Genevieve Pang

Whether it’s street photography spots or world-class art galleries, Hong Kong is a city that’s bursting with creativity. To narrow things down and help you be well on your way to true culture vulture status (and level up your Insta-feed along the way), here are some of the best ongoing and upcoming art shows to visit around town. RECOMMENDED: Discover Hong Kong’s coolest hidden art spaces or pay a visit to the city’s top museums.

Art lovers are in for a treat this month as Christie’s Asia Pacific gears up for its Hong Kong 20th/21st Century Autumn Auctions, where an exceptional collection featuring the biggest names in modern and contemporary art has been lined up. Answering to the growing demand for artworks by masters and visionaries, the sales are headlined by Pablo Picasso’s Buste de femme, Zao Wou-ki’s 17.3.63, Yoshitomo Nara’s Mumps, David Hockey’s Table with Conversation, Yayoi Kusama’s PUMPKIN [TWAQN], Claude Monet’s Printemps à Giverny, effet d’aprés-midi, J.M.W. Turner’s The Grand Bridge at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, and many more, showcasing diverse artistic movements.

Christie’s Asia Pacific is commemorating the first anniversary of its new Henderson headquarters with a slew of autumn auctions, among them a sale highlighting Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian Art as part of the launch of this new department. Leading the event is a rare, newly reattributed figure of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion – an exquisite gilded copper alloy sculpture that is emblematic of a new art style that rose to prominence during the 13th-century Yuan court under the purview of Aniko, the renowned Nepalese artist. Other notable pieces include the figure of Manjushri and a rare thangka attributed to the 10th Karmapa, Choying Dorje, depicting parinirvana. Now’s your chance to see these masterpieces before they head into private collections.

Head to Sotheby’s Maison in Landmark Chater for a limited-time exhibition examining the complex and enduring interplay between desire and death – fundamental forces shaping the human experience. Inspired by the works of French philosopher Georges Bataille, Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud, and Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, ‘Eros/Thanatos’ combines mythology, art history, and psychoanalysis to uncover how artists have navigated the tension between ecstasy and dissolution across centuries. Curated with a memento mori message in mind, ‘Eros/Thanatos’ encourages viewers to reflect on the feelings of desire and death, and the contradictions that define existence.

As part of the celebration surrounding its new gallery space in the Southside, De Sarthe is launching two exhibitions concurrently. ‘20th Century Narratives – In Conversation’, the gallery’s second show, presents a curated collection of post-war and modern paintings and sculptures, featuring the likes of Yayoi Kusuma, Marc Chagall, Giorgio de Chirico, Chu Teh-chun, Joan Miró, Henry Moore, Jack Tworkov, Bernar Venet, and Zao Wou-ki as they are brought together to represent a transcontinental artistic exchange.

De Sarthe is inaugurating its new gallery space in the Southside with a new solo exhibition featuring contemporary Hong Kong artist Lazarus Chan. ‘Poetics Policy’ is an immersive journey that investigates the influence of policy-making on art, reality, and machine intelligence through multimedia and interactive artworks. Adding a dystopian touch, the exhibition features an AI-built living system as an imagined simulation of the future, which is governed by the artist, but used to emphasise that the essence of art is found in the policies guiding its creation, rather than in the generated texts or imagery.

A new exhibition at M+ showcases 12 immersive installations by pioneering women artists from Asia, Europe, and the Americas, including three new works by Asian artists. Dream Rooms: Environments by Women Artists 1950s–Now emphasises the multisensory experience of art and highlights women’s contributions to installation art, a field often overshadowed by male artists. Visitors can actively engage with the environments, which include nine historic pieces that have been painstakingly reconstructed, such as Aleksandra Kasuba’s Spectral Passage (1975), which invites individuals to journey through interconnected nylon structures as a metaphor of the life cycle; Judy Chicago’s Feather Room (1966), an all-white space filled with 300 pounds of feathers; and more. M+ will also host talks with co-curators Andrea Lissoni and Marina Pugliese to discuss the concept behind the exhibition, and a panel discussion with the three Asian artists whose new, commissioned work is part of Dream Rooms. Additionally, M+ Cinema will screen three documentaries about some of the exhibited artists to supplement the show.

