Best things to do in Hong Kong in December

In Hong Kong, we know how to end the year on a high. There are few places we’d rather celebrate Christmas or, especially, ring in the New Year. But before we get ahead of ourselves, December is also about spotlighting the artistry of design, edgy contemporary dance, and truly epic music events – from the return of Clockenflap to a visit from superstar pianist Lang Lang.

Christmas events in Hong Kong for 2025

The most wonderful time of the year demands the year’s most wonderful events, and Hong Kong does not disappoint. On top of the ongoing WestK Christmas Fest – which began last month – the festive atmosphere rolls out across the city, with Tai Kwun hosting a whimsical winter playground and contemporary circus performances throughout the month, all illuminated by the glow of a 12-metre Christmas tree.  

Beginning 12 December, Hong Kong Ballet’s homegrown spin on The Nutcracker is back for a fifth year. Set amid the city’s historic iconography, the production was awarded Unesco’s Star of Outstanding Award last year, after more than 100 merry performances. From 18-20 December, Hong Kong Cultural Centre will also host screenings of winter classic Frozen, with the score performed live by the Hong Kong Philharmonic . 

Finally, for a truly spirited – and spirit-driven – Christmas party, the Got Balls Winter Wonderland will gather the faithful for live games, singalongs and prizes, paired with three hours of free-flow drinks, on 13 December. 

Business of Design Week

Art and commerce collide during Business of Design Week, running from 1-6 December and hailed as the region’s premiere design happening. Its centrepiece is the three-day BODW 2025 Summit hosted by the Hong Kong Design Centre, which gathers more than 50 international speakers to share ideas and innovations, with Italy nominated as this year’s partner country. For the casual consumer, though, the highlight is likely Maison&Objet Intérieurs Hong Kong 2025 , a free-to-attend sister event showcasing trendsetting interior pieces from more than 200 brands and artists. 

Clockenflap is back 

Music lovers travel from far and wide for Clockenflap , Hong Kong’s annual flagship musical festival, boasting an energy unlike any other big-budget ticket in the city. Taking place from 5-7 December, this year promises one of the most musically diverse offerings yet, with highlights including J-popensation Vaundy, Indonesian rapper Rich Brian, Japanese pop-rockers Ellegarden, UK muso wunderkid Jacob Collier, soulful Thai singer Phum Viphurit, American indie-folk act Bright Eyes, French disco revialists L'Impératrice and Canadian post-rock legends Godspeed You! Black Emperor. That’s all on top of vintage UK throwback favourites My Bloody Valentune, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand and Beth Gibbons (of Portishead fame). For the first time in recent memory, the 2025 edition also features an official pre-party , curated by enigmatic local label Un.Tomorrow. But Clockenflap has always been about more than music, with kids’ shows, theatrical happenings and a community atmosphere all among the reasons so many return year after year. 

More big December gigs in Hong Kong

World-dominating Korean girl group Twice are coming to town on 6 December, bringing their spectacular This is For world tour with them. Meanwhile, Jacky Cheung fans can get their nostalgia fix as the Cantopop legend wraps up his 60+ tour after two-and-a-half years with a string of dates at Hong Kong Coliseum, beginning 23 December.  

For classical music fans, December offers the chance to see two musical upstarts share the stage, with Chinese superstar pianist Lang Lang performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor alongside the Hong Kong Philharmonic. The performances, on 11 and 13 December , will be the first under the baton of Tarmo Peltokoski since the 25-year-old Finnish wunderkind took up his mantle as music director designate of the city’s flagship orchestra.

Edgy contemporary dance events in Hong Kong

Earlier this year, Tibetan choreographer Sang Jijia took over the reins at City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) with a vow to be bold, and the centrepiece of his first season is an ambitious staging of three works from different cultures and disciplines. Simply titled A Triple Bill , the production presents American icon William Forsythe’s classic N.N.N.N alongside fresh works by Hung Tsai-hsi and Sita Ostheimer, at Freespace’s The Box. The performances on 12-14 December follow on the heels of the venue’s own flagship Freespace Dance festival, which concludes with the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company’s ritualistic, non-narrative exploration Jungle, from 5-6 December.  

Celebrate New Year in Hong Kong

Thanks to its mild climate, world-class nightlife and ahead-of-the-curve time zone, Hong Kong is among the most joyous destinations to ring in any new year. And then there’s the views – the city’s New Year’s Eve firework display ensures a thrilling spectacle for the thousands who gather harbourside to see the water ablaze with light.  

If you’re looking for a more decadent indoor celebration, the city has you covered. Whether it a booming club or intimate dinner for two you’re after, there’s a slew of Hong Kong New Year’s Eve parties happening all over town. 

For those who can’t get enough retro glam, Courtroom is throwing a 1920s-style NYE bash themed around hit Netflix gangster drama Peaky Blinders – expect sharp suits, prohibition-themed cocktails and flapper-style scooters to whisk you to the venue. For more modern shenanigans, Friday After Class (FAC) is hosting a campus-style “frat party” on Peel Street, complete with cocktails served in red party cups.