Hong Kong has always known how to throw a good party. From the city’s glittering skyline to its instinct for spectacle, celebration is part of our DNA. But as the city doubles down on mega events to revive both its confidence and its economy, the question is no longer whether the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region can host them; it is whether we can make them mean something.
In recent months, the calendar has been packed. The Wine and Dine Festival returned to the Central Harbourfront, drawing record crowds and proving that locals and visitors alike still crave the city’s unique blend of food, lights and skyline. The festival brought together wines and delicacies from more than 30 countries and regions, offering visitors an experience that was simultaneously local and global. The water parade, a creative take on Hong Kong’s maritime heritage, turned Victoria Harbour into a living theater, with floating installations and interactive performances delighting everyone. The buzz was palpable and the city felt like itself again: confident, cosmopolitan and full of life.
These successes suggest Hong Kong’s so-called events economy is no longer theoretical. It is already here. Yet momentum alone does not guarantee direction. If we want to make this revival last, we need to think beyond filling hotel rooms or boosting weekend footfall. The challenge is to turn activity into identity and one-off excitement into lasting impact.
A well-known legislator recently floated the idea of staging a Hong Kong version of the Met Gala, a high-society fundraising night that blends fashion, art and philanthropy. It is a compelling thought. The Met Gala in New York, after all, is not merely a celebrity showcase; it is a statement about culture, commerce and influence. Done right, a similar concept here could channel glamour into good, drawing attention and donations to our own arts institutions. It could be an annual touchpoint that brings together the city’s talent, creativity and capital while broadcasting the SAR’s cultural confidence to the world.
The question is not whether Hong Kong could do it, but whether we could do it our way. The city has no shortage of high-net-worth individuals and international brands. It has world-class venues like M+, the Hong Kong Palace Museum, and the sweeping harborfront of West Kowloon. What it needs is vision: a sense of how an event can reflect Hong Kong’s identity rather than imitate somewhere else. It is an opportunity to merge philanthropy with storytelling, glamour with substance, and spectacle with authenticity.
Instead of chasing events, the city can focus on defining its own moments. Moments that embody culture, commerce, imagination and generosity, and moments that ensure Hong Kong is not just a place to visit but a city that commands attention, admiration and influence around the world
That, in essence, is the real opportunity before us. Hong Kong does not need to borrow a script; it can write one. Instead of recreating a Met Gala, we could curate something that fuses East and West with authenticity, a night where art meets business, heritage meets innovation, and where global guests understand that Hong Kong’s cultural pulse is as sophisticated as its financial one.
In a world where every major city is competing for attention, events are no longer just entertainment. They are strategic tools of soft power. They shape narratives, attract investment, and define how a place is perceived abroad. For Hong Kong, this is not merely about tourism; it is about relevance.
We already have many of the ingredients. The return of international conferences and forums shows that the city’s logistics and infrastructure remain world-class. The growing presence of Chinese mainland visitors and global travelers adds depth and scale. And the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s expanding wealth base provides a new generation of potential patrons for the arts. Hong Kong is strategically positioned at the intersection of capital, culture and connectivity, which few cities can rival.
But sustaining this energy requires curation. A calendar full of isolated events is not a strategy. What we need is coherence, a way to link food, fashion, music, art, technology and philanthropy into a single, compelling narrative about who we are. Each gathering should build upon the next, telling the story of a city that is creative, confident and connected. Over time, such coherence transforms temporary spectacles into enduring identity.
This is particularly relevant for the West Kowloon Cultural District, which continues to face financial pressures. If it can position itself as the symbolic home of Hong Kong’s new cultural moment, hosting experiences that capture both the city’s glamour and generosity, it could achieve what real estate projects alone cannot: sustainability through meaning. A signature charity or arts event could be one part of that mix, if it speaks to local pride rather than imported prestige. Repeated, well-curated gatherings could make West Kowloon synonymous with Hong Kong’s cultural leadership, attracting global attention in a way that ad hoc events cannot.
Public institutions and private partners alike can play a role in amplifying the city’s cultural momentum. With support that encourages creativity and collaboration, the city’s organizers, artists and entrepreneurs can link their efforts into a coherent narrative of influence and imagination. Hong Kong has always excelled at connecting worlds: finance and creativity, tradition and modernity, East and West. When these elements converge, the city’s offerings go beyond entertainment and commerce, becoming moments that people remember, talk about and return to experience again.
Our events already prove that the city can shine. The Wine and Dine Festival and the water parade show that Hong Kong has the creativity, infrastructure and audience to host experiences that delight everyone. The next step is to make sure these moments also communicate who we are and what we aspire to be. By curating events that carry meaning, celebrate our strengths and inspire participation, Hong Kong can reclaim a unique space on the global stage.
Instead of chasing events, the city can focus on defining its own moments. Moments that embody culture, commerce, imagination and generosity, and moments that ensure Hong Kong is not just a place to visit but a city that commands attention, admiration and influence around the world.
The author is chairman of the Asia MarTech Society and sits on the advisory boards of several professional organizations, including two universities.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