Tai Kwun Contemporary is presenting a two-part exhibition under the theme ‘Stay Connected: Art and China Since 2008’. Centred around an expansive exploration of the transformations and social shifts within 21st-century China brought about by the prolific spread of the internet and digital technologies, the first chapter will take over all three floors of the JC Contemporary art spaces, running for a little over three months. ‘Stay Connected: Navigating the Cloud’ will present more than 50 pieces mapping the creative pursuits of over 35 artists and groups whose practices are influenced by social media, the internet, and digital technologies. Divided into themed segments such as artificial intelligence, information bubbles, online communities, and more, the showcase explores how to ‘stay connected’ in today’s world. Li Shuang, Li Yi-fan, Miao Ying, Wong Ping, Lu Yang, Shao Chun, Zhang Yibei, and the Xijing Men collective are among the many artists exhibiting. Collaborative duo Sun Yuan & Peng Yu – whose claim to fame is the Can’t Help Myself kinetic sculpture with a robotic arm – is also participating.

Urban sketch artist Rob Sketcherman is bringing his unique perspective of Hong Kong’s everyday scenes to the W Hong Kong! From nostalgic pictures of stilt houses in Tai O to depicting the energetic Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and evening views of the Star Ferry Pier in Tsim Sha Tsui, Sketcherman’s lively art captures the dynamic spirit of the city through detail-oriented, colourful illustrations. What’s special about this exhibition is that there will be five screens in the hotel lobby showcasing Sketcherman’s artistic process through time-lapse recordings of his drawings, so visitors will not only see his finished pieces, but also all the thinking behind the sketches and the work that went into them.

White Cube Hong Kong is staging an exhibition showcasing the works of the seminal Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi. ‘A Feeling’ revolves around the pieces Noguchi created after meeting and studying under Chinese master ink painter Qi Baishi, exploring how the teachings influenced his later sculptural approach.  A selection of Noguchi’s abstract ‘Peking Brush Drawings’ and complex bronze sculptures are displayed alongside Qi’s scrolls in this exhibition, creating a narrative between the two artists. Noguchi’s work pushes the boundaries of sculptural positive and negative space, testing the boundaries of three dimensions, but his use of bronze as a medium reflects his desire to blend ancient and modern.

Witness Hong Kong through a quirky lens at Cordis, Hong Kong’s new ‘Art in Residence’ exhibition, featuring a series of surreal digital art pieces created by Tommy Fung where our city’s iconic landmarks and cultural touchpoints are juxtaposed against humorously impossible scenarios. Fung is known for his whimsical, Photoshop-manipulated images – from transforming the Hong Kong Space Museum into a giant Chiikawa head and inserting a snacking panda into a wet market stall narrative, to creating a Tesla Cybertruck version of the iconic Hong Kong red taxi, nothing’s off limits for the Hong Kong artist. ‘SurrealHK: The City Reimagined’ is part of Cordis, Hong Kong’s 10th anniversary celebrations, so mark the occasion with the hotel while taking in some fun art.

Sadly, this is not a full-fledged exhibition featuring the legendary Zao Wou-ki, but it is a special occasion nonetheless. One of the artist’s ‘Hurricane Period’ masterpieces, created   during the early 1960s as he rose to global fame, is heading to auction at Christie’s, and visitors can see it during the public previews for a limited time only.  17.3.63 is notable for its vibrant, incandescent colour, and is one of only 19 bright red large-scale paintings to be completed by the artist in the 1960s. Expressive, powerful brushstrokes are the leading feature of this vertical composition, masterfully balancing light and shadow to exude passion and confidence. It’s the first time the piece has appeared at auction, so once it sells and goes into a private collection, it may not be seen again in public for a long time. Here’s your chance to lay eyes on it.

