French May Arts Festival 2026 returns to Hong Kong with a radiant vision that transcends the boundaries of a traditional cultural event. For over three decades, the festival has been a cornerstone of the city’s artistic landscape, and this year it embraces a renewed spirit under the theme Re/naissance. More than a festival, it is an invitation to rediscover creativity, renew dialogue, and embrace imagination.
At the heart of the programme is The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa and Portraying the Renaissance, co-presented with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. This hybrid exhibition combines Meet Mona Lisa, an immersive digital journey by the Louvre and Grand Palais Immersif, with Portraying the Renaissance, a gallery of masterpieces curated by Musée de la Renaissance, Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, and Rmn-Grand Palais. Visitors explore holographic storytelling and multi-sensory experiences alongside Leonardo da Vinci’s intricate drawings, celebrating the brilliance of the Renaissance that reshaped Europe.
The festival’s dance offerings are daring and diverse. Supported by Dance Reflection by Van Cleef & Arpels, Jan Martens’ The Dog Days Are Over 2.0 presents striking choreography that challenges conventions of movement and storytelling. In a groundbreaking collaboration, Hong Kong Dance and French May present In Between – Wu Guanzhong’s Ink Odyssey, a large-scale crossdisciplinary performance inspired by Wu Guanzhong’s paintings.
Music takes centre stage with performances spanning continents and generations. International award-winning jazz star Youn Sun Nah joins pianist Bojan Z. in Youn Sun Nah feat. Bojan Z., weaving emotion into every note. The festival also honours Hong Kong’s legendary cultural icon Rebecca Pan, who turns 95 this year. Reimagining Rebecca Pan: A Modern Tribute, curated by Karena Lam with vocal performances by Irène Schrader and Yoyo Sham, celebrates her immense contribution to music, film, and cultural exchange.
For audiences of all ages, French Rendezvous @ Tai Kwun features VOÛTE, a breathtaking performance by CNAC, France’s National Center for Circus Arts. Meanwhile, French GourMay invites gourmands to savour exceptional wines and delicacies, celebrating French gastronomy and the joy of sharing.
Beyond performances, the festival fosters deeper appreciation through masterclasses, workshops, screenings, and talks, offering intimate encounters with artists and nurturing local talent.
French May Arts Festival 2026 is not only a showcase of artistic excellence but a vibrant rebirth of creativity, culture, and connection—where imagination thrives, heritage meets innovation, and Hong Kong reaffirms its place as a global hub of cultural exchange.
