With 2026 fast approaching, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced yesterday (Dec. 29) that this year's New Year's Eve countdown celebration will be held tomorrow (Dec. 31) in a new format, from 11:28 pm to 12:10 am in the pedestrian zone on Chater Road in Central.
The HKTB's General Manager for Events and Product Development, Mason Hung, introduced the theme of this year's countdown at a press conference: "New Hope, New Beginnings." The stage will be set up at Statue Square (South). The international singing duo Air Supply has been invited to perform alongside local singers. A 20-second countdown will welcome the new year. Upon entering 2026, eight buildings will participate in a three-minute exterior wall lighting performance, aiming to convey the blessings of positive energy, care, and peace, as they celebrate a hopeful new year together with citizens and tourists. To coordinate with the citywide countdown activities, the MTR will provide overnight service on eight urban lines and seven Light Rail lines that evening.
Hung said that this event has invited Air Supply to perform familiar golden hits and will feature live performances by local singers Jay Fung and Cloud Wan. A children's choir and the Hong Kong Police Band will also participate in the performance. In the 20 seconds before entering 2026, the "Light and Shadow Festival. Central" will use the exterior walls of eight buildings to display a giant countdown clock and light patterns. The relevant buildings include High Seats of Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong Club Building, Prince's Building, Court of Final Appeal Building, Standard Chartered Bank Building, HSBC Head Office Building, Bank of China Tower, and Bank of China Building. At the moment of entering 2026, the eight buildings will also jointly perform an approximately three-minute light show themed "New Hope, New Beginnings," sending blessings to the live and global audience.
Road closures in the vicinity will begin around 6 pm
The HKTB specifically reminds that due to event arrangements, the "Christmas World" will temporarily close starting from 4 pm on New Year's Eve. Starting from around 6 p.m., the police will gradually implement road closure arrangements in the Chater Road area. The police stated that crowd control measures and special traffic arrangements will be implemented in the West Kowloon Cultural District and Tsim Sha Tsui area, depending on the situation. On New Year's Eve, in addition to the public being able to go to the Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct in Central to watch, countdown live broadcast areas will be set up in Chater Garden and Edinburgh Place. The public on both sides of Victoria Harbour can also watch the countdown on the exterior walls of the Tsim Sha Tsui Cultural Centre and the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event will also be globally live-streamed on social media platforms that night. Multiple New Year's Eve countdown activities will also be held in various districts across Hong Kong, including the "New Year's Eve Countdown Party" held at HK Disneyland and the first New Year's Eve countdown concert held at the West Kowloon Cultural District.
When asked about the estimated number of participants for the event, Hung said that since this is the first time to hold the New Year's Eve countdown to welcome the new year in Central, it is difficult to estimate how many people will participate at this stage. However, the HKTB has received feedback from the "Hong Kong Colourful Winter Festival" that the public really enjoys the "multi-layered and in-depth" winter holiday atmosphere. Citizens and tourists do not come only to see the Christmas tree and Christmas village, but more to experience the local Christmas atmosphere. He believes that even though this countdown event lacks a fireworks display, the addition of music and light shows also has sufficient appeal while conveying the New Year's Eve atmosphere.
He said, "We also feel that the atmosphere of celebrating the New Year in HK is more important than necessarily having fireworks or certain activities. Tourists come to HK to experience how HK people or other tourists celebrate during the New Year. There are different landmarks in Central. For many years, we have never tried holding a countdown event in the Central business district, which also has a sense of novelty."
As for whether there will be any form of mourning for the deceased of the Wang Fuk Court fire at the event, Hung said that the HKTB had internally discussed this issue, but everyone felt that some time had passed. Many people have reflected that they hope to return to their usual daily life patterns and welcome the new year with a normal mindset.
Additionally, to coordinate with the concerts held at the Kai Tak Sports Park main arena on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's Transport Department will implement special traffic and transport arrangements. They urge attendees to take public transportation and avoid driving or taking private cars (including cross-boundary private cars) to the venue. The Transport Department has coordinated with local and cross-boundary public transport service operators to enhance services during the departure period.
Most MTR Lines to operate overnight
Most MTR lines will operate overnight on New Year's Eve. Except for the Airport Express, Disneyland Line, and the East Rail Line services to Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau stations, eight local railway lines and seven Light Rail lines will also provide overnight service. Coordinating with the extended opening of the Lo Wu border crossing until 2 am, East Rail Line services to Lo Wu are extended. The last train from Admiralty to Lo Wu departs at 12:56 am; the last train from Lo Wu to Admiralty is delayed until 2:30 am.
(Source: Wen Wei Po | English Editor: Wynnea Tian, Liu Yu)
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