Pets are in for a treat this November! Doggo Fest, billed as Hong Kong’s ‘biggest celebration for dogs and their humans’, is taking place at West Kowloon Cultural District from November 14 to 16, promising a weekend of dynamic activities, engrossing workshops, captivating entertainment, and non-stop fun for pets and people alike.  Set in a green space spanning more than 100,000 sq ft, Doggo Fest is divided into numerous zones – some free and some ticketed – following the guidance of vets, experts, and dog trainers. Designed to engage dogs’ senses, the grounds include active areas and quieter spaces for relaxation. Let the pups run wild in Petventure Land, a 7,000-sq-ft playground that boasts a giant ball pit, foam and scent features, and an agility course. In the 6,000-sq-ft Off-Leash Park, dogs of all sizes can take part in trainer-supervised play sessions with enrichment toys and a tetherball pole.  Photograph: Courtesy Doggo Fest 2025 Snap memories of Fido at several photo spots, take things easy at Music & Chill or grab a bite to eat from the restaurant, and soak up pet-related insights at the interactive workshops, where visitors can benefit from the expertise of vets, trainers, dog therapists, massage experts, noseprint artists, and more! At the Doggo Expo, pet brands big and small will take over 100 marketplace stalls. With festival-exclusive discounts to fuel your retail therapy, here’s the perfect opportunity to stock up on treats and accessories! All set to let th

As one of Hong Kong’s most successful entertainment industries, Cantopop’s impact around the globe was profound, especially during its height from the 1980s to the early 2000s, when legendary performers such as Anita Mui, Alan Tam, Sam Hui, and Leslie Cheung moved the needle in pop culture. Who could forget the excitement and adoration that the Four Heavenly Kings – Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok, Leon Lai, and Jacky Cheung – drummed up during this period of time? And is a late-night karaoke session even a fulfilling one if you’re not queueing up some Eason Chan and Faye Wong tunes? If you’re in the mood for a walk down memory lane, there’s a new Cantopop-dedicated exhibition happening at the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) that’s designed to scratch that itch. Presented in collaboration with Bang & Olufsen and the Hong Kong Institute of Professional Photographers, ‘Recreated Classics: The Music Golden Age in Sound and Frame’ is a nostalgic celebration of Cantopop through visual and audio experiences.  Photograph: Courtesy Hong Kong Design Institute Running until November 12, this unique exhibition features the works of five distinguished photographers – Jonny Koo, Sam Wong, Cheung Man Wah, Cambo Wong, and Franklin Lau – who captured this vibrant music industry during its heyday, so it’s sure to dredge up some sentimental feelings. Visitors can embark on a multi-sensory journey through the golden age of Cantopop through visual showcases of rare album cover drafts and copies of orig

Here’s a collab we never could have predicted: American fast-food chain Shake Shack has teamed up with Regent Hong Kong – yes, the five-star luxury hotel on Victoria Harbour – for a limited-time menu, and it’s nothing like your usual Shake Shack fare!  Get ready for the world-exclusive Foie Gras Shack ($195), available only from November 12 to December 12 at the Lobby Lounge. Based on the classic ShackBurger, this elevated interpretation combines Shake Shack’s signature potato bun with layers of Angus beef patty, melted Gruyere, caramelised onion, black truffle mayonnaise, and a foie gras torchon as the crowning glory, finished off with crispy onions, frisée, and chives.  Photograph: Courtesy Regent Hong Kong No Shake Shack meal is complete without crinkle-cut fries, and Regent Hong Kong has thought of something spectacular for that too: the luxurious Shack Caviar Fries ($225), which are served with crème fraîche bavarois, chives, and irresistible caviar.  May we suggest a glass of Champagne to go with that? Specifically, a Dom Pérignon White Luminous Vintage 2015 ($398 per glass, or $2,280 per bottle) as suggested by the hotel restaurant as a suitable pairing for this delightfully flavourful meal. Photograph: Courtesy Henrik Hui / Regent Hong Kong Diners are bound to feel chic and sophisticated while enjoying these exclusive collaboration items in the grand Lobby Lounge, with panoramic views of Victoria Harbour to boot. If you’re lucky enough to be among the first 100 gu

