French May Arts Festival 2026 Returns to Hong Kong with Re/naissance Theme

The French May Arts Festival 2026 Is set to return to Hong Kong this year under the theme of Re/naissance. Since its inception in 1993, the cultural festival has blossomed into one of the largest arts events in Asia, bringing together a wide range of French and local art across many venues in the city.

Re/naissance

This year, the programme focuses on renewal and fresh perspectives in the arts. The central exhibition is The Renaissance, co-presented by the French May Arts Festival, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and the Hong Kong Museum of Art. The show offers an immersive digital journey created with the Musée du Louvre and features Renaissance masterpieces brought specially for Hong Kong audiences, combining works from the Musée national de la Renaissance, the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, and the GrandPalaisRMN.

Music forms a key part of the line-up. French DJ Snake will perform on the Victoria Harbour waterfront as part of a large-scale electronic dance music event. International jazz pianist Bojan Z will appear alongside award-winning vocalist Youn Sun Nah in a joint concert. The show also features special cross-disciplinary dance performance titled "In Between – Wu Guangzhong's Ink Odyssey," developed through a collaboration between Hong Kong Dance and French May. The performance draws inspiration from the paintings of Chinese artist Wu Guanzhong.

The festival includes a strong gastronomy section called French Gourmay where visitors can join workshops and tastings that highlight French cuisine and wines. At Tai Kwun, French Rendezvous offers a performance by Cirque du Corbak from France's National Center for Circus Arts, allowing guests to enjoy French wines and delicacies at the same time.

The full programme offers something for everyone, including masterclasses, guided tours, educational talks, film screenings, and hands-on workshops that reach over 200,000 visitors each year, presenting more than 100 programmes across cultural centres, shopping districts, and public spaces.

Ambassador Karena Lam

Since 2014, acclaimed Hong Kong actress Karena Lam has served as the official ambassador for the French May Arts Festival. Widely regarded as one of the most versatile artists in Hong Kong, Lam has played a key role in promoting French culture in Hong Kong for more than a decade. Since 2002, she has appeared in over 30 Asian films. Her feature debut in July Rhapsody earned her Best Supporting Actress and Best New Performer awards at both the Golden Horse Awards and the Hong Kong Film Awards.

French May

French May began in 1993 and has since built a reputation for bringing high-quality French arts to Hong Kong. The festival takes place every year from May to June and includes visual arts, performing arts, music, dance, and film. Past editions have featured exhibitions, concerts, and community activities that aim to make arts accessible to everyone by connecting local audiences in Hong Kong with French culture.

This year marks a special focus on cultural exchange. One highlight is the project Re/naissance, developed with support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and other partners. This initiative involves multiple institutions and explores themes of heritage, creativity, and innovation.

Hong Kong residents and visitors can expect a packed schedule that mixes large-scale productions with smaller, intimate events. The festival spans different districts and makes use of both established venues and public spaces. Entry to many activities is free or low-cost, which has helped the event maintain strong attendance over the years.