HKU Announces Inaugural Being Human Festival in Hong Kong, 5⁠-15 November

The Faculty of Arts (HKUArts) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) will lead the inaugural Being Human Festival from 5–15 November. An annual international showcase of humanities research, the Festival arrives in Hong Kong, establishing HKU as its regional hub.

The Being Human Festival. Photo source: HKU

Being Human is about bringing people together to share the humanities. The events are designed to be as enjoyable as they are thought-provoking: informal, creative and hands-on, they encourage the public to take part in research rather than simply hear about it, and to ask what it means to be human.

Professor Yeewan Koon, Associate Dean (Global) of the Faculty of Arts at HKU, noted that he was excited to see the partnerships with local creatives and communities, making events some might not expect to call "academic."

In his eyes, research takes many forms, and this Festival will let attendees explore innovative technologies while pausing to celebrate the slow, the felt and the human.

HKUArts joins a distinguished list of institutions, including the School of Advanced Study at the University of London, the University of Melbourne and the National Humanities Center in North Carolina, as the Festival’s Asia-based partner. University researchers will team up with creative arts and cultural communities to present projects well beyond HKU’s campus, creating shared spaces for new connections.

The Being Human Festival. Photo source: HKU

Theme: “Crossroads”

The 2026 theme, “Crossroads,” symbolizes a place of discovery, encounter and change, and invites reflection on how we live our lives, how we express our thoughts and the legacies we inherit and leave behind. Trade routes, cultures and ways of life have long converged in Hong Kong, where the past and the present sit side by side. Over eleven days, everyone can step in, try something unexpected, and see humanities in a fresh light.

The Being Human Festival. Photo source: HKU

Festival Highlights

Resonant Reveries: An Exhibition by Artist Chris Cheung (h0nh1m)

An interactive art installation where pendulums respond to participants’ brain waves in real-time—creating a unique dialogue between mind and art. This exhibition targets the general public as an audience, especially those who are interested in technology and art.

Date and time: 6-15 November, 2026; with interactive sessions on 7-8 and 14-15 November (Saturday and Sunday) at 11 am-2 pm, and meditation sessions at 3-4 pm and 5-6 pm

Venue: Peace Lane Studio, 1 Ping On Lane, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

Being Human FiZZ Hub I. Photo source: HKU

Being Human Fizz Hub I

Collaborative projects exploring fermentation as a transformative force, developed by past and present HKU students and local cultural practitioners, displayed in street-front storefronts in Tai Hang. Each day of the Festival will feature a different type of sharing of creative projects on fermentation or preservation with a “Resident Human.” Suitable for the general public and families.

Date and time: Opening Mixer, 5 November 2026 (Thursday), 6-7:30 pm; Pop-up workshops, 7-15 November 2026; Fizz Out: Closing Party, 15 November 2026 (Sunday), 5- 10 pm

Detailed program: https://beinghumanfestival.hku.hk/project-schedule-2026/fermentation-culture-creative-practice/

Venue: Ground floor, 28 Shepherd Street, Hong Kong

Mindful Connections: The Science of Buddhism & Mental Health Wellbeing. Photo source: HKU

Mindful Connections: The Science of Buddhism & Mental Health Wellbeing

Participants are invited to levitate a drone by wearing an EEG headband that picks up their brainwaves. As you calm your thoughts and sharpen your focus, the ‘Mind Drone’ responds directly to your brainwaves—lifting into the air to give you a breathtaking, real-time display of your own inner concentration. Target audiences include educators, neurodivergent learners, and members of the general public interested in mental health.

Date and time: 6 November (Friday) 4:00-7:00 pm; 7-8 November (Saturday and Sunday) 10:30 am-1:30 pm; 13 November (Friday) 4-7 pm; 14-15 November (Saturday and Sunday) 10:30 am-1:30 pm

Venue: Ground floor, 27 Shepherd Street, Hong Kong

Writing and Performing Poetry. Photo source: HKU

Writing and Performing Poetry: Crossroads in Hong Kong

The festival’s closing event at Villa Haw Par, a Spoken Word evening showcasing poetry written by young local women—celebrating voices and stories from Hong Kong’s next generation. This event is open to the general public and audiences who are interested in poetry and local literature.

Date and time: Writing and Performance Workshop, 8 November 2026 (Sunday), 3- 5:30 pm and Spoken Word Event, 15 November 2026 (Sunday), 5- 7 pm

Venue: Nose in the Books, 3/F, 54 Yun Ping Rd, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (Workshop), and Villa Haw Par, 15A Tai Hang Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (Spoken-Word Event)

Hong Kong’s universities have once again demonstrated academic strength on the international stage. The latest 2026 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects shows that at least 90 subjects across Hong Kong’s universities have entered the global top 50, with 21 subjects ranking among the world’s top 10. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) claimed the top spot globally in two subjects: Transportation Science & Technology and Hospitality & Tourism Management. The University of Hong Kong (HKU), The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) all made it into the global top 10 for Education, underscoring the city’s overall strength in the field.

The University of Hong Kong, Photo source: reference image

HKU’s Education subject ranked second globally in this year’s ranking, its highest-ever position, while retaining its place as the top in Asia. Professor Yang Rui, Dean of the Faculty of Education at HKU, expressed his delight at the achievement. He noted that it fully reflects the collective efforts of faculty members in conducting high-level research and publishing in leading international academic journals, as well as the Faculty’s close partnerships with research collaborators worldwide, which continue to expand the reach and impact of its work. “I am deeply grateful to our Faculty members for their commitment to advancing educational knowledge and promoting the exchange and application of these outcomes worldwide,” he said.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Photo source: reference image

PolyU delivered the most outstanding performance in this ranking, with 23 subjects entering the global top 50, the highest number among all Hong Kong institutions. Six of its subjects ranked in the global top 10. In addition to the two subjects that topped the world, these include Management (global 2nd), Civil Engineering (global 3rd), Energy Science & Engineering (global 4th), and Mechanical Engineering (global 10th), spanning multiple traditional strengths in engineering and management.

The City University of Hong Kong, Photo source: reference image

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) had 44 subjects ranked this year, two more than last year. Twenty-two subjects entered the global top 50, with four subjects- Library & Information Science, Metallurgical Engineering, Energy Science & Engineering, and Public Administration- making it into the global top 10. Furthermore, CityU ranked first in Hong Kong in 10 subjects, including Library & Information Science, Business Administration, and Veterinary Sciences, leading other local institutions in multiple areas.

The Lingnan University, Photo source: reference image

Lingnan University had eight subjects ranked this year, a nearly twofold increase from three last year. Five subjects, including Computer Science & Engineering and Electrical & Electronic Engineering, appeared on the list for the first time. Its Artificial Intelligence subject, newly listed last year, jumped dramatically in the rankings and entered the global top 100 for the first time, placing in the 76–100 band. Professor Qin Si Zhao, President of Lingnan University, said the results reflect growing international recognition of the University’s academic and research work. “Lingnan will review the ranking results and their assessment indicators, using them as a reference to further consolidate our ‘Liberal Arts + Technology’ development direction,” he said.

Photo source: shanghairanking.com

The ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects is released by ShanghaiRanking, a higher education evaluation agency. It covers 57 subjects across five major fields: Natural Sciences, Engineering, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, and Social Sciences. The ranking uses international academic indicators to assess the performance of higher education institutions worldwide in each subject, evaluating five categories: World-Class Faculty, World-Class Research Output, High-Quality Research, Research Impact, and International Collaboration. This year’s ranking assessed over 3,000 universities globally, with more than 2,000 institutions from about 96 countries and regions appearing on the lists.