Written by Aarohi Narain
Held for the first time in 1993, French May has been celebrating fine art, music, dance, film, and gastronomy in the Fragrant Harbour for over a quarter of a century.
What happens?
With multiple programmes presented across a few months, Le French May attracts more than one million visitors, keen on seeing the wide variety of exhibitions and performances coming out of France. French May aims to reach out to not only the French community in Hong Kong, but the Hong Kong community at large, making it a true cultural exchange.
Over the years, French May has given people the opportunity to see world-class performances and artwork, including Masterpieces from the French National Collections, paintings by Edgar Degas and Claude Monet, and performances by the National Opera Ballet of Lyon and the Jean-Claude Gallota Dance Company, to name just a few.
Although this is a great chance to see some of France’s most famous works, French May also embraces new and emerging artists, performers and bands, including those from Hong Kong.
Schedule 2025
The French May Arts Festival 2025 runs from March 15 to July 13 and features over 60 arts and cultural programmes celebrating French culture. Here’s a quick look at the key events:
- Picasso for Asia — A Conversation (March 15 – July 13, M+): A groundbreaking exhibition featuring over 60 works by Picasso alongside 80+ Asian artists, exploring his influence on Asia.
- French GourMay Food and Wine Festival (May 1 – 31): A month-long celebration of French spirits and gastronomy, with exclusive restaurant deals, workshops, and tastings.
- Le Bal (May 9-11, 13-18, Tai Kwun): A Belle Époque-inspired street parade with horse-drawn carriages, dancers, and acrobats, blending visual arts, circus, and puppetry.
- Gautier Capuçon plays Shostakovich (May 8 – 9, HK Cultural Centre): The renowned French cellist Gautier Capuçon performs Shostakovich and Ravel with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
- Trio Wanderer Hong Kong Début (May 14 & 17, HK City Hall): The acclaimed French piano trio debuts in Hong Kong, performing classics by Debussy, Ravel, and Mendelssohn.
- French May Cinema Programme (May 20 – June 4, Broadway Circuit & cinemas): A selection of French films across different genres, screened at cinemas across Hong Kong.
- Corps extrêmes (May 30 – June 1, Xiqu Centre): A gravity-defying dance performance combining acrobatics, extreme sports, and visual projections, exploring the human desire for flight.
- Giselle (May 30 – June 8, HK Cultural Centre): A new production of the classic ballet “Giselle,” featuring Paris Opera Ballet and The Royal Ballet principal dancers.
- Jazz Female Duo – Paris Rendezvous (June 6, HK City Hall): A France-Hong Kong jazz collaboration featuring Sarah Lancman and Joyce Cheung, blending jazz standards with French hits.
- Erik Truffaz – Rollin’ & Clap! (June 7, HK City Hall): A jazz concert by renowned French trumpeter Erik Truffaz, paying tribute to classic French film composers.
- Echoes of the Heart (June 14, HK Cultural Centre): A cross-cultural music performance featuring Cantopop star Jay Fung and French singer Joyce Jonathan, blending Chinese, English, and French.
- Souvenirs (June 14 – 15, Sheung Wan Civic Centre): A poetic, choreographic performance blending live shadows, dance, and theatre, telling a story through a journey of memories.
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