The best things to do in Hong Kong today

The Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races are back. Taking place on June 7 and 8, the two-day event will feature a total of 19 races with over 190 teams from 12 different countries and regions. The races start from 8am on both days, and if you want to see the adrenaline-pumping action on the waters, be sure to head to areas stretching from the Tsim Sha Tsui East Promenade (outside the Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong) to the Bruce Lee Statue located on the Avenue of Stars. Seating with shade will also be provided. Don't forget to grab yourself a cold one from the Beer Garden at the Urban Centenary Garden in TST East, where a dedicated zone will be screening live broadcasts of the races. There are four refreshing varieties available, and you can even get a draught beer on the house by redeeming a beer voucher at from the HKTB Visitor Centres at the Hong Kong International Airport, TST Star Ferry Pier, and Hong Kong West Kowloon Stations, or the beer voucher collection station on the East TST Promenade. Vouchers are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, so don't miss out! To get everyone into the festive spirit, a Dragon Boat Food Lane will take over the Avenue of Stars from May 31 to June 8, featuring 10 food stalls offering bites like traditional rice dumplings, dragon boat-themed street snacks, and refreshing summer drinks. Ocean Park Hong Kong's adorable Panda Friends will also be making an appearance by the waterfront, along with a special pop-up store with...

The internationally acclaimed Cirque du Soleil is coming to town on the first stop of their Asia tour – this will be the troupe’s first appearance in Hong Kong since 2018. Their Kooza show first started in 2007 and toured in more than 70 cities across 23 countries before being relaunched in 2022 with new production elements. Expect to see high-flying acrobatics and whimsical characters amidst gorgeous sets, highlighted by the lavish costumes and powerful music that Cirque du Soleil has always been known for. This new production also includes a solo aerial silk performance, a repertoire of Icarian games, and a high-octane diabolo act with a triple world champion – all never seen before in Hong Kong.  Since there has been overwhelming demand, the Cirque du Soleil has extended Kooza’s run for an additional three weeks, so the show will be in town until July 13. Tickets run from $450 to $1,998 – VIP ticket holders can enjoy the exclusive bar and appetisers an hour before the show starts and during intermission. 

Mark your calendars for June 6 to 8 as Japan's acclaimed Sake Jump festival makes its Hong Kong debut at the historic FWD 1881 in Tsim Sha Tsui.  Since its launch in 2007, Sake Jump has brought together young, innovative sake brewers from across Japan to showcase their craft. This year's event features over 20 rising brewers from 13 prefectures, presenting both traditional and creative sake varieties. Highlights include award-winning breweries like Hachinohe Shuzo (Mutsu Hassen; ranked number one in the 2021 World Sakagura Ranking), craft sake brands such as Ine to Agave, along with other noteworthy brands like Haccoba, Konohanano, Linne, Wakaze, and more.  Beyond tastings, Tokyo's acclaimed mixologists from Tokyo Confidential and Bar Wakabayashi – both featured on 50 Best Discovery – will shake things up with unique sake cocktails. Guests can also sign up for sake masterclasses and meet-the-brewer sessions.  Tickets cost $198 (six 'tasting coins'), $268 (10 'tasting coins' plus one sake glass), $388 (18 'tasting coins' plus one sake glass), or $988 (VIP tickets with 48 'tasting coins' and a special sake cup) available. A must-visit for sake lovers.

The ‘Van Gogh Alive’ immersive art experience has travelled to over 100 cities around the world, and it’s returning to our shores on March 10. This exhibition stimulates the senses of sight, sound, and smell to fully bring visitors into Post-Impressionist master Vincent van Gogh’s artistic journey.  3,000 paintings and images including famous Van Gogh classics like ‘Sunflowers’, ‘Starry Night’, and ‘Wheatfield with Crows’ are waiting to be experienced in an elevated way, with approximately 30 giant screens working together to project, break down, and enhance the paintings. Projected simultaneously across walls, columns, and floors, visitors can feel like they’re actually wandering through the world created through his bold brush strokes. Apart from a redesigned layout that utilises more of the exhibition space than when the exhibition came to Hong Kong in 2019, this return also presents something new in the debut of ‘AI Van Gogh’; the technology brings the artist back to life and generates paintings in the Impressionist style for visitors to walk into. Classical music from Schubert and Bach will enhance the enjoyment of the artwork, while special scents are also used to heighten the immersive experience, evoking florals when viewing ‘Sunflowers’ or a fresh breeze in ‘Starry Night’. Early-bird tickets are available until February 27 for $160. Thereafter, the standard price will be $190, with concessions available. Note that tickets to ‘Van Gogh Alive’ do not include entry...

