• Four consecutive evenings of free outdoor performances transform the Hong Kong Cultural Centre into a vibrant stage for public engagement.
• Three ticketed performances, including HKPAX’s Opening Showcase, City Reverie, and the Asia debuts of two International Showcase programmes, invite the public to experience the excellence of the HKPAX programme, extending access beyond industry delegates.
• 13 partner programmes across Hong Kong broaden HKPAX’s footprint citywide, connecting artists, arts groups, institutions and communities through a shared celebration of the performing arts.

The Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo 2026 (HKPAX), organised by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC), is pleased to unveil a series of public-facing programmes designed to bring the excitement and artistic excellence of HKPAX to the wider community. Presented in the lead-up to and throughout the event, the programmes invite local audiences and visitors to experience the vitality of the performing arts first-hand.

Public ticketed performances bring the artistic excellence of HKPAX showcases to wider audiences

• Presented as part of ARTS · TECH 4.0 by HKADC, the interdisciplinary work combines piano performance, media art and emotional-tracking technology to explore the emotional pulse of Hong Kong. Audience emotions recorded during the prelude are transformed into a unique final movement, generated and performed live exclusively for that evening. The public performance of the Opening Showcase, City Reverie, will take place on 8 October 2026 (Thursday), at the Studio Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
• Directed and choreographed by Bence Vági, Paradisum, which received critical acclaim following its world premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, continues his development of cirque danse, a distinctive performance form that blends contemporary dance, circus arts and theatre. The Hungarian production presents a contemporary mythology of rebirth, in which the body becomes the primary means of communication and movement a universal language.
• Written and directed by Chilean playwright Catalina Ceresuela, An Isolated Case draws from her experiences of school bullying during childhood and adolescence. The play examines how abuse may be sustained through collective silence, normalisation and failures of institutional responsibility. The production received Chile’s 19^th National Playwriting Award and has toured theatres and festivals across the country before making its Asian premiere at HKPAX 2026.
• The two ticketed public performances of HKPAX 2026’s International Showcase will be presented on 11 October 2026 (Sunday), at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre.

Open Prologue presents four consecutive evenings of free outdoor performances overlooking Victoria Harbour

Ahead of the official opening of HKPAX 2026, Open Prologue will transform the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza C into a vibrant open-air stage overlooking Victoria Harbour from 6 to 9 October 2026. Free performances will be presented daily from 4:30pm to 7:30pm, featuring local and international artists in a diverse programme of dance, Xiqu, music and choral performances. Set against the iconic harbour backdrop, the series invites audiences to experience a dynamic sunset showcase of artistic exchange and creativity before HKPAX officially begins.

Spanning multiple genres across four evenings, each programme will be curated and presented by a different group of artists, reflecting a distinct artistic focus.

• Unlock Dancing Plaza will open the series with a showcase of dance works by artists from Hong Kong, China, Denmark and Korea.
• The second evening, presented by Spring Glory Productions, will feature excerpts from Cantonese opera, alongside The World of Prajñā, an excerpt from the dance drama Qiū Cí, arranged by the China Performing Arts Agency.

• The third evening, curated by the World Youth and Children Choral Artists’ Association, will bring together choirs from four local primary and secondary schools, performing alongside the Hong Kong Children’s Choir.

• The final evening, curated by Ng King-pan, will bring the Open Prologue to a perfect close with a cross-disciplinary music programme featuring Hong Kong musicians, complemented by performances by Sebastián Piracés-Ugarte and 3/4 de mi Tierra, both arranged by the China Performing Arts Agency.

Partner Programmes feature performances by leading arts and cultural organisations across the city

Complementing HKPAX’s core lineup, the Partner Programmes bring together a diverse range of performances and activities that reflect the vibrancy and breadth of Hong Kong’s performing arts landscape and its connections with the region. Presented by leading arts organisations, performing companies and cultural institutions, the line-up includes programmes by China Performing Arts Agency, Xinjiang Performing Arts and Culture Co., Ltd., The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong Ballet, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Hong Kong Dance Company, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Opera Hong Kong, Tai Kwun, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and WestK Performing Arts.

Taking place at multiple venues from 7 to 13 October and from 16 to 18 October 2026, the Partner Programmes offer audiences an opportunity to experience the richness and diversity of the performing arts ecosystem in Hong Kong and the wider region. 

Sponsored by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, and organised by HKADC, HKPAX is a flagship platform for cultural exchange and collaboration. Through featuring groundbreaking performances and a series of professional networking activities, HKPAX fosters meaningful dialogue and interaction among global arts institutions and practitioners with a mandate of cultural and tourism integration.

Performance and Ticketing Details

Open Prologue

The four-day Open Prologue will take place at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza C from 6 to 9 October 2026, with free performances daily from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. Admission is free. For programme details and performance information, please visit the official HKPAX website www.hkpax.org.hk.

Three public ticketed performances

*Concession tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, the minder and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. Tickets are available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Partner Programmes

A separate ticket is required for each Partner Programme. For programme and ticketing details, please visit the HKPAX website www.hkpax.org.hk.

For more information about the HKPAX 2026 programme lineup and key highlights, please refer https://bit.ly/3PkU877.

HKPAX 2026 Partner Programmes Participating Institutions and Programmes

For the latest programme information, please visit the HKPAX website.

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