Best things to do in Hong Kong in June

Hong Kong is set for a roaring June – and not just because of the dragon boats that will be thundering across Victoria Harbour. Thanks to an awesome lineup of family-friendly live performances and cultural activities covering everything from Chinese opera to Japanese animation, there’s no shortage of exciting happenings this month.

Read on for our top picks of things to see and do in Hong Kong this June. 

Cheer on the Dragon Boat racers

Hong Kong’s waters are set to be overrun with mythical beasts this month as the city celebrates the annual Dragon Boat Festival on 22 June, which also coincides with the adrenaline-pumping Stanley Dragon Boat championship . And for the first time since 2018, the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races will return, welcoming both local and international teams to Victoria Harbour from 24-25 June. 

The world-class races will see established pros face off against newcomers in electrifying bouts, and local team Loreley will be among the competitors.

“Our team has been steadily improving over the years and we now feel ready to compete,” says captain James Wakefield. “Everyone on the team is very excited by the opportunity to take part in such a high-profile race. I hope that we can focus on the racing instead of being distracted by the views!”

Celebrate Hong Kong’s musical legends

Two of the brightest stars of Hong Kong’s Cantopop and local film scene, Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui, forever changed the city’s cultural landscape. This year marks the 20th anniversary of their tragic passing, and exhibitions across the city will become spaces of reflection for their fans. 

At the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, viewings of Cheung and Mui’s greatest films continue this month with a back-to-back screening of Kawashima Yoshiko and the R-rated Viva Erotica on 25 June. The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is also hosting an exhibition dedicated entirely to Cheung and curated by his close friends: the Miss You Much Leslie Exhibition , which will run until October. 

Get cultural at the Chinese Opera Festival

Good news if you’ve never had an opportunity to see Chinese opera before: some of the world’s greatest performers are set to appear on Hong Kong’s stages this month. With performances spanning Cantonese, Kunqu and other types of opera, troupes from Hong Kong, Beijing and Sichuan will bring to life famed tales such as The Legend of the White Snake and put a fighting spin on other classics with martial arts choreography. 

If you can only attend one performance, make it the opening show on 16-18 June, when the Peking Opera Theatre of Beijing kicks off the festivities by highlighting three works made famous by master Zhang Junqiu at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Grab your tickets through Urbtix or at the Xiqu Centre’s ticket office. 

Visit Howl’s grooving castle

Studio Ghibli lovers, there’s a real treat in store for you this month. Composer Joe Hisaishi, known for his beautiful scores for films such as Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle, is set to join forces with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra between 22 and 24 June. Performing together at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, they’ll treat audiences to some original works by Hisaishi, as well as the complete Princess Mononoke symphonic suite. Tickets are available when you shop with Cathay. 

If you don’t manage to grab tickets for what is sure to be a sell-out event, you’ll still be able to enjoy orchestral renditions of Studio Ghibli films and other popular anime at Hayao Miyazaki and the Japanese Anime Culture from 4-5 June, when orchestral group Cantabile will put their own spin on the classics. 

Support miniature thespians

Calling all parents (and cool uncles or aunties): the annual Faust Festival is returning this June and will see the classes of the Faust drama club put on their final performances for the term. Stories such as The Curious Chase of the Gingerbread Man and the Arthurian comedy The Kid Who Would be King will be brought to life by a cast of talented young performers aged 4 to 18. The eldest class, Group T, are set to stage the alternative Romeo and Juliet story Rosaline, a tale about Romeo’s other girlfriend.

Bring your children, nieces and nephews along; it’s a fantastic way to begin nurturing their appreciation for theatre – and perhaps inspire them to try their own hand at acting. Running from 30 May to 18 June, tickets are available through Ticketflap.

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