From now to July 13, Airside is hosting ‘The World of ASMR’ exhibition that was at London’s Design Museum. This will be the Kai Tak venue’s first time collaborating with an international museum since its opening, and we’re so excited that it’s going to be this special exhibition on the euphoria or calm triggered by sound, touch, and movement. This immersive experience delves into the crackles, pops, feather brushes, whispers, and tappy noises that have become a whole culture and community around the world. Showing over 40 works by contemporary artists, ASMRtists, and designers, the Hong Kong edition also features newly commissioned works by local artists which capture our city’s unique auditory identity. The highlight of the show is a sculpture of wavy, bendy pillows woven together to form over a kilometre of squishy comfort, where visitors can lounge while watching various ASMR-related videos. There’s even an entire room dedicated to Bob Ross, who many in the community dub the ‘Godfather of ASMR’.  Don’t forget to try your hand at creating your own ASMR noises before you leave! Tickets to this exhibition at Gate33 Gallery cost $30.

From now to June 30, Nonfiction collaborates with Salisterra to present an exclusive afternoon tea experience that combines the brand’s refined aesthetics with exquisite culinary creations. This thoughtfully curated tea set invites guests on a sensory journey inspired by summertime moments and Nonfiction's citrus collection. The menu brings vibrant citrus notes to life through delicately crafted treats like the bergamot & honey tart, grapefruit pâte de fruit, and yuzu chocolate ganache with brown sugar shortbread – each showcasing the complexities of citrus paired with natural ingredients and aromatic flavours. A Nonfiction pop-up will also be available at The Upper House (The Tea Room, level six) until May 31. Visitors to the pop-up store can immerse themselves in the brand's calming world and explore a collection of signature perfumes, home fragrances, body and hand care products, and curated gift sets.   

The Joyful Miniature Association (JMA) is presenting incredibly detailed dioramas of life in Hong Kong, including seven brand-new miniatures that have never been seen before. Peek into painstaking recreations of Sunday dim sum at Maxim’s Palace in City Hall, chaotic nightlife along Lan Kwai Fong, a moving model of the fifth generation of the Peak Tram funicular railway – and look out for the new dioramas like the legendary old Kowloon Walled City, aquatic animals on sale at one of the many shops along Goldfish Street, the cable car at Ngong Ping 360, and more. These miniature displays will be on show at The Peak Tower from April 25 to June 23 – JMA’s longest exhibition in the city.

Visit this special exhibition at M+ to see more than 60 masterpieces by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso spanning from the late 1890s to the early 1970s. Co-curated with the Musée national Picasso-Paris (MnPP), which holds the largest repository of Picasso’s work in the world, this is the first time that pieces from the MnPP are being shown together with works from an Asian museum collection. By placing Picasso’s work in dialogue with Asian contemporary art – approximately 80 works by more than 20 Asian and Asian-diasporic artists – the master’s enduring influence on art to this day is highlighted. Split into four sections that show how Picasso fits into four artist stereotypes – such as the genius in his self-mythologising works, and the outsider with how he consistently chose to upend artistic styles and traditions – this exhibition explores how Picasso became the quintessential modern 20th-century artist.  Tickets cost $240, with half-price concessions and adult-and-child combo deals available. Visitors with special exhibition tickets can also access the ‘Guo Pei: Fashioning Imagination’ exhibition, as well as all M+ general admission exhibitions starting from March 15.

To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong, a large-scale exhibition has been set up at Tamar Park and the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section) from now to June 13. Created by internationally acclaimed artist Simon Ma, the exhibition features hundreds of inflated transparent 'water droplets' – with two giant water drop sculptures at heights of 28.8m and 18.8m respectively – to symbolise inclusion and vitality. Please note that advance online booking is required. Each person is allowed to book no more than one session (lasting 20 minutes) at a maximum of five quotas each day. 

Teaming up with Disney Hong Kong before the live-action movie Lilo and Stitch hits Hong Kong cinemas, Harbour City presents 'Stitch Arrives!!!', the biggest ever Stitch event in Hong Kong. Visitors will be transported to the monster's favourite Hawaiian beach, complete with five adorable photo spots and eight stamping stations throughout the mall. Strike a pose with Stitch at the Ocean Terminal Forecourt, or head up to the Ocean Terminal Deck to take pics with the seven-metre-tall Wisher Stitch against the beautiful Victoria Harbour. Fans can also take their pick from over 800 types of merch and snacks at the Stitch-themed pop-up store in the Main Concourse. Meanwhile, the little ones can unleash their creativity at the Ohana Craft Club (Ocean Terminal Atrium), where they can take part in Hawaiian-themed DIY workshops and activities – Stitch will even make a special appearance on Mother's Day for meet-and-greet sessions!  All proceeds from the event will be donated to Make-A-Wish Hong Kong after deducting costs.