Presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the fourth edition of the Asia+ Festival will be held from September to November, expanding creative horizons and fostering cross-cultural artistic exchange through broad cross-disciplinary collaboration.
 
     This year, over 30 countries and regions will take part, with six joining for the first time, namely Armenia, Brazil, Czechia, Moldova, Palestine and Uruguay. The Asia+ Festival 2026 will showcase the artistic essence of Asia and countries and regions along the Belt and Road, presenting over 100 performances and related arts events.
 
     Themed "Traditions Recast", this year's festival spans a wide range of art forms, including music, dance, acrobatics and more. Blending traditional and contemporary elements, it offers fresh perspectives on the performing arts. Tickets will be available to the public from July 23 (Thursday). Highlights of selected programmes are as follows:
 
A four-band fusion
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     The opening programme, the "TRI-ART!ON" Concert, will be led by award-winning Hong Kong pop music producer Carl Wong, featuring a local line-up comprising drummer Jun Kung, guitarist Jason Kui, vocalist Jan Curious and more. The Hong Kong musicians will perform alongside Uuhai, a Mongolian heavy metal band fusing the horsehead fiddle with heavy metal riffs who will perform in Hong Kong for the first time; KARDI, an emerging Korean rock band that pairs the traditional geomungo with K-rock female vocal; and KIKI, a Thai indie-band that conjures a tropical haze with buoyant electronic grooves and dreamy textures, opening the festival with a mixture of various dimensions of sound.  
 
Cross-disciplinary audio-visual performances
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     The festival presents cross-disciplinary performances that promise a refreshing experience. To be presented in October, "Guitar Duo Recital by Assad Brothers" is the Hong Kong stop on the farewell tour of the Brazilian duo to mark their 60th anniversary. Renowned local guzheng virtuoso Wan Xing will join the stage for an East-meets-West piece inspired by legendary Chinese folk heroine Mulan. Acclaimed for their virtuosity and telepathic unity, the Assad Brothers have been leading figures in the classical guitar world for over half a century, earning repeated recognition at the Latin Grammy Awards.
 
     A Pakistani visual artist will join Syrian musicians performing qanun and duclar from the Aga Khan Music Programme to present "Canvas of Sound", bringing Middle Eastern calligraphy into direct dialogue with music. Guided by the mysterious yet richly layered sounds of the Middle East, the visual artist will create Arabic calligraphy live on stage. With brushstrokes as fluid and expressive as dance - rising and falling in sync with the melodious music - the artist creates a stirring piece that refreshes the mind.
 
Across time, across traditions: a journey into intangible cultural heritage
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     Malaysia's leading percussion ensemble, Hands Percussion, will join forces with Gamelan Yuganada from Bali, Indonesia, to present "Taksu - The Spirit of Gamelan" in November. The performance weaves Chinese lion dance drum (shigu), the powerful Malaysian 24 Festive Drums and the ethereal, spiritual sonorities of gamelan - widely regarded as one of the world's great musical treasures - into a seamless whole. The Hong Kong Children's Choir will also perform a series of repertoires alongside Hands Percussion, including a reimagined "Jasmine Flower", using a classic folk song to bridge cultures across East Asia.
 
     Fresh off a European tour, Lune Production, widely hailed as the Vietnamese Cirque du Soleil, will bring its contemporary acrobatic theatre work "Teh Dar" to Hong Kong for the first time. The production blends bamboo craft with breathtakingly difficult acrobatics, while weaving in traditional instruments from Vietnam's Central Highlands and the K'Ho region's intangible cultural heritage of gong culture. Together, these elements evoke the grandeur of sweeping mountain ranges and suffuse the stage with a primitive aesthetic.
 
Grand finale: Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+
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     The well-received annual large-scale outdoor carnival Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances+ will return in late November with the support of various Consulates General in Hong Kong. Bringing together stage performances of diverse ethnic styles, cultural booths, and workshops, it showcases the vibrant arts and culture of around 30 Belt and Road countries and regions, inviting participants to experience diverse cultures in a heartfelt and vibrant atmosphere. The carnival will also present "Convergence of Cross-Cultural Gifting - Ethnic Cultural Exhibition", featuring woven textiles, distinctive handicrafts, photographs, oil paintings, and porcelain art from different countries and regions, and conveying the blessings and personal touch embedded in each artisan's work.
 
An Asia+ gathering: more to come
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     Other exciting programmes of the festival include "Duo Recital by Sol Gabetta (Cello) and Patricia Kopatchinskaja (Violin)"; the original contemporary ballet "GAT" by Korea's Yunbyul Ballet Company and the musical "The Longest Nights" by Korea's Library Company; Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's "Swire Proudly Sponsors: Belt and Road: Zitong Wang Plays Chopin" concert; Hong Kong Sinfonietta's "Great Violin Concertos: Alexandra Conunova Plays Saint-Saëns" concert; Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's concerts - "2026 International Sheng and Reeds Festival: Thousand Reeds, One Universe" and "2026 Hong Kong Drum Festival: Majestic Drums"; Hong Kong Dance Company's production "Voyage of the Eight Graces"; Hong Kong Ballet's production "Dunhuang: In Search of Light"; and City Contemporary Dance Company's production "'The Connected Stage' Series: Kylián and Sangba".
 
     The festival will also feature an exhibition themed "Sonic Odyssey of Curious Creatures" and a series of workshops, masterclasses, talks, and outreach performances, letting participants appreciate a wide diversity of art and cultures.

     Tickets will be available from July 23 (Thursday) at URBTIX counters, self-service ticketing kiosks, website (www.urbtix.hk), mobile ticketing app URBTIX, and by telephone booking (hotline: 3166 1288). Early bird discounts of up to 30 per cent will be available until August 12 (Wednesday). For programme enquiries and other discount schemes, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.asiaplus.gov.hk.

Ends/Thursday, July 16, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:05

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