of cute sparkly bag charms.

Hong Kong's first large-scale Crayon Shinchan interactive exhibition has landed in Kai Tak Sports Park from now to August 31. This playful experience lets you join Shinchan and the 'Kasukabe Defence Force' on a thrilling time-travelling rescue mission, featuring 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. 

M+ is hosting this adaptation of Trevor Yeung’s solo show that represented our city at the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Drawing inspiration from his surroundings that include pet shops, seafood restaurants, public fountains, feng shui arrangements, and more, Yeung examines the relationship between humans and aquatic systems. See pet fish shops and filtration systems that are abandoned and devoid of aquatic life, and a defunct fountain in a European courtyard. The exhibition runs from June 14 to October 12, and entry is $120.

Among the three recent Oi! Spotlight exhibitions is renowned Japanese contemporary artist Toyofuku Ryo’s first solo exhibition in Hong Kong. His Golden Tearoom is an elegant space filled with over 200 drawings of elements in Hong Kong life. Take your time identifying everything from local dishes to the clown motif for Ocean Park’s Hair Raiser rollercoaster. There is also the Golden Playroom, where visitors are invited to interact and engage with each other through board games and electronic elements. This area is also full to the brim with distinctly local items such as Red A plastic lampshades, golden dragon sculptures often seen in banquet restaurants, metal containers for ‘airplane olive’ snacks, and more.

Meet Le Petit Chef – the world’s tiniest chef! This 6cm-tall animated French chef has arrived at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, bringing his 'The Beginning' culinary journey to life with cutting-edge 3D projection mapping. Watch him cook, chop, and even set your table on fire (virtually, of course) while you enjoy an exquisite five-course meal. It’s dinner and a show, all rolled into one unforgettable experience. Find out more about this unique dining experience here.

When is Chinese calligraphy not actually calligraphy? Well, when it comes from Xu Bing’s brush, apparently. This Chinese artist is well known for what he calls ‘square word calligraphy’, which he developed in 1993 – it looks remarkably similar to Chinese characters but a closer look will reveal English words that have been deliberately designed and drawn to confuse the mind. This exhibition includes linguistic features and greetings unique to Hong Kong, as well as the Square Word Calligraphy Classroom, which provides writing tools and copybooks for visitors to attempt Xu’s special writing system.