International Arts Carnival 2025: A Summer of Global Performances and Family Fun Begins July 11

2025-05-15 12:00 Last Updated At：16:25

Summer arts festival International Arts Carnival tickets on sale from May 16

The International Arts Carnival (IAC) will run from July to August this year, featuring a wide array of fun-filled educational programmes by overseas, Mainland and local art groups for all age groups to add to a joyful summer. Tickets will be on sale from tomorrow (May 16). The carnival is a highly popular arts festival organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) every summer.

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Summer arts festival International Arts Carnival tickets on sale from May 16 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

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Summer arts festival International Arts Carnival tickets on sale from May 16 Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

This year, participating overseas artists will come from the Netherlands, Korea, Norway and the United States. Together with their Mainland and local counterparts, they are set to present a wide variety of performing arts programmes covering martial arts, acrobatics, dance, music, theatre, multimedia and more.

The opening programme will be the martial arts theatre performance "Soul of Shaolin" featuring elite performers of the Henan Provincial Shaolin Wushu Center from July 11 to 13. The performance will showcase breathtaking martial arts scenes such as boxing, weaponry and qigong to demonstrate the harmony between the spiritual wisdom and physical strength of Chinese kung fu. "Soul of Shaolin" is finally coming to Hong Kong after its Broadway debut in 2009, which earned both Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations. After more than two decades of world touring, it is not to be missed.

Celebrated violinist Ray Chen will join Italian conductor Gianandrea Noseda and members of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America to perform on July 28. During the concert, Chen will perform Mendelssohn’s ever-popular "Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64" with the orchestra. The repertoire will also include Rachmaninov's masterful "Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27" and a new work by contemporary music composer Carlos Simon. This performance will also be part of the orchestra's Asian tour.

To celebrate the upcoming 15th National Games, the IAC will present "Sounds of Sports" August 2 and 3. Led by pianist Phoebus Chan, the performance will blend music and sports as local musicians and athletes will combine karate, rugby, wushu and table tennis with jazz drums, shakuhachi, erhu, cello and piano, turning the concert hall into an exciting sports ground full of energy.

The award-winning Xi'an Acrobatic Troupe will perform a new adaptation of the acrobatic ballet "Swan Lake" August 8 to 10, fusing incredible acrobatics with ballet, turning this famous dance performance into a powerful yet graceful show. The show features over 20 dazzling acrobatic acts including contortionists bending and twisting, doing flips and balancing, aerial hoops and dancing on shoulders. "Swan Lake" and "Soul of Shaolin" are also programmes that are part of this year’s Chinese Culture Festival.

Other IAC stage programmes include:

* "OvO" from Norway, a dance programme for infants aged nine to 24 months and their parents by dybwikdans;

* "Waiting!" from Korea, an exciting and hilarious multimedia theatre by HADDANGSE;

* "Home" from the Netherlands, an interactive multimedia theatre by Mime Wave;

* "The Secret Agent Spin-off: The Hidden Treasure", a musical adapted from the bestselling novel "The Secret Agent" by Musical Trio;

* "A Musical Treasure Hunt - Percussion Kaleidoscope" and "A Showcase of Parent-child works of Cheng Kwok Kong" by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra;

* "Live Animation Cinesthetics" and "The Other Side of Schumann" by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta;

* "Little Pigs・Little Duck・Little Riding Hood 2.0" by Pop Theatre;

* "My Arena: Dance of Triumph" by the City Contemporary Dance Company;

* "The Kids in Rainbow Jerseys 2.0" by the Hong Kong Dance Company;

* "‘It’s Time to Dance’ Inclusive Dance Theatre by Dancing Andy and Dancers "; and

* 2025 Hong Kong Youth Music Camp Concerts "Summer Echoes" by the Music Office.

In addition to stage performances, there will also be a fine selection of films from around the world under the Summer Family Cine Fest by the Film Programmes Office. The IAC also offers a wide range of parent-child workshops, an online programme, an outreach performance and an exhibition. Venue partners and LCSD libraries will also hold plenty of related activities and programmes during the festival period.

Tickets for the IAC will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from May 16 onwards. For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288 or use the mobile ticketing app "URBTIX".

For enquiries on programmes and ticketing, please call 2370 1044 or visit its website at www.hkiac.gov.hk.

HKMA Warns Public About Recent Banking Scams and Fraudulent Websites

Scam alert related to banks

The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) wishes to alert members of the public to the press releases issued by the banks listed below relating to fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens, phishing emails or other scams, which have been reported to the HKMA. Hyperlinks to the press releases are available on theHKMA website.

Bank

Type of scam

The Bank of East Asia, Limited

Fraudulent websites, internet banking login screens and phishing email

Shanghai Commercial Bank Limited

Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen

OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited

Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen

Chong Hing Bank Limited

Fraudulent website and internet banking login screen

Chiyu Banking Corporation Limited

Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens

The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks' websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).

Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the scams concerned, should contact the relevant bank with the information provided in the corresponding press release, and report the matter to the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.

International Arts Carnival 2025: A Summer of Global Performances and Family Fun Begins July 11

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