Best things to do in Hong Kong this May
May is a blockbuster month of celebration in Hong Kong. From public holidays and age-old rituals to pop culture and live music, there’s something for everyone.
It opens with May Day and rolls through to Buddha’s Birthday on 25 May, the traditional celebrations of Tin Hau’s birthday and the iconic Cheung Chau Bun Festival. Elsewhere, geeks and cosplayers will herald the arrival of the city’s first-ever official Comic Con, while two iconic bands – American alt-rockers the Pixies and Hong Kong’s own Tai Chi Band – bring their respective 40th anniversary tours to town. Rounding off the mammoth month is the HKFC Soccer Sevens.
Credit: Hong Kong French May
Credit: Hong Kong French May
Le French May
For culture vultures, the fifth month of the year means the French May Arts Festival (aka Le French May), the final blockbuster festival in spring’s relentless rush of artsy happenings before the summer slowdown. While more events are set to be added, stylish exhibitions include a Louvre collaboration with watchmaker Vacheron Constantin, as well as a French textile spotlight tracing its colourful history. The musical programme veers from EDM star DJ Snake to Korean jazz vocalist Youn Sun Nah and classical bassoon soloist Sophie Dervaux.
Various venues and dates, see the full line-up .
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Cheung Chau Bun Festival
The outlying island of Cheung Chau will be buzzing with energy as it welcomes 20,000 day-trippers for the annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival , a centuries-old Taoist tradition which has earned its place on the city’s contemporary cultural calendar. Children dressed as deities are carried above the crowds on floats and the island’s restaurants (including McDonald’s) go vegetarian for the entire three days. The celebrations culminate with a midnight bun-scrambling competition where athletes climb a bamboo tower attempting to grab as many ping on (peace) buns as they can.
2-4 May, Cheung Chau
Credit: TAICHI
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Local music legends
There must be something in the air – how else would we explain the number of legendary Hong Kong stars sharing the love with their fans back home this month? Legacy rockers Tai Chi Band celebrate their 40th anniversary at Kai Tak Arena on 2 May, before the same venue hosts pop diva Sandy Lam for an exclusive Hong Kong weekender 16-17 May. Elsewhere, the Hong Kong Coliseum hosts historic hip-hop duo Fama on 8-9 May, and swimmer-turned-singer Alex Fong on 15-16 May. Bringing things into the present with the biggest show of all is teen idol Jer Lau from the popular boy band Mirror, who performs at Asia-World Expo as part of The Shape of Breathing show on 23-24 May.
Credit: Bizet’s Carmen
Bizet’s Carmen
One of the most-performed operas in music history, Georges Bizet’s Carmen is a fiery tale of misguided romance, packed with crowd-pleasing melodies and birthing popular arias like the enduringly hummable Habanera. In this latest staging, the classic tale has been transported to Hong Kong in 1978 , a time of rapid economic and societal change. Recent productions by the Hong Kong Opera have proved reliably rewarding, pairing stunning soloists with big-budget stage spectacle. Whether it’s your first or 20th encounter with this classic, you can book with confidence.
7-10 May, Hong Kong Culture Centre
Credit: Laufey
Credit: Travis Shinn
A-list music stars
An impress and diverse line-up of top international acts has added Hong Kong to their tour itineraries in 2026, with the run continuing into May. Top draws include Taiwanese post-rock group Bugs of Phonon, who play at Portal on 9 May. Icelandic jazz-influenced popstar Laufey performs at Asia-World Expo on 12 May, while the same night sees Indie legends the Pixies bring their anniversary tour to Tides. US bedroom-pop sensation Jenevieve performs at the same venue a week later. Elsewhere, historic punk pioneers Black Flag rock The Wanch on 24 May, before the month rounds out with a homegrown highlight: Hong Kong International Reggae Ska Festival 2026, returning to PMQ on 30 May.
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Hong Kong Whisky Festival
Connoisseurs of single malts and Chinese blends take note: the two-day Hong Kong Whisky Festival is your chance to sample rare editions and global brands, mingle with fellow collectors, and hear first-hand from visiting experts. Every ticket includes a take-home glass.
16-17 May, InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, East Tsim Sha Tsui
Credit: Tsing Yi Rural Committee
Credit: Tsing Yi Rural Committee
Tin Hau Festival
More than a hundred Tin Hau temples are scattered around Hong Kong’s islands, inlets and coastlines, each dedicated to the seafaring Chinese goddess Tin Hau, or Mazu – a fitting reflection of the city’s nautical roots. As temples across the territory come alive to mark Tin Hau’s birthday, many spring to life with festive celebrations. One particular highlight is the five-day Tin Hau Celebration of Kwai Tsing Bamboo Theatre Culture Festival, which pairs live Cantonese opera in a traditional bamboo theatre with flower plaque crafting and dragon, lion and unicorn dances.
17-21 May, Tsing Yi Athletic Association Sports Ground
Credit: HKFC Soccer Sevens
Credit: HKFC Soccer Sevens
HKFC Soccer Sevens
While the Rugby Sevens got there first – and deservedly commands the spotlight – there’s a growing appetite for its younger sibling, the HKFC Soccer Sevens. Now a firm fixture on Hong Kong’s sporting calendar, the tournament sees 16 international club teams compete for glory in the main competition. For football fans, it’s a rare chance to cheer on familiar British sides such as Rangers, Aston Villa and West Ham, as they take on local and regional outfits including HKFC Captain’s Select and the hosts, Hong Kong Football Club.
22-24 May, Hong Kong Football Club
Credit: Mads Mikkelsen photo by Greg Williams
Hong Kong Comic Con 2026
If you’re wandering around Wan Chai in the last weekend of May and spot a few frantic superheroes looking lost, fear not – they’re probably on a break from the high-jinx cosplay of the first-ever official Hong Kong Comic Con . While the city has long hosted the annual summer Ani-Com & Games convention, this is the first time the legendary US pop culture brand has graced the city, promising to assemble celebrities from Hollywood – including Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future franchise) and Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad) and Asian cinema, comics, anime, TV and games alike.
29-31 May, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre