Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival Returns in April with Beyond Fantasy Theme and Exciting New Programs

Fourth Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival to open in April

The fourth edition of the Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival (PCF), presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will return in April following its resounding success in previous years. Under the theme "Beyond Fantasy", the PCF will explore what happens when ideas collide, inviting audiences to experience how creators across generations - through boundless imagination - reshape the distinctive character of Hong Kong's pop culture and turn the impossible into the possible.

The PCF will present approximately 20 programmes and over 120 events, including stage performances, film screenings, thematic exhibitions, library programmes and outreach activities. Some of the programmes are as follows:

Opening programme: Concert "Dreamscape"

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Co-curated by Chu Wan-pin, winner of the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Original Film Score and an erhu virtuoso, and local musician Vicky Fung, this programme blends soundtracks, pop music, street dance and art technology into a musical feast in three chapters. It will feature newly arranged scores from classic Hong Kong films. Guest performers across the two nights include Phil Lam and Winka Chan@COLLAR (April 17), and Tang Siu-hau and Jeremy Lee@MIRROR (April 18). Together with an ensemble and choir members, they will perform pop songs from different eras, joined by young street dancers and emerging musicians in a burst of collaborative creativity to open the PCF.

"Dreamscape" will be staged on April 17 and 18 at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $380, $480 and $580 will be available from March 13 via URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288, or purchase via the URBTIX mobile app.

Mega outdoor music carnival "ImagineLand" and outdoor installation "Pop Unboxed"

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The PCF's flagship programme "ImagineLand", the outdoor music carnival returning by popular demand, will be held on April 25 and 26 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) Piazza and the Salisbury Garden Central Lawn, offering free admission to members of the public and visitors. Daytime highlights include the "Go Beyond Concert", the "Pop Unboxed" outdoor installation, and the "Funarts Corner". In the evening, the "Movie Under the Stars" will be presented.

The "Go Beyond Concert" at the Forest Stage will feature 11 acts, bringing together emerging local music talents, singer-songwriters and bands, as well as singers from the Chinese Mainland and Thailand. Pop music will be presented in diverse styles that cross boundaries. Making its debut this year is the Cantopop Party, where DJ DEANZ will spin classic melodies across generations to evoke collective memories. Featured performers include Vincy Chan, Arvin Tsang, Gordon Flanders, Feanna Wong, Goodnight Lillie, and Jacky Fan. Meanwhile, "Movie Under the Stars" will screen, over two evenings, the local fantasy romance films "Last Song for You" (2024) and "Fly me to Polaris" (1999), respectively, offering audiences a different movie-going experience at the Salisbury Garden Central Lawn.

The outdoor installation "Pop Unboxed" will be on display from April 25 at the HKCC Piazza. Co-curated with the Hong Kong Design Institute, a member of the Vocational Training Council Group, it features four display cases, each presenting a distinctive theme. Highlights include trendy collectibles inspired by the folktale "Ten Brothers"; a film-themed photo spot recreating Hong Kong's neon street scenes; a window display that brings fantasy characters to life through surreal fashion; and a music showcase that juxtaposes classic vinyl records with the works of a virtual singer. Blending the classic with the innovative, "Pop Unboxed" is set to become a must-visit photo hotspot.

Film screening

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"Fantasies in Reality: A Cinematic Journey"

Long renowned as a dream factory of imagination, Hong Kong cinema has produced countless fantasy films full of creativity. Echoing this year's theme "Beyond Fantasy", the Hong Kong Film Archive has curated this screening programme, featuring 12 classic Hong Kong fantasy films spanning from the 1950s to the post-millennium era. The opening film is one of the signature works of the Hong Kong New Wave, "The Spooky Bunch" (1980) (4K digitally restored version), which blends troupe culture and local supernatural folklore with comedy. Other selected titles include "Ten Brothers" (1959), "A Chinese Ghost Story" (1987), "Green Snake" (1993) and "Wait 'Til You're Older" (2005), among others.

"Restored Treasures - 'The Kid'" (1999) (4K Digitally Restored Version)

The PCF will invite audiences to revisit on the big screen the 4K digitally restored "The Kid" (1999) at the HKCC, starring the late Leslie Cheung. Marking what would have been his 70th birthday this year, the screening pays tribute to the pop culture legend.

As the Archive celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, it will also present "Restored Treasures - Film Marathon", featuring a curated selection of classic local and international films from different eras. This two-day marathon, running for over 10 hours in total at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre in May, will kick off the Archive's silver jubilee celebrations. Starting in June, the exhibition "Hong Kong Film Archive Stories: Treasure Hunting for 25 Years" will be staged at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. Showcasing rare film-related artefacts, it will chart the glorious journey of Hong Kong cinema, with interactive installations enabling audiences to connect with the Archive across time and space.

