Hong Kong is preparing to close 2026 on a high, with a festival calendar that reaches from the Central Harbourfront to the city’s outlying islands. The final months of the year combine food and wine beside Victoria Harbour with festive lights and a midnight countdown that fills the waterfront.

According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the season pairs headline events with neighbourhood festivities, while cooler weather makes hiking trails and island ferries an inviting prospect between them.

When the marquee events pause, visitors can browse markets and restaurants, linger in the city’s galleries, or take a ferry to an outlying island for coastal walks at a slower pace.

Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival

The Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival returns to the Central Harbourfront for four days from late October, turning the waterfront into an open-air celebration of food and drink. More than 300 booths and live entertainment sit beside Victoria Harbour, with wines ready to sample from across the world.

Selections from China, France, Italy, Spain, Georgia and the UK are joined by new pavilions from Australia, Canada and South Korea, giving visitors an international cellar to explore.

At the Grand Wine Pavilion, the discovery goes a step further with more than 20 tastings and masterclasses, including a special spotlight on Bordeaux.

Only in Hong Kong Flavours

Food stands just as central to the programme. The Only in Hong Kong Flavours initiative brings together signature dishes from more than 100 restaurants, from local favourites to Michelin-starred establishments.

In the Tasting Room, chefs Edward Lee, Thierry Marx, Chen Zhi Ping and Justin Yang Yan Bin will serve specially created menus, each brought to life with a carefully chosen wine pairing.

The celebration then moves beyond the harbourfront for Wine and Dine Month, which brings special menus and offers to restaurants and bars across the city throughout November.

Hong Kong WinterFest and Christmas Town

WinterFest runs from early November into the New Year and makes a strong case for a Christmas break with a difference. At its heart, Statue Square Gardens becomes Christmas Town, centred on a magnificent 20-metre tree and sparkling decorations.

Christmas Town sits in the heart of Central, so visitors can spend the day exploring nearby galleries and waterfront neighbourhoods before the evening programme begins.

The gardens themselves remain the focal point, framed by the skyline of the surrounding district.

After Dark in Central

When night falls, a 360-degree immersive light show fills Central with colour and movement, adding to the magic of the city’s illuminated skyline.

Seasonal dining and shopping round out the evenings, from celebratory dinners in the district’s restaurants to late browsing in its stores.

Neighbourhood festivities add to the calendar throughout the season, extending the celebrations well beyond the harbourfront.

The Countdown to 2027

As the final hours of 2026 draw to a close, Hong Kong’s waterfront and city streets fill with people gathering to welcome the new year. Victoria Harbour provides a spectacular setting, with an illuminated skyline reflected across the water and crowds counting down together as midnight approaches.

The Hong Kong New Year Countdown forms part of a wider night of celebrations, with events taking place across the city.

Visitors can build the evening around a celebratory dinner or join the crowds by the water for the countdown itself.

A Longer Festive Break

The midnight moment can anchor a longer escape, with Hong Kong’s restaurants and winter attractions filling the days before the city sees in 2027.