From Start to Finish: HKCC Worldwide Sonic Map of the Asia+ Festival 2026

Asia+ Festival

Building on the resounding success of previous editions, the 4th Asia+ Festival in 2026 continues to bring the artistic treasures of Asia and the “Belt and Road” countries and regions to audience and strengthen Hong Kong as a vital international cultural exchange platform for the regions. This year, under the theme of Traditions Recast, the festival showcases more than 100 performances and activities from Sep to Nov, bringing together outstanding artists from over 30 countries and regions with seven countries newly joined us. The vibrant cultural arts journey is curated through world acoustics – be prepared to enjoy diverse art forms, including music, acrobatics, and visual arts.  

Tri-Art!on

Asia+ Festival Opens with A Cross-region Band Concert TRI-ART!ON  

Asia+ Festival 2026 opens with a bang! Curated by award-winning producer Carl Wong, this once-in-a-blue-moon stellar line-up of local band musicians, including Jun Kung, Jan Curious, Jason Kui, Danny Yau and Frankie Yip, joins forces with groundbreaking bands from across Asia — creating a stage that defies imagination. Mongolia’s Uuhai make their Hong Kong debut, blending the haunting tone of the horsehead fiddle with crushing metal riffs. Korea’s KARDI bring the geomungo and powerful female vocal to explosive pop-rock.  Thailand’s KIKI serve up dreamy indie-pop laced with funky electronic beats, redefining the sound of Asian pop bands. Pop music from across Asia will never sound the same. 

Cultural Heritage in Contemporary Revival – from Taksu to Canvas of Sound 

Cultural heritage finds new life in contemporary presentation of world music from Oct to Nov. Thirty sets of exquisite Balinese gamelan, Chinese lion drums, Malaysia’s 24 Festive Drums and Mak Yong dance converge in the contemporary Gamelan Theatre: Taksu – The Spirit of Gamelan by Hands Percussion from Malaysia. When the melodies shift to the Middle Eastern gem, Canvas of Sound transcends the modern acoustic of Qanun and Duclar to the next level.  Initiated by Aga Khan Music Programme, audiences will wander through Middle Eastern melodies as calligraphy come alive in improvisation. Calligraphy weaves Arabic, Persian, and Urdu scripts into words, and the flowing lines turn ancient sounds into visible art. 

Music of Great Mastery comes in Duo: Assad Brothers and Sol Gabetta & Patricia Kopatchinskaja  

The Concert Hall will be resonated with masterful performance of Latin guitar and classic music. Brazil’s legendary guitar duo, Assad Brothers, return to the East on their farewell tour, whose artistry blends Brazilian folk, Latin rhythms, jazz, and classical into a sound entirely their own – earning them multiple Latin Grammy Awards. In celebration of the China-Brazil Cultural Year, local guzheng virtuoso Wan Xing will join in the performance by adding an oriental touch to this cross-cultural dialogue between East and West. Following this farewell concert of Latin acoustics, the festival welcomes the classics by a captivating string duo.  Sol Gabetta & Patricia Kopatchinskaja bring a diverse repertoire ranging from timeless works by Bach, Ravel and Kodály, to creations of contemporary composers, including Kopatchinskaja herself in their debut duo recital in Hong Kong.   

Teh Dar

Ancient Highland Culture Pulses with Life of Acrobatics and Music 

Contemporary circus theatre Teh Dar transports audiences to the misty highlands of central Vietnam’s K’Ho region. In their language, Teh Dar means “going in circles” — a symbol of life’s endless cycle. Red-coloured stage echoes the region’s primitive landscape, as acrobats perform daring feats atop evolving bamboo structures. A live band plays gongs, buffalo horn, T’rung, and long drums, showcasing UNESCO-recognised Gong Culture. This acrobatics from Lune Production, rated five stars on travel platforms, now arrives in Hong Kong after a European tour, ready to leave audiences breathless. 

AECP+

Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances + (AECP+) to conclude the Festival in community 

Transforming music and dance into blessings, the finale outdoor carnival of AECP+ unfolds like a thoughtfully presented intangible gift. Bringing together representatives from around 30 Belt and Road countries and regions, it celebrates unity through ritual and emotion through art, creating cultural resonance and showcasing vibrant spirit of diverse ethnic groups. Don’t miss the exhibition, cultural booths, and workshops presenting exquisite crafts and signature snacks from various countries. The finale offers residents and tourists a glimpse into the everyday lives of different ethnic communities.    There are other exciting stops of the AECP+ presented by the major performing arts companies in Hong Kong and the festival’s cultural partners. Please visit here for more details: https://www.asiaplus.gov.hk/2026/en/