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Against the backdrop of its iconic glittering skyline, which boasts the largest number of skyscrapers in the world, Hong Kong is shining a light on its future as a global arts powerhouse. The thriving cosmopolitan mega-metropolis, known as the Pearl of the Orient, is the world’s fourth largest global financial centre, a shopper’s paradise, culinary hot spot and is fast becoming one of the world’s art capitals. 

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The city’s cultural ambitions soar during Art Week each March when the city is at the centre of Asia’s international art scene. This is when big deal art shows come to town, the headliner being Art Basel, where well-known artists and high-concept booths stun, and at Art Central where emerging artists dazzle. 

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It’s also where you’ll find the heavy hitters of the art world. The Hong Kong International Cultural Summit kicked off this year with a who’s who of leaders from 14 countries, including the heads of Guggenheim, MOMA and Southbank Centre. 

But Hong Kong’s art scene shines year-round. The bustling city’s captivating mix of old and new art, architecture and design, fuses Cantonese heritage and colonial past with a culturally diverse future. Newer projects such as Kowloon’s K11 MUSEA at Victoria Dockside and the impressive West Kowloon Cultural District, with its WestK Performing Arts Centre nearing completion, are what’s putting it in the spotlight globally.

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Hong Kong is now the location of the new Asia Pacific headquarters of Christie’s, the third major auction house to expand its footprint in the city, following Phillips and Sotheby’s.

Collaborations, such as the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s Treasure of the Mughal Court co-organized with London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Picasso for Asia partnership between M+ and Musée National Picasso-Paris, have positioned it as a global hub for cultural exchange. This was further solidified when M+ and MOMA debuted their joint project Janet Cardiff: The Forty Part Motet in August. 

And the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (including M+), has partnered with Cathay Pacific Airlines to showcase the city’s arts and culture to destinations around the world. The two homegrown Hong Kong brands teamed up to unveil a new local art-focused aircraft livery, “Spirit of Hong Kong” to mark the airline’s 80th anniversary. 

Here’s what’s drawing art lovers and collectors to one of the world’s most vibrant cities. 

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Art Week 

The headline event of Hong Kong Art Week, Art Basel takes place on the waterfront at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, the sweeping views across Victoria Harbour a jaw-dropping backdrop for all the jaw-dropping art. 

The 2026 show featured 240 premier international galleries from 41 countries presenting artworks spanning all levels of the market, from 20th century masters to well-known contemporary artists and upcoming talent. Hong Kong has penned a five-year deal to be Art Basel’s sole partner in the region further cementing the city’s status as a world class art trading platform.  

At Art Central, up-and-coming creatives are the focus. More than 100 galleries participated in the 2026 event, the show’s 11th edition, held at the Central Harbourfront. The annual exhibition is one of the best destinations to discover innovative works by emerging artists. 

Christie’s Auction House 

Christie’s is marking its 40th year in Asia in 2026 and has relocated the region’s headquarters to Hong Kong’s much lauded Henderson building in Central. As Asia HQ, the auction house is bolstering its year-round art and luxury sales programs in the city.   

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World auction records were set in Asian and Western 20th and 21st Century Art during Art Week, with sales totalling $116 million at the firm’s evening sales. On offer were works by Claude Monet, Yayoi Kusama, Marc Chagall, Jean-Michel Basquait and Gerhard Richter, whose Abstraktes Bild was the top lot of the sales series, going for $16.39 million.

Christie’s auctions are free and open to the public except for major evening auctions which require a ticket. (If you’d just like to watch you can walk in on the day of the auction). At the auction houses’ previews, free public viewing is on offer several days before the actual auction takes place. This is your chance to speak to specialists and view the lots, seeing revered works closer than in any museum setting. 

K11 MUSEA 

Located at Victoria Dockside in the cultural district, K11 MUSEA is a creative retail destination that blends art, culture and shopping in a stunning space with more than 250 niche and luxury brands, including Asia’s largest MOMA Design store.

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PMQ 

Formerly the Police Married Quarters, a dormitory created in 1951 for officers working at the nearby Central Police Station, this two-storey heritage building is now a hub of design studios and ateliers housing 100 local artists and artisans — a great place to find unique locally made pieces. It is also home to Michelin-starred French restaurant Louise where Chef Loïc Portalier creates his own edible works of art.

Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts 

The former Central Police Headquarters sits inside this group of colonial red brick buildings dating to the 1880s. It reopened in 2018 as a vibrant cultural hub after a decade of conservation led by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The historic compound offers permanent heritage exhibitions in the former Victoria Prison which recants the history of the people inside. Contemporary art exhibits run throughout the year. Don’t miss the selection of art books at Taschen’s 1,300-square-foot flagship store, the first in Asia, just off the courtyard on the main level. Spanning the entire third floor opposite is the colourful Madame Fù Grand Café Chinois where guests can relax on the veranda overlooking the courtyard. The contemporary restaurant is known for its late-night “brunch” and artistic afternoon teas. 

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WestK 

Along the harbourfront on the Kowloon side sits the new 40-hectare West Kowloon Cultural District, known as WestK.

M+ is the headline stop here. More than a museum (+ stands for more) its 33 galleries house visual culture, art, design, architecture, moving image and the uber cool building includes a cinema, restaurants and roof garden with breathtaking views across Victoria Harbour. The visually stunning 17,000-sq.-metre space, itself a work of art, comes courtesy of renown architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron, designers of London’s Tate Modern. 

A short walk away is the Hong Kong Palace Museum which houses more than 900 priceless artifacts and treasures from the National Palace Museum in Beijing’s Forbidden City, many on display in Hong Kong for the first time. The museum also hosts special exhibitions highlighting Chinese art and culture, such as the current Heavenly Horses 2026, which traces the history of horse painting from 13th century to celebrate the Year of the Horse. 

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Gallery in the Sky 

WestK’s artistic vision is on full display in its partnership with Cathay Pacific. The “Spirit of Hong Kong — 80th Anniversary Edition” aircraft livery turned a Boeing 777-300ER into a flying canvas wrapped in artwork by Hong Kong multimedia artist Victor Wong. Vancouver was the first destination to welcome the artsy aircraft following the March 2026 reveal. 

The inspiration came from Cathay’s “Gallery in the Skies” in its new Aria Suite business class, first introduced to North America on the Hong Kong to Vancouver route.

Cathay enlisted two leading figures in the Hong Kong art world, Dr. Henrietta Tsui-Leung and Alan Lo, to curate the collection which features 35 pieces by artists who have a connection to Hong Kong. Each piece hangs in the forward galley on planes with the new business class cabins.

A collection of curated artworks by acclaimed artists, including Hong Kong master Wucius Wong, celebrated Chinese Mainland artist Huang Dan, and internationally renowned South Korean painter Park Seo-Bo, is also on display at Cathay’s newly reopened flagship lounge The Wing, First, at Hong Kong International Airport. 

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If you go 

Cathay Pacific operates two daily non-stop flights between YVR and HKG. New Aria Suites business class, featuring lie-flat beds with privacy door, are available on select Vancouver flights. The airline is rolling out the suites across its entire fleet, including on daily non-stop service between Toronto YYZ and HKG. 

The New World Millennium hotel along the waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui is a convenient location to explore all the city’s arty offerings. 

Hong Kong Art Week 2027 takes place in March, with Art Basel Hong Kong 2027 running from Mar. 25 to 27 and Art Central 2027 Mar. 24 to 28. Tickets go on sale early 2027. 

The writer was a guest of the Hong Kong Tourism Board and Cathay Pacific Airways. No one from either company read this article before publication. 

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