Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), together with several arts and cultural organizations, has launched the HKIA Arts and Culture Festival 2026, running simultaneously across Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 2 (T2) for the first time.
Under the theme ‘Resonance of Two Cities – Hong Kong and Shanghai’, the festival combines a three-month arts exhibition with a series of stage performances celebrating the cultural identities of both cities.
The opening ceremony featured a new arrangement of the song The Bund, performed by Hong Kong singer Joey Tang alongside the In-heritage Philharmonic from Hong Kong and Music Bund City Band from Shanghai, with performers sharing insights into the musical and cultural exchange behind the collaboration.
Vivian Cheung, CEO of AAHK, said, “HKIA is not only a world-class aviation hub, but also an important platform for cultural connectivity and exchange. This year’s Arts and Culture Festival is particularly meaningful as it follows the opening of T2 in May. With T1 and T2 seamlessly connected, the Festival extends across both terminals, allowing travellers from around the world to taste the seamless cultural tie between Hong Kong and Shanghai.”
The arrivals halls of both terminals have been transformed into streetscapes inspired by Hong Kong’s Tong Lau tenement buildings and Shanghai’s Shikumen architecture, with covered walkways and courtyards blending architectural styles and cultural traditions from both cities.
The festival also includes photography and art exhibitions capturing the cityscapes of Hong Kong and Shanghai, alongside a digital art exhibition on the T1 arrivals hall’s large screen, featuring works by people with special needs and by Hong Kong school students.
Over three consecutive weekends from August 4 to 23, the T1 arrivals hall will host performances by artists from Hong Kong and Shanghai, including Cantonese pop songs from the 1970s to 1990s, Shanghai-inspired jazz, traditional Chinese music, and Chinese and Western music ensembles, choir and dance performances by school students from both cities.
The festival is organized with the participation of cultural and arts institutions from both cities, including Edge Design Institute, Hong Kong In-heritage Philharmonic, City University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong’s Cultural Inheritance and Development Foundation, among others.
Related news, Hong Kong International’s Terminal 2 opens for departures
