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HONG KONG, CHINA. Today’s images, shared by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), celebrate the launch of the Hong Kong International Airport Arts and Culture Festival 2026, a wonderfully immersive exhibition bringing the creative spirit of Hong Kong and Shanghai to travellers.
Themed ‘Resonance of Two Cities – Hong Kong and Shanghai’, the festival features a three-month programme of art installations, live performances and interactive cultural experiences across terminals 1 and 2.
Airports have a key role to play in championing a city’s or country’s craft, culture, tastes and traditions. For visitors they offer the first and last impression of the locality, for that city’s citizens they provide a source of civic pride. An arts & culture programme connects passengers to a place in the same way an airport connects them to the world. Many airport companies embrace that role with pride and passion as we explore in our regular column.
Highlights include a series of photography and art exhibitions showcasing works from Hong Kong and Shanghai that illustrate the distinctive character and evolving urban landscapes of the two cities.
The festival extends beyond the exhibition spaces, with the arrivals halls of Terminals 1 and 2 recreated as vibrant streetscapes that evoke Hong Kong’s traditional Tong Lau neighbourhoods and Shanghai’s historic Shikumen districts.
The festival experience also features a digital art exhibition on the large screen in the T1 arrivals hall, showcasing creative interpretations of Hong Kong and Shanghai by individuals with special needs, alongside artworks by school students from Hong Kong.
Along the walkways and courtyards, travellers can discover design features and cultural motifs that reflect the distinctive character of both cities.
The programme will showcase a diverse mix of performances, including Cantonese pop songs from the 1970s to 1990s, Shanghai-inspired jazz, traditional Chinese music, contemporary stage acts, as well as Chinese and Western music ensembles, choir and dance performances by school students from both cities.
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AAHK CEO Vivian Cheung 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.” ✈
