Hong Kong Reimagines New Year's Eve with Stars and Lights

HONG KONG – December 29, 2025 – As the world prepares to welcome 2026, Hong Kong is setting the stage for a New Year’s Eve celebration unlike any in its recent history. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has announced a bold reimagining of its iconic countdown, moving the festivities to the Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct in Central and replacing the traditional large-scale fireworks with a sophisticated fusion of live music and an immersive light show. Themed “New Hopes, New Beginnings,” the event is designed to captivate both local residents and a global audience with a message of positivity and heartfelt blessings for the year ahead.

This strategic shift marks a significant evolution for one of the world's most-watched New Year's Eve events. By creating a multi-faceted experience that combines musical performances with architectural light art, Hong Kong aims to deliver a more intimate yet equally spectacular celebration. The new format promises a night of entertainment that builds towards the midnight moment, offering a sustained festival atmosphere in the heart of the city's bustling business district.

A Star-Studded Musical Showcase

The centerpiece of the evening will be a dynamic concert running from 11:30 pm on New Year’s Eve to 00:10 am on New Year’s Day. Headlining the event is the internationally acclaimed soft-rock duo Air Supply. The legendary group is expected to draw a massive audience, performing a selection of their timeless classics that have resonated with fans across generations and continents. Their inclusion underscores the HKTB's ambition to create an event with broad international appeal, inviting the world to celebrate with Hong Kong.

Flanking the global headliner will be some of Hong Kong’s own celebrated musical talents. Renowned local artists Jay Fung and Cloud Wan are slated for live appearances, ensuring the event is firmly rooted in the city's vibrant cultural scene. The musical lineup is further enriched by performances from a local children’s choir, adding a touch of innocence and hope, and the Hong Kong Police Band, which will bring a sense of tradition and ceremony to the proceedings. This curated blend of international, local, and community performers aims to create a unifying and emotionally resonant experience for all attendees.

An Architectural Light Symphony

As the music fills the air, the city’s famous skyline will transform into a dynamic canvas for a breathtaking light performance. The walls of eight iconic buildings in Central, integral to the “Immersive Light Show,” will serve as the backdrop for the midnight countdown. In the final moments of 2025, these skyscrapers will display projections of a giant, synchronized countdown clock, building anticipation across the harbour.

At the stroke of midnight, the buildings will erupt in a specially choreographed, three-minute light performance. Under the theme “New Hopes, New Beginnings,” this visual spectacle will feature a dazzling array of seasonal patterns and messages of blessings, sending a powerful wave of optimism to the on-site audience and viewers tuning in from around the globe. This innovative use of the city's architecture as a medium for celebration represents a modern and sustainable approach to creating a memorable New Year's moment.

The event is being produced with the full support of Hongkong Land, which also serves as the partner for the popular Winter Wonderland in Central. This collaboration suggests a strategic effort to create a seamless, large-scale festive zone, turning the entire Central district into a hub of holiday and New Year’s activity.

A City-Wide Celebration with Global Reach

While Chater Road will be the heart of the action, the HKTB has made extensive arrangements to ensure that the celebration is accessible to as many people as possible. To accommodate the expected crowds and spread the festive cheer, large screens will be erected in Chater Garden and Edinburgh Place, broadcasting the performances and countdown live. Across the harbour, an outdoor live projection will be displayed on the façade of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, allowing revellers on the Kowloon side to be part of the experience. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai will feature its own giant countdown clock, visually linking the entire harbour in a shared moment of anticipation.

Recognizing the global significance of Hong Kong’s New Year celebrations, the HKTB is leveraging digital platforms and satellite technology to share the event with the world. The entire countdown showcase will be livestreamed on the official HKTB website, DiscoverHongKong.com, as well as its official Facebook and YouTube channels. Furthermore, a dedicated satellite feed will be provided to international broadcasters, ensuring that the images and sounds of Hong Kong’s unique celebration are beamed into homes worldwide, allowing people everywhere to welcome 2026 with the city.

Beyond the main event in Central, the festive spirit will permeate the entire city. Hong Kong Disneyland will host its own “New Year’s Eve Countdown Party Moment,” while the burgeoning West Kowloon Cultural District will stage a special countdown concert for the first time. To help locals and visitors navigate the myriad of options, the HKTB has launched a one-stop online portal detailing the various countdown activities, making it easier than ever to plan the perfect New Year's Eve itinerary and celebrate the arrival of 2026.