Nostalgia dominates Hong Kong’s event calendar this month, with legendary Cantopop icons and family-friendly characters returning to the city for concerts and fun days out.
From Leslie Cheung tributes to thoughtful art exhibitions, here are all the best things to do in Hong Kong this August.
Credit: K11 Musea
Credit: K11 Musea
Round up the family and head to Tsim Sha Tsui: Doraemon is taking over the district. You’ll be hard-pressed to miss the bright blue robotic cat, with an army of Doraemon inflatables and sculptures displayed on the Avenue of Stars. For diehard fans, an exhibition exploring the robot cat’s colourful history called 100% Doraemon & Friends will be held at K11 Musea. The feline fun runs until 18 August.
Credit: Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Credit: Leisure and Cultural Services Department
Hong Kong cinema has long been considered pivotal in the creation of some of the biggest blockbuster films, inspiring Hollywood auteurs, and launching the careers of movie stars at home and abroad. The humble film trailer will step into the spotlight this month, through which viewers can explore the history of Hong Kong cinema at the exhibition Coming to a Cinema Near You –Gems of Hong Kong Film Trailers . Curated by the Hong Kong Film Archive, the show runs until 3 November.
Credit: MQ Musical Theatre
Credit: MQ Musical Theatre
Legendary Hong Kong singer and actor Leslie Cheung is set to be honoured with a brand new musical. Café I Do will make its world debut on 16 August and run until 25 August. Set in a Hong Kong café, two brothers decide to shutter the business with one grand final night that celebrates their late father’s life: a tribute concert dedicated to his favourite star, Leslie Cheung. The show, featuring Cheung’s beloved music, will be performed in Cantonese with English subtitles. You can secure your tickets here .
Credit: Soluna Fine Art
Credit: Soluna Fine Art
Credit: Pooya Aryanpour and Dastan/Art021
Shanghai cultural export Art021 is coming to town towards the end of the month, bringing swathes of talented artists from the Chinese Mainland to Hong Kong. The fair is split into different categories at different venues across town including the Fringe Club, West Kowloon Cultural District and more.
Video art will be showcased at Asia Society Hong Kong Center from 29 August to 1 September, while sculptures will step into the spotlight at Victoria Park and the Fringe Club between 28 August and 8 September. Galleries will set up shop at the Phillips Asia headquarters in WKCDA Tower, while special exhibitions will take place at the Fringe Club. Talent from the Greater Bay Area will also be celebrated with the fair’s GBA Art Week, although details on the venue are yet to be released.
Elsewhere, the subject of memory has inspired exhibitions across Hong Kong. Local artist Rosalyn Ng will present frenetic, teal-tinged works at her debut solo exhibition Scenery of My Mind , taking her abstract pieces to Soluna Fine Art from now until 3 August. At Villepin, several artists have joined forces to curate a group show titled liquid memory , in which mundane scenes are transformed into poignant moments through memory. The show runs until 1 September.
Credit: Aaron Kwok/Getty Images
Credit: Live Nation
Credit: Live Nation
Legendary icons and Gen Z standouts are set to take Hong Kong by storm this month, with one of Cantopop’s Four Heavenly Kings returning to the stage. Fan favourite Aaron Kwok will bring his classics hits and a brand new song to Hong Kong Coliseum in a multi-day spectacular as part of his Iconic world tour, with multiple shows between 13-27 August. Meanwhile, J-pop queen Hikaru Utada will be back in Hong Kong from 17-18 August after a 25-year hiatus – you may well recognise some of her catchy songs from anime, Japanese dramas and the Kingdom Hearts video game.
Singer Conan Gray is also set to croon away on 27 August, belting chart-topping angsty tunes to crowds at AsiaWorld-Expo with his Found Heaven on Tour concert. Jazz lovers should make a beeline for Laufey , performing on 29 August – the singer and social media superstar has been a driving force in captivating a new generation of jazzheads.
Credit: Bar Leone
Credit: Bar Leone
Credit: Bar Leone
Asia’s 50 Best Bars recently announced this year’s winners and a whopping four out of the top 10, including 2024’s chart topper, are located right here in Hong Kong. So, if you’re looking for somewhere to kick back with friends, impress a date, or simply indulge in award-winning cocktails, there’s no better place to do so than at these venues.
Bar Leone brought home three titles: Best Bar in Hong Kong, Best Bar in Asia and Highest New Entry – an amazing feat for a bar which has been open for just one year. Meanwhile, Coa , Argo and Aubrey were voted 4th, 9th and 10th in Asia, respectively.