Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2026 Unites Global Industry with Eight Signature Events

The Entertainment Expo Hong Kong 2026 will take place from 15 March to 19 April, serving as a vital platform connecting innovators and industry leaders across global film and entertainment industries. This year's Expo spans four major fields—film, television, music and digital entertainment—bringing together eight flagship events that will gather international stars, renowned directors and leading industry figures to strengthen cross-regional exchange. The Expo has invited Leon Lai as Hong Kong Entertainment Ambassador to help promote Hong Kong as a leading hub for film and entertainment in Asia.

Organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) with sponsorship from multiple government agencies, this year's Expo features eight major events: the Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART); Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF); Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA); Asian Film Awards; Digital Entertainment Summit; EntertainmentPulse; Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF); and the Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music). The Expo's kick-off ceremony on 17 March at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre will mark the 30th edition of FILMART and the 50th edition of HKIFF, reinforcing the significance of this milestone year.

The 30th edition of FILMART, organized by the HKTDC, will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 17 to 20 March, bringing together more than 790 exhibitors from over 30 countries and regions. More than 30 regional pavilions will represent Chinese Mainland and international markets, including mature film markets such as France, Italy, Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, and ASEAN members. FILMART events will feature comprehensive upgrades, including the second edition of Producers Connect, which will gather over 100 global and Hong Kong producers to foster cross-regional collaborations and co-productions. The AI Hub, organized by the HKTDC and co-organized by the Association of Motion Picture Post Production Professionals, will expand its scale, bringing together leading artificial intelligence and technology companies including Alibaba Cloud, Kling AI, MiniMax, Vidu, and local academic institutions. The newly launched AI Academy, funded by CCIDA and the Film Development Fund, will host over 15 thematic workshops demonstrating how to leverage AI tools to efficiently produce high quality film and animation content.

Entering its 50th edition, HKIFF will take place from 1 to 12 April with the theme "50 and Beyond: Framing the Future," celebrating both the festival's rich heritage and its commitment to innovation. To commemorate the anniversary, HKIFF has commissioned local illustrator Siu Hak to develop the annual thematic design, while actors Angela Yuen and Tony Wu will serve as this year's ambassadors. Acclaimed actress Gingle Wang and Thailand's Metawin Opas-iamkajorn have been appointed Asian Visionary Ambassadors, with both making special appearances during the festival. A special exhibition, "50 and Beyond: The Hong Kong International Film Festival Golden Jubilee Exhibition," will be held at Hong Kong City Hall, showcasing HKIFF's half-century contribution to film art and cultural dialogue. HKIFF will collaborate with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra to present the Asian premiere of "In the Mood for Love in Concert," a unique programme that rekindles the iconic film's nostalgic charm through live orchestral reinterpretation.

The 44th Hong Kong Film Awards will be held on 19 April at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, with Michelle Wai and Edan Lui serving as special guests to announce nominations across 18 award categories. This year's entries demonstrate the diverse creative strength of Hong Kong cinema, with Sons of the Neon Night leading with 12 nominations and Back to the Past following closely with 11 nominations. The 19th Asian Film Awards will present three masterclasses, Hong Kong premieres of selected Asian titles, and creator-to-creator "In Conversation" sessions, showcasing the boundless possibilities of Asian cinema with esteemed guests including acclaimed actress Zhang Ziyi, internationally celebrated director Jia Zhangke, and Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk.

The 15th Digital Entertainment Summit, organized by the HKTDC with co-organization from the Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association, will take place on 19 March as a FILMART flagship event under the theme "Animation Without Borders: Creating, Financing and Expanding Animation IP Worldwide." The Summit will feature two panel discussions taking a deep dive into how the animation industry can expand its global footprint through intellectual property innovation, strategic investment, and cross-border collaboration. Featured speakers include Sai Abishek of Warner Bros. Discovery and Aurélien Dirler of France's Centre National du Cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC), who will share insights into IP development strategies and monetisation pathways. The Summit will also present a case study of the local animated film "Another World," inviting Polly Yeung, Drew Lai, and members of overseas production partners to discuss how cross-regional investment and production collaboration can deliver internationally recognised animation projects.

EntertainmentPulse, organized by the HKTDC, will be held concurrently with FILMART, gathering global film and television industry leaders to provide insights into trending topics including artificial intelligence, video streaming, financing and investment, micro-short dramas, co-productions, and animation. For the financing session, experts such as Bennett Pozil of East West Bank, Justin Deimen of Goldfinch International, and Catherine Ying of CMC Pictures and Pearl Studio will analyse banking considerations, private financing strategies, and film project capitalisation approaches. Industry leaders including James Gibbons of Warner Bros. Discovery and Omar Giri Valliappan of Vision+ will unveil development roadmaps for leading international streaming platforms. Addressing the recent surge in micro-short dramas, Chinese Mainland companies including DataEye, Xiaowu Bros, and Mansen (Shenzhen) Culture Media will share insights on globalisation opportunities and collaborative prospects within the Greater Bay Area's Micro-Short Drama industry ecosystem.

The 24th Hong Kong - Asia Film Financing Forum will take place from 17 to 19 March, featuring 42 shortlisted projects from 22 countries and regions spanning different stages of development. Notably, 13 projects are animation and genre entries, reflecting a rich spectrum of storytelling from family-driven narratives and comedies to thrillers, fantasy, action and science fiction, highlighting the dynamism and diversity of Asian filmmaking. All shortlisted projects will be presented alongside FILMART during HAF, enabling project teams to engage directly with industry professionals to advance both regional and international partnerships. The 13th Microfilm Production Support Scheme (Music) will hold its Awards Ceremony cum Selected Works Screening on March 20 at Theatre 2, HKCEC, providing HK$130,000 to HK$240,000 in production funding for 31 projects across two tiers while fostering dynamic interplay between music and visual storytelling through collaborations with local musicians.