In depth · Christmas & New Year
Christmas in Hong Kong: WinterFest, festive Central and the New Year’s Countdown
Hong Kong turns festive for two whole months. WinterFest fills November and December with lights, seasonal shopping and dining, the grand hotels dress their lobbies and lay their Christmas tables, and the year ends with the city’s New Year’s Countdown.
Updated October 2026
WinterFest
The Hong Kong Tourism Board’s WinterFest runs through November and December 2026, when the city puts on festive displays, seasonal shopping and dining, and Central becomes the heart of the celebrations. The malls of Central and Admiralty, from LANDMARK to Pacific Place, and the harbourfront malls of Tsim Sha Tsui dress their atriums for the season.
Our advice: check discoverhongkong.com for this year’s programme before you go, and see the lights on a weekday evening, when the walkways of Central are calmer.
Afternoon tea and Christmas tables
The grand hotels set the tone. Afternoon tea in the Lobby of The Peninsula is a Hong Kong tradition at any time of year, and in December the hotels of Central, Admiralty and Salisbury Road lay on Christmas Eve dinners, Christmas Day lunches and festive brunches.
Our advice: book Christmas and New Year’s Eve tables early, especially those with a harbour view.
The New Year’s Countdown and Lunar New Year
WinterFest ends with the city’s New Year’s Countdown. The harbourfront promenades of Tsim Sha Tsui and Central fill up early, so plan where you will watch from, or book a table with a view.
The celebrations come round again with Lunar New Year: Lunar New Year’s Day is 6 February 2027, and the following days are general holidays in Hong Kong.
Questions and answers
Is Christmas a public holiday in Hong Kong?
Yes. In 2026 Christmas Day (Friday 25 December) and the first weekday after it (Saturday 26 December) are general holidays (gov.hk).
When is Hong Kong WinterFest 2026?
The Hong Kong Tourism Board lists WinterFest for November–December 2026.
When is Lunar New Year 2027?
Lunar New Year’s Day is 6 February 2027 (gov.hk).
Join the conversation
Spent Christmas in Hong Kong? Share your favourite lights, afternoon tea or New Year view.
- Loading the conversation…
Where 2026 details are not yet published we describe the tradition only. Dates are from the Hong Kong Tourism Board (discoverhongkong.com) and gov.hk, read in October 2026; check them before you travel.