Jazz hands at the ready! WestK is continuing the success of its Cabaret Nights series with a number of exciting programmes from this month. Since May 2025, Cabaret Nights has captivated audiences with vibrant entertainment that celebrates the rich tapestry of Hong Kong’s artistic spirit. From soulful melodies to exhilarating performances, this season’s got music, standup comedy, theatre, and dance, evoking laughter, tears, and connection. Everything takes place at the Tea House Theatre at Xiqu Centre on two to three evenings per month, so there’s plenty of programmes to choose from. Kicking things off on October 21 is a quadruple threat event to welcome guests back into the mesmerising cabaret fold. ‘A Night of Stories by MsLolo, Terrence Leung, Kitty Wong, and Coco She’ gathers four distinctly different personalities onto the same stage, but the personal stories shared will only bring audiences closer together. From African drum beats and dance to Disney singalongs and Broadway belters, there’s plenty of moving and grooving to be expected.  Actor Jim Hui will pick up the baton on November 24 to present an evening of standup comedy, while the formidable trio of Kenix Tsang, Marco Tang, and Chloe Wong will bring the art of musical storytelling to the fore. Performers Zoe Chan, Talie Monin, Chan Hing-to, and Maha Ma will present an eclectic showcase of unique stories on December 15 that looks to the past and pushes ahead into the future. Singer and actress Annie Cheung will als

Love going all out for a good time and grooving to good music, but not in the mood to only kick things off at 11.30pm when your body’s already screaming to go to bed? For all the ageing partygoers out there who remain youthful at heart and those of a younger demographic who just can’t say no to a good night’s sleep, Selva might be the answer. Selva is launching a new daytime house music event concept that seamlessly blends music, art, and nature in one. Save the date for Saturday, October 18 – that’s when Selva’s first event is going to take place at Portico, the rooftop terrace space of Italian restaurant Spiga. Leaning on Selva’s name, which means ‘jungle’ or ‘rainforest’ in Spanish, Portico’s verdant outdoor garden in the heart of Central will be transformed into a vibrant sky-high oasis for an exhilarating escape from the city crowds.  French DJ Konvex, who wears multiple hats also as a producer, singer, and co-founder of the Azzur record label, will be behind the decks to spin soulful rhythms and get the crowd moving. With local musicians CW, Kalion, INA, and Helen Ting in the supporting cast, this lineup of artists is set to keep revellers in the mood all day long. Doors open at Portico 4pm on October 18, and the beats go on until 11pm. If you’ve got more than enough energy, that means you can roll right on to the next party when Selva ends! Snap up your tickets now for $465 on Zicket, or get them at the door for $500, but you’ll have to come early, as on-the-day ticket

Carb is life, and if you take that mantra seriously, you’ll want to bookmark this one – Kowloon Shangri-La is bringing back its highly acclaimed, oft sold-out ‘Japanese Artisanal Bread Breakfast Buffet’ this autumn (now try saying that three times quick).  Head to the Lobby Lounge at Kowloon Shangri-La to nosh on this creative themed buffet that holds the key to all of our hearts (and stomachs). An expansive spread of exquisite Japanese pastries and breads will be presented for diners to graze from, featuring 20 different kinds of artisan baked goods that run the gamut from savoury to sweet. What’s there to try? New items to the bread breakfast buffet include the shaved truffle egg salad doughnuts, crafted using red wheat flour, Lan Wang eggs, and rich Hokkaido cream, and stuffed with a Japanese egg salad filling following a Tanman recipe; and the chestnut Mont Blanc danish, consisting of a Japanese chestnut paste and Madagascan vanilla custard. Mini ‘nama’ cream doughnuts are also making their debut appearance – these sweet treats are famous for their soft, pillowy brioche exterior and custard interior, and they are really having their moment in the spotlight right now. Kowloon Shangri-La will make theirs using red wheat flour from a 140-year-old heritage mill in Japan, praised for lending superior elasticity to the dough after being worked. Lan Wang eggs from Japan give the dough colour, and Hokkaido cream is once more used for the custard. Photograph: Courtesy Kowloon Sha

