This July, there’s an array of events for all ages and interests. From a rollicking music festival at the Happy Valley Racecourse and the region’s biggest anime and manga event, to celebrating HKSAR Establishment Day with a ton of freebies, expect to be busy!
Festivals
HKSAR Establishment Day
HKSAR Establishment Day commemorates the day of the handover. This year, it falls on a Tuesday. Typically, the HKSAR government offers a variety of free services: think free tram and Star Ferry rides, as well as access to top exhibitions on display around the city.
Hong Kong Lotus Festival
The lotus has it all figured out, rising flawless and serene from the muck — a perfect symbol of purity and transformation. If only we could be so effortlessly graceful! This festival dives into the lotus’s rich cultural and spiritual symbolism with hands-on calligraphy, soothing tea and incense rituals, calming meditation, live traditional music, and gorgeous floral art.
SummerFest
SummerFest is an annual festival that takes place along the harbourfront. This year the festival will take over not one but two locations by the water: the new Wan Chai Event Space and Central Harbourfront. Especially great for families, expect plenty of sports, games, and musical performances to liven up your weekends this summer.
Exhibitions and Fairs
Dollism Plus Hong Kong
Appreviate the artistry and beauty of dolls at Dollism Plus, a unique event that brings together doll enthusiasts from around the world. The event allows doll lovers to get together and explore the latest trends, as well as take part in exclusive showcases and interactive activities.
At the door: HK$65.00 |
Arts and Culture
Picasso for Asia — A Conversation
If you haven’t checked it out yet, this is the last month to take a peek at Picasso for Asia — A Conversation at the M+.
Picasso’s back in Hong Kong, but not like you’ve ever seen him before. This exhibition smashes the Eurocentric mold by throwing 60 of the Spaniard’s heavy-hitting works into a heady, first-of-its-kind mash-up with 130 pieces by 30 Asian and Asian diasporic artists. Expect big names like Noguchi and Malani to collide with Picasso’s iconic works across four themes: The Genius, The Outsider, The Magician, and The Apprentice.
International Arts Carnival
The annual International Arts Carnival attracts world-class performing arts groups from across the globe. This year, there will be family-friendly performances by artists from Australia, Spain, South Korea, and more. Highlights include a new ballet theatre production, an orchestra mixing humour with classical music, and an immersive dance theatre experience designed to amuse and delight babies.
Pro tip: Want to know which arts events to add to your calendar? Check out our guide.
Ani-Com and Games

The Ani-Com and Games convention is the largest gathering of anime fans and gamers in town. Taking place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Wan Chai, the four-day event has featured a cosplay contest, an anime figure design competition, an original comic contest and more in past years.
At the door: HK$35.00 |
ARTS‧TECH Exhibition 3.0 – The Lighthouse
What does the harbour mean to Hong Kong? The Lighthouse is the latest edition of the ARTS‧TECH Exhibition series that explores that exact question. This site-specific installation transforms Harbour City’s Ocean Terminal Deck into a space of memory and movement. There will be glowing neon sculptures, soundscapes shaped by tides and wind, and interactive works designed to spark discussion about the city’s constantly changing relationship to its harbour.
At the door: HK$35.00 |
Recommended hotels located nearby
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Central 0.8 km
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Wan Chai 1.0 km
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Central 0.4 km
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Central 0.7 km