Victoria Park Launches International Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival with 3,000+ Lamps
HK01 · 5 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
The International Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival officially opened at Victoria Park on September 17, 2026, marking the first time the Hong Kong Tourism Board has organized an international lantern festival for the Mid-Autumn celebrations. The event, running until September 27, features over 3,000 lanterns from 20 countries and regions, creating a "World Lantern Avenue" along the walking path near the model boat pool. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law (羅淑佩) officiated the opening ceremony and encouraged visitors not to miss the mooncake stalls, whose proceeds will be donated in full to the Po Leung Kuk charity.
Key Points
- The festival displays lanterns featuring Hong Kong street food elements including egg waffles, Hong Kong-style milk tea, and curry fish balls, designed to evoke nostalgic local charm
- A prominent Nanjing Qinhuai lantern installation titled "Tree Shadows and Flowing Light" features an approximately 8-meter-tall banyan tree lamp incorporating intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship
- The event includes a Mid-Autumn Creative Market, Chinese knot-tyling self-service stations, and robot demonstrations showing intangible cultural heritage fan-making techniques
- On the Mid-Autumn Festival night (September 25), the Tai Hang Fire Dragon will enter Victoria Park, accompanied by Cantonese opera excerpts and ethnic dance performances
- The Tourism Commission Chairman Andrew Lam (林建岳) described the event as an "international Mid-Autumn feast" connecting cultural tourism, festive experiences, and consumption
Why It Matters
The festival represents Hong Kong's strategic effort to leverage traditional festivals for tourism development, aligning with the city's positioning as an Asian events capital. By integrating local intangible cultural heritage with international lantern traditions, the event offers both residents and visitors a distinctive cultural experience that cannot be found elsewhere, potentially boosting Mid-Autumn-related consumption across the city.
The festival represents Hong Kong's strategic effort to leverage traditional festivals for tourism development, aligning with the city's positioning as an Asian events capital. By integrating local intangible cultural heritage with international lantern traditions, the event offers both residents and visitors a distinctive cultural experience that cannot be found elsewhere, potentially boosting Mid-Autumn-related consumption across the city.