Jazz music lovers in Hong Kong are in for a real treat this October: the legendary Grammy-nominated trumpeter Jon Faddis is set to take the stage by storm on October 29 and 30 for four shows only! Performing at the at Xiqu Centre’s Tea House Theatre, the celebrated musician – who credits renowned jazz pioneer Dizzy Gillespie as his mentor – will be joined by Andrew Latona on guitar, Christopher Latona on drums, and Mikey Migliore on bass to form the Jon Faddis Quartet for two nights in town. As one of the leading jazz trumpeters of our time, Jon Faddis has mesmerised audiences with his sensational virtuosity and innovative musical style for more than 40 years. Faddis effortlessly blends masterful technique with extensive range, powerful high notes, and soft low notes, showcasing phenomenal skill, complexity, and artistic flair. Photograph: Courtesy CC/Wikicommons/Petty Officer 1st Class Justin Juarez/United States Navy Faddis’ resume is lengthy and accomplished, and includes directing the Grammy-winning United Nations Orchestra, the Dizzy Gillespie 70th Birthday Big Band, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, and Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and many more. He’s also served a stint as the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra’s guest conductor and featured guest, and made an appearance on the silver screen in the Blues Brothers 2000 action-comedy as a trumpeter in the film’s fictional jazz supergroup, the Louisiana Gator Boys. Most notably, Faddis is known for composing Lulu Noire, an acclaimed ja

It’s back! Hong Kong’s top sporting event, the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, will make its return, and the dates have been set for April 17 to 19, 2026. Next year’s tournament marks the second time that the Hong Kong Sevens will be held at the Kai Tak Stadium, so we’re looking forward to some world-class action, top-tier talent on display, and non-stop entertainment. 30 teams are expected to participate, including 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams across the HSBC SVNS World Championship, and an additional three men’s and three women’s teams who will play in the Melrose Claymores invitational tournament. Argentina, Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, and the US will be represented, alongside a number of additional qualifying teams. World Rugby is doing things differently in 2026 by introducing a new event format that breaks the World Championship into three rounds, each held in a different city. Under the revamped event model, the first six tournaments in the annual schedule will act as regular tournaments, while the last three events will form the HSBC SVNS World Championship, of which Hong Kong is the first leg of the championship series. It means that the HSBC SVNS Series will be played in Dubai, Cape Town, Singapore, Vancouver, Australia, and the US as normal tournaments, and the tournaments held in Hong Kong, Valladolid, and Bordeaux will constitute the three-event SVNS World Championship. How teams perform in the SVNS Worl

M+, Asia’s leading contemporary visual culture museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District, is sending audiences on a blast to the past with its Autumn Edition 2025, taking place from October to December, and the programme is filled to the brim with special exhibitions, showcases, and tributes to Hong Kong’s rich cinematic legacy. Kicking things off is M+ Restored, an initiative dedicated to preserving Hong Kong cinema history through the restoration of nine feature films. First up are The Arch (1968), The System (1979), and Love Massacre (1981), a trio of films that represent the creative spirit of the Hong Kong New Wave movement that reshaped our cinematic language and style. Photograph: Courtesy M+, Hong Kong For audiences that would like to dive deeper into the complex processes of film preservation and digital restoration, the ‘Behind the Restoration Talks’ series brings restoration specialists, former film festival directors, cinematographers, and M+ curators together to discuss the creative efforts behind the M+ Restored films. You can also get hands-on with the ‘What is Film, Anyway?’ interactive workshop to explore analogue film formats, including professional 35-mm and amateur eight-mm films. ‘Rediscoveries—Chinese Diaspora in Hollywood’ celebrates the significant cinematic contributions of the Chinese diaspora and the considerable challenges they had to overcome within the American film industry. Films such as Daughter of Shanghai (1937) starring Anna May Wong,