Performing arts

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Two pre-festival programmes will be held, namely "18dART - Community Arts Scheme in Kwai Tsing 'Shape of Harmony - Kwai Tsing 3.0' Acappella Music Project Finale Concert" presented by local a cappella group Boonfaysau; and "2026 Fiesta of Music Office Bands, Choirs and Orchestras Concert I - Strings 'Fairy Tales'".

Other highlights include tap dance performance "STEP OUT Studios x SuenNam 'Just Keep Hoofing!'" presented by Step Out Studios and "LiveTimePlace", a multimedia concert and exhibition curated by electronic musician and new media artist Choi Sai-ho.

Library activities

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In response to the PCF's theme "Beyond Fantasy", public libraries will present a series of activities from April to June, including book recommendations themed around fairy tales, science fiction and mystery; a meet-the-author session; a themed talk series titled "Monthly Literary Talk: 'The Past and Future of Science Fiction Literature: Mythical Creatures, Animals, Machines, and Artificial Intelligence'"; as well as workshops and storytelling theatre.

In addition to the above programmes, a number of industry partner organisations will also present a series of events in different genres, including the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's "Cinematic Odyssey: Wu Kong and The Last Dance - Chu Wan Pin & HKCO"; the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups' "My Stage@HKCC 2026/27 - Saturday Music Live";and two programmes sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency: the Hong Kong Publishing Federation Limited's "2026 Hong Kong Reading+"; and the 7th Design Licensing and Business Support Scheme, organised by the Innovative Entrepreneur Association.

Over the years, Hong Kong's pop culture has continued to evolve through music, images and text, as well as stage and cross-media creations. Advancing through a dynamic interplay of inheritance, circulation, fusion and breakthrough, it has distilled a style uniquely Hong Kong. This year, the PCF will continue to join audiences and local creators in going "Beyond Fantasy", crossing boundaries within everyday rhythms and inspiring the limitless possibilities of pop culture.

For details of the programmes and activities, please visit www.pcf.gov.hk or call 3755 3358 for enquiries.

The Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2026 Programme Briefing was held today (March 11) at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre. Photo shows local singer Jacky Fan, a guest performer at the outdoor music carnival "ImagineLand," during the vocal performance segment of the briefing. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2026 Programme Briefing was held today (March 11) at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre. Photo shows the Head (Film Archive), Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), Miss Priscilla Chan (first right); Assistant Curator I (Film Archive) Programming 1, LCSD, Ms Kenxi Lau (first left); the director of the screening programme "Restored Treasures - 'The Kid'", Jacob Cheung (second left); and multimedia artist Victor Wong (second right) sharing details of the programmes curated by the Hong Kong Film Archive. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2026 Programme Briefing was held today (March 11) at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre. Photo shows co-curator of the opening programme "Dreamscape", winner of the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Original Film Score, and erhu virtuoso, Chu Wan-pin (first left), performing excerpts from the concert with other guest performers. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival (PCF) 2026 Programme Briefing was held today (March 11) at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre. Photo shows Senior Manager (Pop Culture), Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Ms Zoe Chan (first left); co-curators of the opening programme "Dreamscapes" Vicky Fung (second right) and Chu Wan-pin (second left); and the curator of the outdoor music carnival "ImagineLand", Dr Wong Chi-chung (first right), introducing the curatorial concept for the PCF 2026. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2026 Programme Briefing was held today (March 11) at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre. Photo shows the Chief Manager (Cultural Exchange and Pop Culture), Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Ms Pat Wong, introducing the Festival's programme highlights. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2026 Programme Briefing was held today (March 11) at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre. Photo shows the officiating guests - the Assistant Director (Cultural Development) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Ms Betty Au (back row, eighth left); co-curators of the opening programme "Dreamscape" Vicky Fung (back row, seventh left) and Chu Wan-pin (back row, sixth left); the curator of the outdoor music carnival "ImagineLand", Dr Wong Chi-chung (back row, fifth left); and the director of the screening programme "Restored Treasures - 'The Kid'", Jacob Cheung (back row, seventh right), together with other guests. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Film Archive to present screening programme "Journeys to the West: Cinematic Dialogues Across Time"

The Hong Kong Film Archive (HKFA) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present a programme entitled "Journeys to the West: Cinematic Dialogues Across Time" from June 27 to July 11 at the Hall of the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC) and the Cinema of the HKFA. This screening programme will showcase three pairings of films with six classic adaptations of the masterpiece novel "Journey to the West" in different eras and styles, demonstrating the diverse interpretations and artistic renderings by filmmakers across generations. This screening programme is part of the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the HKFA and the Chinese Culture Festival (CCF) 2026.

