Best things to do in Hong Kong in February

February will see Hong Kong adorned in red and gold as Chinese New Year festivities return to the city. As we welcome the Year of the Dragon with fireworks and fai chun decorations, there’s also a ton of February events in Hong Kong to add to your calendar, from flower markets to superstar football matches.

1. Chinese New Year in Hong Kong 

Red packets, roaring lion dances and fireworks will help us ring in the Chinese New Year in Hong Kong, with the fun kicking off on 10 February. Head to Tsim Sha Tsui for the Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade , where golden floats and performers will take to the streets to welcome the Year of the Wood Dragon from 8pm.  

Grab a prime spot on the waterfront to watch a spectacular pyrotechnic display on 11 February, when the Chinese New Year fireworks will erupt over Victoria Harbour for the first time in over four years. Dreaming big for the new zodiac year? Head to Lam Tsuen , where people write their wishes for the coming year on red paper and hurl them up into gigantic wishing trees.  

Markets such as the iconic Victoria Park flower market will also be held starting 4 February, so you’ll be able to pick up festival essentials including enormous blooms and the mandatory nin gou – a sticky cake eaten specifically for Chinese New Year. Lion and dragon dances will also roar through shopping malls and hotels such as The Peninsula , which can be easily spotted by the sky of red lanterns hung over its entrance for the festivities. 

2. Inter Miami CF versus Hong Kong  

David Beckham is returning to Hong Kong with Argentinian star Lionel Messi in tow, as his football club Inter Miami CF is set to face off against the Hong Kong team this February. Tickets for the open training session to be held on 3 February and friendly match on 4 February went like gold dust the moment they were released – selling out within an hour. 

Beyond Messi, other athletes to take to the Hong Kong Stadium pitch include Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. Keep your eyes on the stands and you might just spot Beckham himself surveying the play of the field – and if you hit up a few Wan Chai restaurants and bars, you may even spot a few players off the pitch, too. 

3. Hong Kong concerts in February

Cantopop nostalgia is in the air this February, as duo The Twins reunite for a series of spirited performances. Following a sold out run of their 22nd anniversary tour in January, they’ve released several more dates between 1 and 6 February. The city’s younger generations will also get their fill as local boyband Mirror launch their Feel the Passion tour , with shows running on 2 and 3 February. 

Not your genre? J-Pop legend Mika Nakashima will be here 3-4 February, while Thai crooner Jeff Satur will serenade crowds on 19 February. African powerhouse Angélique Kidjo will also put her Grammy award-winning pipes to work on the 23 and 24 February, celebrating her four-decade career with the Mother Nature tour.

4. Shows in Hong Kong this month

The Hong Kong Arts Festival will be in full swing by the time February rolls around, bringing artistic animation, Roman legends and Peking opera to the city. The renowned first troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company will perform their biggest hits from 26-28 February, preceded by a retelling of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar through Chinese opera from 22-24 February. 

Shadow puppetry and animation collide at Miwa Matreyek’s family-friendly World of Animation show, held between 20 and 23 February. Elsewhere, unicorns come to life in an adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s children’s classic I Believe in Unicorns (2-4 February) while a familiar blue engine will roll into town for Thomas & Friends: The Bravest Engine on Sodor on 3 February.