One of Hong Kong’s most dynamic dive bars is celebrating its tin anniversary! No introductions are needed for the one and only Pontiac, which will be happily ringing in a decade doing what it does best: slinging craft cocktails and making it look cool. A lineup of new cocktails will be released under the ‘Talking Walls’ anniversary menu, which pays tribute to the meaningful messages, creative graffiti, and late-night musings that guests have scrawled onto The Pontiac’s walls over the last 10 years. Jen Queen, general manager and Mezcalier of The Pontiac, says, “We view all the nights we’ve ever had in this bar as a collaboration between the bar team and our guests, and these etched messages are the physical representation of the last 10 years of our history. For this landmark menu, we wanted to commemorate and celebrate them and give them back to our guests as a thank you for being a part of us for the last decade.” Photograph: Courtesy The Pontiac A highlight drink on the menu is the First & Last ($98), a tequila-based cocktail made with Ribena and hibiscus syrup and fenugreek tincture to create a sweet and savoury experience. Inspiration struck when Queen’s team found a quote on the wall in a corner of the bar – “the first & last girl i’ll ever be with” – which led to the creation of the drink. I Post My Crimes for Likes ($88), with gin, rum, strawberry-oolong cordial, lemon, and Aér, and One Day My Sex Tape Will Matter ($118), made with cognac, rum, salted lemon cordial,

Hongkongers have been enjoying a month of well-placed public holidays, and if the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival breaks have inspired a sense of wanderlust in you, there’s good news: we’ve got sightseeing to do at home. Discover the sights, sounds, and attractions of Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai from a whole new perspective: aboard a Light Rail vehicle! As part of its successful ‘Light Rail Voyager’ programme, designed to promote leisure travel by rail and enhance tourism in the New Territories, MTR has introduced the Yuen Long Sightseeing Route. Building on the popularity of the Tuen Mun Sightseeing Route, this new itinerary promises to offer an unforgettable journey filled with local delights, heritage sites, and culinary treasures. Photograph: Courtesy MTR Onboard, travel ambassadors will be part of the journey to provide assistance, and public announcements will inform passengers of sightseeing highlights as the Light Rail rattles through 10 stops across Yuen Long and Tin Shui Wai. It’s a hop-on, hop-off adventure, so travellers can make stops to visit various attractions based on their interests.  From exploring the natural ecosystems of the Wetland Park, the cultural significance of the Tsui Sing Lau Pagoda, the fishponds of Nam Sang Wai, and the history of Hong Kong’s walled villages to discovering the multifaceted eateries, local snack stalls, and charming mom-and-pop shops that dot these neighbourhoods where you can perhaps find your new favourite place to eat,

Hong Kong is already a highly tech-driven city – just look at how we fared on the UN-backed Innovation Cluster Ranking 2025 report, and the fact that we’re using AI-powered anti-rodent solutions! Soon, Hongkongers may even receive their medical supplies in the most tech-y way imaginable – through direct drone deliveries. Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority, the statutory body that manages the city’s government hospitals and healthcare institutes, is reportedly trialling the delivery of urgent-care medicine through drones. Collaborating with logistics provider SF Express, the test consisted of piloting a medicine-bearing drone from Cyberport to St John Hospital in Cheung Chau. A trip that would normally take up to 65 minutes by ferry was successfully reduced to just 20 minutes as the drone took a 12-km flight path to its destination, and the performance of the operation was “very stable” according to SF Express. Using piloted drones to complete medical deliveries drastically cuts down the time required to deliver urgent supplies, especially when it comes to remote districts and outlying islands in Hong Kong that are harder and more time-consuming to reach.  SF Express and the Hospital Authority’s drone delivery trial is just one example of the city’s growing number of pilot projects under the Low-Altitude Economy Regulatory Sandbox programme. It’s still early days, and further tests are on the horizon to really put the medical drone delivery system through its paces, but we hope wi