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 that marks a significant strategic pivot. The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) is trading its traditional large-scale fireworks over Victoria Harbour for a dazzling music and light spectacle in the heart of its financial district, Central. Themed “New Hopes, New Beginnings,” the event aims to captivate a global audience with a blend of international star power and local talent, projecting a message of renewal and resilience.

Headlining the celebration at the Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct are the internationally acclaimed soft-rock duo Air Supply, who will perform alongside beloved Hong Kong artists Jay Fung and Cloud Wan. This star-studded concert will be the centerpiece of an evening that will also see the façades of eight iconic Central landmarks transformed into giant, illuminated countdown clocks, culminating in a spectacular three-minute light show at the stroke of midnight.

A Strategic Shift in Celebration

This year's format represents a deliberate evolution from Hong Kong's world-famous pyrotechnic displays over Victoria Harbour, which have been a staple of its New Year celebrations for decades. While the 2024 festivities saw the triumphant return of a massive fireworks show, the 2026 celebration's focus on a land-based music and light event in Central signals a more versatile and adaptable approach to its mega-event strategy.

The move is a core component of the city's broader push to build a "mega-events economy," designed to stimulate tourism and local consumption. By creating a diverse portfolio of world-class events, the HKTB aims to reinforce Hong Kong's status as a premier travel destination. The theme, “New Hopes, New Beginnings,” is more than just a festive slogan; it's a carefully crafted message to the world, underscoring the city's forward-looking spirit and its ambition to redefine its global image.

The decision to diversify the New Year's experience also reflects a pragmatic understanding of modern tourism. While grand spectacles draw crowds, intimate and immersive cultural experiences are increasingly sought after by international visitors. By centering the event around live music and an interactive light show, Hong Kong is creating a new kind of memory for visitors and residents alike, one that is both globally resonant and uniquely local.

A Symphony of Global Nostalgia and Local Pride

The lineup of performers for the countdown is a masterclass in strategic curation, designed to appeal to a broad demographic. The inclusion of Air Supply taps into a deep well of global nostalgia. The Australian duo, whose romantic ballads dominated airwaves in the 1980s, maintains a significant and loyal following across Asia. Their timeless hits are expected to draw an older international audience and resonate with locals who grew up with their music, creating a shared cross-cultural moment.

Complementing this international appeal is a strong showcase of local talent. Jay Fung, a prominent Cantopop singer-songwriter celebrated for his soulful and energetic music, brings contemporary local star power to the stage. His presence ensures a strong connection with the city's youth and domestic audience. He is joined by rising artist Cloud Wan, the Hong Kong Police Band, and a children's choir, creating a rich tapestry of sound that reflects the city's diverse cultural landscape.

This blend of Western and Eastern, nostalgic and contemporary, is a powerful statement. It reinforces Hong Kong's long-standing identity as "Asia's World City"—a place where cultures converge and collaborate. By placing local artists on the same prestigious stage as an internationally recognized group, the HKTB not only entertains but also elevates its homegrown talent for a global audience watching via livestreams.

Central's Grand Stage and Corporate Synergy

The choice of the Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct in Central as the main venue is no coincidence. It places the celebration at the very heart of Hong Kong's economic power and directly aligns with the strategic interests of the event's key supporter, Hongkong Land. As the single largest commercial landlord in Central, Hongkong Land has a vested interest in the vibrancy and prestige of the district.

The company is in the midst of a multi-billion-dollar initiative, dubbed "Tomorrow's CENTRAL," to transform its extensive portfolio of interconnected properties into an ultra-luxury retail and lifestyle destination. Sponsoring a high-profile, media-friendly event like the New Year Countdown is a powerful act of placemaking. It drives immense foot traffic to the area, enhances the "experience-led" atmosphere the developer is cultivating, and generates positive international exposure for the district it dominates.

The logistical complexity of the event further showcases Hong Kong's capacity for hosting world-class productions. The immersive light show involves synchronizing projections across eight separate landmark buildings, turning the city's famous skyline into a dynamic canvas. This, combined with ensuring a seamless live broadcast to a global audience via satellite and social media, requires meticulous planning and technical prowess. Large screens in Chater Garden and Edinburgh Place will ensure crowds spread across the area can share in the experience, while projections on the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui and a giant clock on the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai will extend the festive atmosphere across the harbour.

A Citywide Celebration for a Global Audience

While the main stage is in Central, the HKTB has ensured that the spirit of the countdown permeates the entire city and reaches audiences around the world. The board's one-stop online platform consolidates information on various New Year's Eve activities, including countdown parties at Hong Kong Disneyland and a special concert in the West Kowloon Cultural District, allowing visitors and locals to easily plan their night.

This integrated approach transforms the New Year's countdown from a single event into a city-wide festival. The extensive global broadcast is a critical part of this strategy. Through free-to-air satellite feeds covering Asia, the Americas, and Europe, as well as livestreams on YouTube and Facebook, the HKTB is inviting the world to join Hong Kong's celebration in real-time. It’s a powerful marketing tool, offering a vibrant, dynamic snapshot of the city at a moment when global attention is focused on New Year's festivities.

To facilitate the grand celebration, special traffic and transport arrangements will be implemented, with phased road closures beginning in the early evening. This city-wide coordination underscores the importance of the event to Hong Kong, as it leverages its infrastructure and collective effort to send a unified message of hope and excitement for the year to come.