"Journey to the West" is a well-known fantasy novel about the adventures of a master and his disciples who defeat and vanquish demons and monsters. By blending cautionary philosophies with meticulous characterisations, it established its own distinct style which inspired countless film productions. From monk Xuanzang's real-life epic journey, to the gods and demons depicted by a Ming dynasty novelist, and waves of film adaptations in post-war Hong Kong, this Chinese cultural gem remains engaging and inspiring to this day through constant dialogue and innovations across time.

The opening screening will feature the HKFA's newly 4K digitally restored versions of "A Chinese Odyssey Part One - Pandora's Box" (1995) and "A Chinese Odyssey Part Two - Cinderella" (1995). Departing from the original novel, the film focuses on the plight of the Monkey King, played by Stephen Chow, becoming a bandit after reincarnation and his emotional attachments under the vivid imagination of director and screenwriter Jeff Lau. Amidst Chow's brilliant comedic performance, the Monkey King is embroiled in a doomed romance that pulls at the heartstrings, making the films an enduring legend in Hong Kong comedy cinema.

"The Monkey Goes West" (1966) and "Princess Iron Fan" (1966) by the Shaw Brothers showcase the prowess of major film studios at the time with gorgeous costumes, meticulous set designs and intensive special effects. "The Monkey Goes West" follows the encounters between the Monkey King, his master and fellow apprentices and the White Dragon Horse on their westward journey to seek sacred scriptures, while "Princess Iron Fan" tells the stories of the Monkey King putting out the flames of the Fiery Mountains and his fights against the White Bone Demons to rescue his master. As fine specimens of how a literary classic is reimagined as intriguing fantasies with songs and dance in the 1960s, the Monkey King, played by Elliot Yueh, sings songs in the style of huangmei diao in "The Monkey Goes West", while in "Princess Iron Fan", the brilliant fighting scenes of the White Bone Demons, played by emerging actresses Cheng Pei-pei and Lily Ho, are interspersed with songs and dances.

In "The Monkey King" (2014), directed by Soi Cheang, the unique Hong Kong-style action design is buttressed by advanced computer-generated imagery. The story also adds a layer of sincerity and an innocent pursuit of freedom to the classic character of the Monkey King, played by action star Donnie Yen, highlighting the spree of oppressions by the celestial gatekeeper before the Monkey King wreaks havoc and breaks through the gate. In "The Monkey King 2" (2016), the costume design and special effects of the White Bone Demon, played by Gong Li, exude feminine grace and allure with stunning glamour. The film also adds a tragic backstory that drives the White Bone Demon to villainy with infernal determination, breathing modern sensibility into the traditional tale.

The screening times of the three pairs of film are as follows:

First pair

June 27 (Saturday)

The Hall, EKCC

3pm

A Chinese Odyssey Part One - Pandora's Box (4K Digitally Restored Version)

7.30pm

A Chinese Odyssey Part Two - Cinderella (4K Digitally Restored Version)

Second pair

July 4 (Saturday)

Cinema, HKFA

1.30pm

The Monkey Goes West

5pm

Princess Iron Fan

Third pair

July 11 (Saturday)

Cinema, HKFA

1.30pm

The Monkey King

5pm

The Monkey King 2

Tickets for screenings at the EKCC priced at $70 and those for screenings at the HKFA priced at $60 will be available from May 22 (Friday) at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). There is a 20 per cent discount for each purchase of two or more regular-priced tickets for different screenings in the same designated pair. For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme details, please call 2739 2139 or visit the HKFA website at www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/2026/ccf-journeys-to-the-west/pe-event-2026-ccf-journeys-to-the-west.html.

The CCF, presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Chinese Culture Promotion Office under the LCSD, aims to promote Chinese culture and enhance the public's sense of national identity and cultural confidence, thereby facilitating patriotic education. It also aims to attract top-notch artists and arts groups from the Chinese Mainland and other parts of the world for exchanges in Chinese arts and culture. The CCF 2026 will be held from June to September. It will host various forms of distinctive stage programmes and related extension activities, film screenings, thematic exhibitions, talks, workshops, as well as community and school activities, affording the public and visitors more opportunities to appreciate and experience the beauty of fine traditional Chinese culture. For more information about programmes and activities of the CCF 2026, please visitwww.ccf.gov.hk.

Film Archive to present screening programme "Journeys to the West: Cinematic Dialogues Across Time" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Film Archive to present screening programme "Journeys to the West: Cinematic Dialogues Across Time" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Film Archive to present screening programme "Journeys to the West: Cinematic Dialogues Across Time" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Film Archive to present screening programme "Journeys to the West: Cinematic Dialogues Across Time" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Film Archive to present screening programme "Journeys to the West: Cinematic Dialogues Across Time" Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases